Cervicitis

Cervicitis – General Information

Cervicitis is an inflammation of the tissues of the cervix (the cervix is the neck and outlet of the women’s uterus). It is a common infection of the lower genital tract. Cervicitis can be caused by the infection from some sexually transmitted disease or by injury of the cervix. The injury of the cervix can be done by introducing a foreign object in the vagina such as the birth control devices (like the diaphragm), or by cancer.
Many of the women who are suffering from this disease do not know, as it usually has no symptoms, and this is why the majority of the cases of Cervicitis are untreated. The untreated cases of this medical condition can lead to the following complications:

• Infertility
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Ectopic pregnancies
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Cervical cancer
• Spontaneous abortion
• Other complication that usually develop during the pregnancy and the delivery.

This medical condition can also be caused by a series of infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, trichomonas vaginalis, herpes multiplex, mycoplasma genitalium and bacterial vaginosis. The risk factors of getting this disease are the followings:

• HIV
• Repeated infections with the herpes virus
• Human papilomavirus (also known as HPV)
• The start of the intercourse at an early age
• High-risk sexual behaviors
• Injury or irritation can also lead to the development of this disease
• Allergies to the latex in the condoms
• Having multiple sex partners

If this disease is caused by the gonorrhea or by chlamydia, it can spread in the uterine lining and also at the fallopian tubes which will lead to a pelvic inflammatory disease (also known as PID). This disease affects the women’s reproductive organs such as: uterus, fallopian tubes, cervix and the ovaries.

Cervicitis – Symptoms

It is well known the fact that any medical disorder (including Cervicitis) can trigger a variety of symptoms. Therefore, some of this medical condition's most uncommon symptoms have not been listed (mentioned) here. This is why we strongly recommend you to contact your personal health care provider whenever you develop any unusual, bothersome or unpleasant symptoms. Your personal physician will be able to tell you if you are suffering from Cervicitis or from any other medical disorder. Here is a list of the most common symptoms that a person who suffers from Cervicitis, may experience:

• Bleeding
• Vaginal discharge
• Non-smelly vaginal discharge at first
• Yellow vaginal discharge
• Vaginal discharge with blood
• Vaginal bleeding after examination
• Vaginal bleeding after a Pap smear
• Irritation of the external genitals
• A burning sensation during urination
• Frequent and painful urination
• Pain during intercourse
• Bleeding or spotting after sexual intercourse
• Bleeding or spotting between periods
• Lower back pain
• Pain low in the abdomen
• Pelvic pain
• Profuse, pus-like discharge with unpleasant odor
• Abdominal pain
• Vaginal itchiness
• Fever
• Nausea
• Infertility
• Swollen cervix
• Cervix inflammation
• Pelvic pressure or heaviness
• Blister on the outer lips of the vagina

It is also true the fact that there are many cases world-wide of women who are infected with this disease and they do not know, as they are asymptomatic. Without a proper treatment this disease can lead to serious problems with the uterus and ovaries, and the women may become infertile, or they can get pregnant but its very hard. This is why women should go to the doctor periodically and make some tests to see if they are suffering from this disease or not.

Cervicitis – Treatment

In order for the doctor to establish a diagnosis he must submit the patient to a series of tests. These tests usually involve the following:

• A pelvic exam – during this exam the doctor will insert an instrument named speculum in order to see the inner walls of the patient’s vagina and if there is an unusual discharge and if there is a redness of the cervix
• A Pap test – the doctor will insert the speculum and will use a wooden or plastic spatula in order to brush some cells from the cervix. The cells will be sent to a laboratory for further investigation.
• A biopsy – during this test the doctor will remove a small piece of the cervix’s tissue for a microscopic exam. After this test it is recommended to avoid intercourse for at least a week (it is believed that during this week the cervix will heal).
• Coloscopy – during the examination the doctor uses an instrument called colposcope in order to get a closer look at surface of the cervix.
• Cervicography – it is a new technique. The doctor takes pictures of the patient’s cervix and sends them to a specialist for interpretation.

In the cases when the Cervicitis is not caused by an STD the patients usually do not need treatment. But in the cases when the Cervicitis is caused by a sexually transmitted disease, then the both partners will need treatment.
Here are some of the techniques and treatments used and prescribed to the patients who are suffering from Cervicitis:

• Cautery – it is used in the chronic cases. The electricity is used in order to produce a controlled current at the tip of the cautery evidence. This treatment usually causes a mild to moderate pain.
• Cryosurgery – it is not painful as the cautery is, and it does not produce scarring. During this operation it is used a cold source which will freeze any tissue it touches.
• Laser treatment – the doctor uses the laser in order to evaporate one precise area of the affected tissue from the cervix at a time. It is a little painful.

After these treatments it is probably that the patients have a profuse, watery vaginal discharge which can last a week or two. The patients may also experience spotting or bleeding. The patients are recommended to abstain from intercourse and also from using tampons and douching for two weeks.
There are also a series of drugs that are recommended in the treatment of the Cervicitis, such as:

• Azythromicin
• Floxin
• Ofloxacin
• Zithromax
• Zmax

The best way to prevent and to reduce the risk of developing Cervicitis is to practice only safe sex. The women who begin their sexual life at a later age and those who have only a single sex partner are at a lower risk of developing this medical condition, but those who started intercourse early and have multiple sex partners have a high risk of getting it.