What Is Cervicitis?
There are many possible disorders that affect the female reproductive system. Cervicitis affects the cervix directly but can also lead to issues with the surrounding tissues and the reproductive organs. If you suspect you may have cervicitis, it is important to contact your physician for prompt diagnosis to avoid potential complications.
The cervix is the part of the uterus that serves as the connection between the uterus and the opening to the vagina. It is a narrow passage that can change during the reproductive cycle and during childbirth to allow a baby to pass from the uterus into the vaginal canal. A healthy cervix is able to protect the uterus and other internal organs from infection, so it’s important to contact a physician with any suspected cervical issues.
1. What Is Cervicitis?
When the cervix becomes inflamed it can be a sign of cervicitis. In some cases, cervicitis is more obvious due to physical symptoms but it is often diagnosed by observation during a routine gynecological exam. This condition is usually caused by disease or disorders that need to be treated before the cervicitis will resolve.
During a routine exam, the physician looks for signs of inflammation or infection that can indicate cervicitis. The physician also asks questions about any symptoms the patient is experiencing. Some of the symptoms can be subtle and the patient may attribute them to other possible conditions.
2. What Are the Symptoms of Cervicitis?
Sometimes, cervicitis has no symptoms and the patient is unaware of the problem until a physician diagnosis it during a regularly scheduled exam. The symptoms can be subtle and non-specific, such as pain during intercourse or bleeding between periods. Other conditions can cause these symptoms, such as fibroids or endometriosis, so some individuals do not suspect cervicitis.
Other symptoms are more obvious, including an abundance of vaginal discharge that doesn’t usually occur and bleeding that occurs immediately after intercourse. Cervicitis can also be associated with inflammation of the urethra causing frequent pain with urination. Those with painful urination may be tested for a urinary tract infection but the result may be negative, indicating something else is causing the issue.
3. How Do You Know if You Need to See the Doctor?
Many cases of cervicitis show no symptoms or only mild ones that can be explained away by other possible disorders. For this reason, cases are often diagnosed by observation during an appointment for either another issue or a routine check-up. Cervicitis can be identified during an annual pap smear or during a diagnostic appointment to rule out other issues, such as a urinary tract infection.
For those showing symptoms, a visit to the doctor is recommended when multiple symptoms indicating cervicitis begin or when one or more of the symptoms worsen. This means excessive discharge, pain during urination or sex, and unexplained bleeding unrelated to menstrual periods are all reasons to call the doctor. Individuals with a history of sexually transmitted disease need to reach out to a doctor if the symptoms have become evident.
4. What Causes Cervicitis?
There are several known causes of cervicitis and some of the most common are sexually transmitted diseases. The condition can start off as a viral infection that leads to a secondary bacterial infection, or the STD can be bacterial in nature from the start. Gonorrhea and chlamydia are common sexually transmitted diseases that lead to cervical inflammation, but other infections such as trichomoniasis and herpes simplex of the genitals are also frequently reported.
If no STD is present, the cervicitis may be the result of an allergic reaction to something that has been inserted into the vagina. The latex used in condoms or the chemicals used in spermicide can lead to inflammation and infection of the cervix. Other sources of allergies include feminine hygiene products, vaginal deodorants and douches. If there is no known allergy and no sexually transmitted disease is detected, the cause of cervicitis could be a local overgrowth of bacteria such as bacterial vaginosis.
5. Who Is at Risk for Cervicitis?
Since many cases of cervicitis stem from sexual activity, those who are sexually active are at higher risk of developing cervical inflammation than those who are not. Using protection or remaining sexually active with only one partner are both ways to lower the risk. Unprotected sex with multiple partners leads to a higher risk of infection.
Those who begin having sexual intercourse at a young age are also at a higher risk of developing cervicitis. Some individuals seem to contract sexually transmitted infections more easily than others, so people who have a history of frequent STI issues are at an elevated risk.
6. Is Cervicitis Dangerous?
Cervicitis itself is not dangerous as long as it is diagnosed and treated successfully. The risk of complications is determined by how much the infection spreads. The function of the cervix is to serve as a protective barrier between the vagina and the uterus. By blocking bacteria and viruses that enter the vagina from coming into the uterus, the cervix helps prevent uterine infections and inflammation of the internal reproductive organs.
If left unchecked, the inflamed or infected cervix may not be able to keep out the bacteria and viruses as effectively as a healthy cervix. This increases the likelihood that the uterus, fallopian tubes and other internal organs will also develop inflammation or infection. Infection of the female reproductive system can lead to a condition called pelvic inflammatory disease. PID is painful and in some cases can permanently affect the individual’s fertility.
7. How Is Cervicitis Diagnosed?
Suspected cervicitis can be diagnosed using a two-part diagnostic method. The first part is a pelvic exam during which the physician feels the areas surrounding the cervix as well as the abdomen to check for sore or tender tissues. As with an annual gynecological exam, the physician inserts a speculum to obtain a view of the cervix and check for any visual abnormalities.
The second diagnostic exam involves using the same type of collection tools that are used during a pap smear to collect a specimen to test for cervicitis. A cotton swab will take a sample of the discharge and cells on the cervix to analyze in the laboratory. In many cases, especially when a patient complains of painful urination, the physician also collects a urine sample to check for a urinary tract infection.
8. How Can a Patient Prepare for a Diagnostic Appointment?
Preparation for an appointment to check for possible cervicitis is very similar to preparing for a routine visit to the gynecologist. The patient should avoid douching, intercourse or the use of tampons directly before the visit for an accurate analysis. If the patient suspects an allergy, she needs to make a list of any feminine deodorants, douches or spermicides she has recently used. Patients are typically asked questions about recent sexual history, including information about any sexual partners and the most recent times sexual intercourse has taken place. Patients also need to provide information about any current medications.
Another important part of a diagnostic appointment is having any questions answered. When patients come into an appointment with a list of questions, it helps the physician make sure all points have been covered. In general, the patient should ask about the potential cause of the condition, how to avoid the issue in the future and what course of treatment is recommended. In cases of sexually transmitted infections, it is also important to ask if the sexual partner or partners also need to seek treatment to prevent reinfection.
9. How Is Cervicitis Treated?
The treatment for cervicitis depends on both the cause of the inflammation and the severity of the infection. If the condition is caused by an allergic reaction to feminine products, the products should be discontinued immediately. If the laboratory testing shows a bacterial infection, a course of antibiotics will usually be necessary. The combination of discontinuing the allergenic product and using a course of antibiotics is typically enough for the inflammation and infection to subside.
When the cause of cervicitis is a sexually transmitted infection, the treatment is more difficult. To fully treat the issue, both partners will usually need a course of antibiotics and a period of abstinence from sexual activity together while the infection clears. In the case of viral STI, such as genital herpes, an antiviral can be prescribed that will reduce the chance of an active outbreak. Genital herpes is not curable but cervicitis is less likely when the STI is inactive.
10. How Is Cervicitis Prevented?
The majority of cases of cervicitis are related to sexual activity, so it makes sense that prevention of the disease involves being careful with sexual partners. Only engaging in sexual activity with one partner at a time and choosing a partner who does not participate in high-risk sexual activities can prevent many cases of cervicitis.
For those who engage in sexual activity with multiple partners, it is important to use condoms with each encounter and to make sure they are being used correctly. Since condoms can prevent the majority of sexually transmitted diseases, using them with each encounter can lower the chance of cervical inflammation significantly.
