The cervix is part of the female reproductive system, is located in the upper part of the vagina, and is the end, or lower part, of the womb. It is located right at the point where the uterus and vagina communicate. It is made up of muscle fibers, it can have different sizes depending on the person’s life cycle, and it is conical or cylindrical. Its function is to channel menstrual blood or the fetus into the vagina and create protective mucus.
On the other hand, an ulcer is a sore or a lesion in the muscle area or on the skin that directly affects the mucosal tissue. It is an imbalance of the body and the defenses that can cause pain, bleeding, or illness. Some women suffer from this ailment in the cervix. In this FastlyHealarticle, we will learn about the causes, symptoms, and treatment of ulcers on the cervix.
Table of Contents
What are ulcers on the cervix?
The ulcers on the cervix are injuries that occur in this area for several reasons causes that damage to muscle tissue and increase the creation of protective mucus and vaginal possible external agents.
These lesions or ulcers can be caused by simple irritation and not be malignant. It can be a vaginal infection that causes a bodily reaction with elements of a malignant type for our body. What kind of ulcer we face can only be determined by a gynecological specialist with a simple gynecological test, a colposcopy, or tissue extraction from the area.
Often, having a cervical ulcer is challenging to heal, as the body secretes more mucus to fight it, but this mucus, in turn, irritates it and makes it last. In the case of believing that you may suffer this injury, it will be convenient for you to visit your doctor so that he can analyze if you need any drug or any specific intervention.
Why do ulcers appear on the cervix – causes?
- Excess body hygiene: washing the genitals with plenty of water and soap can have counterproductive effects. If the washing is very aggressive, thorough, and chronic, we may eliminate the mucus and the fighting organisms that our body generates against infections and viruses. For this reason, it is essential to keep the area clean but not overuse soap and water and always use a soap with a neutral PH.
- Incorrect placement of tampons and external elements can generate constant friction on the cervix, leading to irritation or ulcer. If wearing a tampon incorrectly, it will be noticed immediately, as it can cause pain or discomfort.
- Superficial vaginal infection: many external elements can cause an infection, either viruses or bacteria. One example is suffering from candidiasis or infections for long periods, which can irritate, dry, or contaminate the area creating the ulcer.
- Use of chemical elements: creams or spermicides. Another cause of ulcers in the cervix can be using chemicals such as creams, lubricants, or spermicides. These can contain chemical elements harmful to our body or eliminate certain protective organisms, creating vaginal dryness, infecting the mucous membranes, or irritating the walls.
- Trichomonas Vaginalis are protozoan parasites transmitted through sexual intercourse and parasitize the uterus-genital area of men and women. Having these parasites in the body, the case should be monitored, since it may eliminate them naturally or, on the contrary, they remain in the body and together with other infections or agents, they can lead to more severe ailments, such as the well-known papilloma, which can turn into cancer of the cervix.
Symptoms of ulcers on the cervix
Symptoms that may indicate the presence of an ulcer on the cervix are the following:
- Increased vaginal discharge: as we have commented in previous points, the body detects the ulcer and generates more mucus because it is an external contaminating agent. The mucus is the way it has to neutralize.
- A strong smell of vaginal discharge: when suffering from an infection or having a wound, our body generates more mucus, and the PH of the area may become unbalanced, which causes our vaginal discharge to have a more pungent smell than usual.
- Abdominal pain: Another symptom of ulcers in the cervix is constant pain or stinging in the lower abdominal area and uterus. This is because, with infection, the walls swell and cause pressure. We can also feel the pain in the lumbar part of the back because the nerve connections bounce the pain in that area.
- Stinging sensation: extreme mucus leads to irritation of the uterus walls, causing itching and stinging.
- Loss of blood between menstrual cycles: when the ulcer is open, it generates a wound that can bleed since it breaks the muscle tissues. The bleeding is minor and irregular, and it can be shown simply with a darkening of the vaginal discharge or as small losses of blood between menstruation and menstruation.
- Pain and possible bleeding during intercourse: due to an infection or wound, the area is swollen, and the vaginal and uterine walls are often too irritated. When having sex, you may feel pain due to the friction generated in these irritating walls.
Ulcer on the cervix: treatment
If you think you may be suffering from an ulcer in the cervix, you should see your doctor so that he can do the necessary tests. These can be from a scraping of the area, cytology, or a visual inspection, and it will depend on your doctor and his criteria.
Depending on the cause and condition of the ulcer, different treatments will be performed. Next, we tell you the most common:
- Follow-up of the natural process: in many cases, no specific treatment is needed since the body can eliminate the ulcer’s causative agents. In that case, only a medical follow-up will be carried out to verify its elimination.
- Medication and drugs: it is known to use drugs such as ovules injected into the vaginal area to eliminate fungi, antibiotics that can be taken orally, or other drugs that directly attack the cause of the ulcer.
- Electrocautery or cauterization with laser consists of applying an electric current in the affected area or applying laser light in the second case. It eliminates harmful and unwanted tissues and closes blood vessels, stopping the ulcer.
- Cryotherapy: is a treatment for ulcers in the cervix that consists of applying shallow temperatures to the affected area to freeze and combat the harmful elements in the place.
The treatment will be decided by a professional who will adapt it to the needs of each patient according to their cause and condition. We hope that this FastlyHealarticle has given you information of interest and, in that case, we encourage you to leave a comment.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Ulcers in the cervix: causes, symptoms, and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of the Female reproductive system.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.