Inflammation of the vaginal cervix. Symptoms are nagging pain in the lower abdomen, purulent or mucous discharge, pain during urination and sexual intercourse. Inflammation of the cervix, or cervicitis, refers to inflammation of the narrow lower part of the organ. A healthy uterus is normally covered with epithelium that produces a mucous secretion. This substance plays a protective role and prevents infections from entering the internal cavity. When the secretory function of cells is disrupted, active growth of pathogenic microflora occurs, and symptoms of cervical inflammation develop.
According to statistics, cervicitis is diagnosed in 30% of women of childbearing age. The pathology can be in the cervical canal, then they talk about endocervicitis, or in the vaginal part of the cervix – exocervicitis. The peak incidence is recorded in the age group of 17-28 years, when a woman exhibits maximum sexual activity and rarely uses barrier contraception.
Treatment of cervical inflammation in the initial stage is carried out using conservative methods and does not require radical measures. The prognosis is favorable. But for this, a woman must undergo regular medical examinations and consult a gynecologist when the first symptoms of the disease appear.
You can get examined for signs of cervicitis in Moscow at the Alfa Health Center clinic.
Signs of cervical inflammation
Patient complaints are different for acute and chronic cervicitis.
The main symptoms of inflammation in the cervix:
- purulent or mucous discharge from the genitals;
- pain, heaviness in the uterine area;
- discomfort, burning in the genitourinary tract, aggravated by sex and urination;
- a slight rise in temperature to 37-37.2ºС.
In some cases, the inflammatory process occurs without pronounced clinical signs and is determined by the results of a gynecological smear.
Symptoms of cervicitis
In women with cercivitis, there may be no severe symptoms at all, or the manifestations may be minor - cloudy mucous discharge from the genital tract. Often the disease is detected during a preventive examination by a gynecologist. This is typical for the erased chronic course of the disease.
Signs of acute cervicitis and exacerbation of chronic:
- mucopurulent leucorrhoea (vaginal discharge),
- bloody discharge (with the development of erosions),
- pain in the lower abdomen,
- discomfort during urination or sexual intercourse,
- itching and burning in the vagina.
In general, symptoms vary depending on the causative agent of the disease.
Cervicitis may be asymptomatic or have vague signs. In this case, you can find out about the development of the disease only during an examination by a gynecologist. Make an appointment with a doctor to identify hidden pathologies and restore women's health.
Make an appointment with a gynecologist
Causes of cervicitis
Inflammation of the cervix and appendages can be caused by the following factors:
- sexually transmitted disease: gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, chlamydia and other infections;
- microorganisms that are normally present on the vaginal mucosa;
- mechanical injuries during gynecological operations, conization, childbirth, from the use of the uterine ring, treatment with iodine, dimexide, and other means;
- hormonal disorders;
- antibiotic treatment, chemotherapy courses;
- allergy to latex or substances used in condoms;
- diseases of the female genitourinary system: colpitis, endometritis, cystitis, erosion and others.
A common cause of cervical inflammation is independent, uncontrolled use of antibiotics. Medicines inhibit the beneficial microflora of the vagina and reduce local immunity. Organisms resistant to antibiotics appear in a woman’s biota. These are the most complex cases of mixed infections that require an individual treatment plan.
Risk factors such as young age and frequent changes of sexual partners are also noted.
Complications of cervicitis
Cervical erosion
The lack of treatment and the transition of the disease to the chronic stage contributes to the emergence and development of cervical erosion on the inflamed mucous membrane - destruction of the epithelial layer, thickening of the mucosa. Erosion is a common complication of cervicitis.
Ectopic cervix
If there is no destruction of the integrity of the mucous membrane, but there is a displacement of the mucous membrane, typical of the cervical (intracervical) canal of the cervix, to the area of the vaginal part, we speak of ectopic mucosa. This is not a complication of cervicitis, but a physiological feature that does not require treatment. But against the background of cervical ectopia, the development of cervicitis is possible. Equally, as against the background of chronic cervicitis, changes in epithelial cells are possible, replacement of the stratified squamous epithelium of the vaginal part of the cervix with a cylindrical one and the formation of ectopia.
Cysts, polyps, atrophy
Inflammatory changes in the mucous membrane of the cervix can lead to the formation of cysts in this area, polyps, and atrophic changes.
Ascending infection
The spread of the infectious process to the uterus and appendages can cause the development of endometritis (inflammation of the inner lining of the uterus), salpingo-oophoritis (inflammation of the ovaries and fallopian tubes).
Infertility
Cervicitis can cause infertility (problems with conception, miscarriage).
Complications of pregnancy
Chronic cervicitis during pregnancy can cause miscarriage, intrauterine infection of the fetus and disruption of its development, and premature birth. And after childbirth it increases the risk of purulent-inflammatory complications in women. Timely full examination in preparation for pregnancy and in its early stages, timely sanitation of the cervix minimizes the risk of such complications.
To stop the progression of the disease and prevent complications, it is important to consult a specialist in time.
Cervicitis is extremely rarely isolated. In the vast majority of cases, it is accompanied by cervical inversion, bartholinitis, erosion, vulvinitis and other pathologies of the reproductive system. Make an appointment with a doctor at the clinic on Yauza. Get an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of cervicitis and all related problems.
Types of cervicitis due to inflammation
- Purulent. Occurs when infected with a sexually transmitted disease. Purulent cervicitis is characterized by mucous discharge with an unpleasant odor and involvement of nearby organs and tissues in the process.
- Viral. The mucous membrane becomes inflamed when infected with cytomegalovirus, human papillomavirus or other pathogens. The disease may be accompanied by itching and the appearance of polyps.
- Bacterial. Cervicitis develops from vaginosis, when active proliferation of pathogens of the natural microflora of the vagina occurs. Infection from a sexual partner is possible.
- Atrophic. The cause of the disease is thinning of the mucous membranes. Atrophic cervicitis often occurs in women during menopause.
Why does inflammation occur?
Inflammation is the death of mucosal cells.
Before answering this question, you need to understand how this painful process generally proceeds.
From a medical point of view, any inflammation is the death of cells of the mucous membranes, accompanied by abundant blood supply to the affected area.
This process is accompanied by inevitable disruptions in the functioning of the “injured” organ and, as a consequence, pain.
The role of the factor that provokes the problem, as a rule, is various harmful organisms. When it comes to intestinal inflammation, it is usually:
- worms and other parasites;
- pathogens (viruses and microbes);
- other pathogenic flora.
Of course, other negative factors can also be the cause of the violation. Among them are:
- autoimmune diseases leading to spontaneous rejection of cells from the mucous membrane of the large intestine;
- genetic predisposition, in other words, an inherited lack of digestive enzymes, causing problems with the gastrointestinal tract;
- poor nutrition, which provokes chemical and mechanical damage to the mucous membranes of the organs involved in the digestive process (usually through the consumption of excessively spicy or fatty foods);
- atherosclerotic abnormalities, due to vasoconstriction, inevitably leading to disruption of the blood supply to the intestinal walls.
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Treatment of cervicitis
To select an adequate treatment regimen for cervical disease, the duration, severity of the disease, and cause are taken into account. If cervicitis is infectious, therapy will also be required for the sexual partner.
To treat acute inflammation of the cervix, your doctor may prescribe:
- Antibiotics of the fluoroquinolone or macrolide group. At the same time, it is recommended to take antifungal drugs that will prevent the development of candidiasis;
- Means for restoring microflora. A woman is prescribed medicinal suppositories, gels with lactobacilli;
- Immunomodulators. The drugs strengthen local immunity and help beneficial microflora resist the effects of antibiotics. Immunomodulators are taken in the form of powders or tablets;
- Hormonal medications with estrogens to regenerate the thinned mucous layer;
- Physiotherapy: endocervical electrophoresis, magnetic therapy, irradiation of the cervix with ultraviolet light, laser, microwaves, low-frequency ultrasound. Treatment is primarily aimed at restoring microcirculation of blood and lymph in the affected tissues. For chronic inflammation of the cervix, physiotherapy is carried out in courses several times a year to prevent exacerbation.
In rare cases, surgery is indicated. As a rule, the operation is performed in cases of severe and extensive inflammation, when the woman did not seek diagnosis at the onset of the disease. For treatment, the method of cryodestruction, diathermocoagulation or chemical coagulation of pathological areas is used.
Particular attention is paid to the treatment of exacerbation of cervicitis in pregnant women. The doctor carefully selects medications and calculates the dosage to eliminate risks to the fetus.
Diagnostics and treatment in gynecology departments NEARMEDIC
The specialists of the gynecological departments of the NEARMEDIC network of multidisciplinary clinics have extensive experience in successful practice, the first and highest qualification categories; among the gynecologists of the network there are candidates and doctors of medical sciences. All doctors improve their qualifications by practicing in leading clinics in Europe, the USA, Israel, Japan, prepare scientific reports for international conferences, teach and conduct research at universities, and introduce new proven achievements in the treatment of gynecological diseases in the network’s clinics.
Diagnostics
Qualification and practical experience already at the first consultation allows doctors to make a preliminary diagnosis based on a survey and examination. But a combination of some symptoms of inflammation of the uterus is also characteristic of other types of diseases of the pelvic organs - cervicitis, adnexitis, endometriosis, cystitis, so a good specialist, in addition to conducting a gynecological vaginal and rectovaginal examination, will definitely prescribe additional diagnostic measures, which may include the following tests and hardware examination:
- clinical and biochemical analysis of blood and urine;
- bacterioscopic examination of smears;
- bacteriological examination of discharge for suspected metroendometritis;
- polymerase chain reaction (PCR);
- diagnostic curettage or endoscopic sampling of material for histological examination;
- ultrasound examination of the uterus and other pelvic organs;
- hysteroscopy – endoscopic examination of the uterus and appendages, other pelvic organs;
- cystoscopy and caprogram for suspected rupture of an abscess into the rectum or bladder.
Due to the fact that the cause of the inflammatory process of the uterus can be the diseases listed above, as well as in advanced pathologies with the formation of purulent foci, the gynecologist involves related specialists in the diagnosis. The versatility of the network allows you to refer the patient to doctors of almost any specialization who will complement the diagnosis: urologist, proctologist, therapist, infectious disease specialist, etc.
Why is cervical inflammation dangerous?
Self-medication risks complications, so only a doctor should decide how to treat a woman. If the patient does not seek help in a timely manner, acute cervicitis becomes chronic. A woman faces consequences such as erosion, miscarriage, and spread of the inflammatory process to the appendages. The risk of developing cancer increases. Chronic cervicitis leads to the formation of adhesions and infertility. Patients often experience chronic pelvic pain, menstrual irregularities and other manifestations that reduce quality of life.
Inflammation of the cervix during pregnancy
Cervicitis occurs in two out of three pregnant women at different stages of gestation. The disease is acute, not only the vaginal wall becomes inflamed, but also the labia. Women complain of burning, itching in the perineum, and discomfort. Inflammation of the cervix during pregnancy is one of the factors of miscarriage, so it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Cervicitis in this case is chronic. A woman may not be aware of inflammation until pregnancy, when the pathology manifests itself against the background of natural immunodeficiency.
Doctor's recommendations
Every year, more and more women turn to us for treatment of chronic cervical inflammation. The reason is that the patient simply does not notice or ignores the first signs of cervicitis. We often detect inflammation when dealing with completely different complaints. This is dangerous for future motherhood. We recommend that couples with a history of stillbirth, frozen pregnancy, or intrauterine infection of the fetus undergo a thorough examination to identify hidden infectious agents. Only after treatment can you plan to conceive again. Miscarriages and premature births are a common consequence of cervical inflammation.
