Cervicitis is the medical term for acute or chronic inflammation of the cervix. Cervicitis is often a manifestation of sexually transmitted diseases, however, it may also be due to non-infectious causes.
The disease may be asymptomatic and the patient does not even suspect the ongoing inflammation. However, more often, women suffering from cervicitis complain of characteristic symptoms of sexually transmitted infections: changes in the color and smell of vaginal discharge, menstrual irregularities, pain or discomfort during sexual intercourse.
What are the causes of cervicitis? In most cases, the cause of infectious cervicitis is sexually transmitted infections, such as trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, chlamydia , syphilis, and genital herpes. Less commonly it is bacterial Vaginosis is an infection characterized by changes in the bacterial population present in the vagina.
Chlamydia trachomatis is the bacterial agent most implicated in the development of cervicitis. Cervical inflammation caused by chlamydia accounts for up to 40%. Cervicitis caused by genital herpes is less common, as is cervicitis caused by syphilis and trichomoniasis.
Non-infectious cervicitis may be the result of an allergic reaction to a spermicidal substance or condoms. Uterine contraceptives, such as diaphragms and IUDs, also serve as a provoking agent. Also, one cannot discount the imbalance of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, typical of menopause.
Sometimes cervicitis occurs as a result of excessive vaginal douching or improper use of internal vaginal absorbents. Finally, it may be a consequence of a systemic inflammatory disease such as Behçet's disease , or a neoplasm (cervical cancer).
How to recognize cervicitis? To accurately diagnose cervicitis, a thorough gynecological examination, an accurate history and laboratory analysis ( Pap test , cervical smear ) are required. When the Pap test reveals possible tumor formations in the area of inflammation, colposcopy with biopsy is used.
How can I help you? Specialists from Bogolyuby MC draw the patient’s attention to the fact that there is no standard therapy for cervicitis. In fact, treatment for this disease varies depending on the underlying cause, which explains why accurate diagnosis is so important.
When cervicitis is caused by a bacterial infection, treatment is based on antibiotics. The choice of antibiotic remains with the attending physician. When cervicitis is caused by genital herpes, treatment includes the use of antiviral drugs ( acyclovir or valacyclovir ).
Treatment of non-infectious cervicitis involves eliminating, and in some cases only limiting, the factor that irritates and inflames the cervix. If cervicitis is caused by a benign or malignant tumor of the uterus, it is very important to remove the formation.
What's the forecast? With the exception of special cases, if diagnosis and treatment are timely , cervicitis has a favorable prognosis. On the contrary, if treatment is started late, the condition can become chronic and cause various complications.
What are the possible complications of cervicitis? The cervix acts as a barrier that is supposed to prevent viruses, bacteria and fungi from entering the uterus and other reproductive organs. In the presence of infectious cervicitis, the barrier effect of the cervix is reduced and the same infectious agents that cause its inflammation can reach the uterus and fallopian tubes. This leads to metritis (inflammation of the uterus) and/or salpingitis (inflammation of the fallopian tubes). To this it must be added that in the particular case of metritis and salpingitis after cervicitis caused by gonorrhea or chlamydia , there is a real risk of developing a condition known as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
