Cervicitis is an inflammatory process characterized by secretions affecting the uterine cervix, i.e. the lower portion of the uterus, located at the bottom of the vaginal canal. Generally, it is caused by sexually transmitted infections, especially chlamydia and gonorrhea. More than half of women suffer from it at least once in their life, but while some do not experience symptoms, others may have abnormal vaginal discharge or notice blood after sexual intercourse. If you have cervicitis, it is important to recognize and treat this inflammation, but also the infections from which it originated, otherwise they risk spreading to the uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries. Also, if left untreated, it can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease and infertility over time.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of Cervicitis
Step 1. Pay attention to abnormal vaginal discharge
Women in good health have physiological vaginal secretions which during the menstrual cycle can vary in color, quantity and consistency. However, if they are pathological in nature, they can indicate the onset of cervicitis or another problem, so make an appointment with your gynecologist.
Since vaginal discharge can be of different types, keep in mind that the abnormal ones signal various pathologies and are defined subjectively, depending on the patient. That said, especially pay attention to secretions that have an unusual smell, color, or appearance
Step 2. Look for blood between menstruation and after intercourse
Spotting, which is small blood loss that occurs between menstrual periods or after intercourse, could be a symptom of cervicitis. Because the cervix tissue is very delicate, it bleeds more easily when inflamed than a healthy cervix. Call your gynecologist if you find this abnormality.
If you notice this symptom after intercourse, it could indicate cervicitis. If it occurs during sexual intercourse, it could be an indicator of other problems, so you should have a gynecological checkup in any case
Step 3. Don't underestimate pain during sexual intercourse
This disorder, termed dyspareunia, is a common symptom that can signal a number of problems, including cervicitis. Make an appointment with your gynecologist to discuss this and inform him of other symptoms that have occurred. There is no reason to believe that it is normal or inevitable to have pain when having sex.
Step 4. Look for any feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen
Some women with cervicitis complain of an uncomfortable feeling of swelling, pressure, or heaviness in the lower abdomen. In these cases, consult the gynecologist.r]
The feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen can be a symptom of other health problems. You should get examined if you suspect cervicitis
Step 5. Recognize the symptoms that characterize coinfections
Sometimes, women with cervicitis have inflammation of the vagina related to the cervical inflammation (which causes itching, dryness and discomfort during sexual intercourse) or in the urinary tract (which causes urinary frequency, pain when urinating, and sometimes, traces of blood in the urine).
Technically these symptoms do not indicate cervicitis, but they do suggest co-infections, so you should consult your gynecologist in any case
Step 6. Identify less common symptoms of cervicitis
In addition to those described so far, there are other signs that occur very rarely, generally only in cases where the infection begins as cervicitis and then spreads systemically. These symptoms include:
- Nausea;
- He retched;
- Diarrhea;
- Feeling of general malaise.
Part 2 of 3: Diagnosing Cervicitis
Step 1. Make an appointment with the gynecologist
Don't try to diagnose cervicitis on your own. Symptoms can easily be confused with those of other pathological conditions, such as candidiasis, but above all it is possible that this inflammation has developed from a serious infection (such as sexually transmitted ones), so you should contact your gynecologist immediately.
Step 2. Undergo a pelvic exam
This is the first thing the gynecologist will do in order to diagnose cervicitis. He will insert the speculum in order to observe the cervix and evaluate the presence of any redness, ulceration, inflammation, swelling or abnormal secretions.
Step 3. Undergo laboratory tests
If the pelvic exam reveals signs of cervicitis, the gynecologist will prescribe some laboratory tests, including the cervical swab (which consists of analyzing secretions and mucosal cells that line the cervix); if you are having regular sexual intercourse, he will also suggest testing for gonorrhea, chlamydia and other sexually transmitted infections.
Depending on the results, your gynecologist may order other diagnostic tests, including a possible cervical biopsy or colposcopy (an examination that is performed with a special magnifying device)
Step 4. Get the diagnosis
There are two main types of cervicitis: infectious and non-infectious. The former is much more common than the latter. The gynecologist will tell you which type of inflammation he found following the examination and tests you underwent.
- Infectious cervicitis is usually caused by a sexually transmitted disease, such as gonorrhea or chlamydia. The correlation between these diseases and infectious cervicitis is so strong that the gynecologist may start prescribing a treatment for sexually transmitted infections even before making a precise diagnosis.
- Non-infectious cervicitis is less common. Intrauterine devices and cervical caps, allergic reactions to latex (for example, after sexual intercourse protected with latex condoms) and douching can cause it.
- The gynecologist could also distinguish between "acute" cervicitis and "chronic" cervicitis, indicating the infectious form with the former, the non-infectious form of this inflammation with the latter.
Part 3 of 3: Treating Cervicitis
Step 1. Take your prescribed medications
If you have infectious cervicitis, your gynecologist will prescribe a course of antibiotics to treat chlamydial or gonorrhea infections, or antiviral drugs to treat diseases such as genital herpes. In addition, she may recommend taking hormones, such as progesterone and estrogen, or, in rare cases, glucocorticosteroids, to help heal the inflammation.
These drugs can cause side effects, including nausea, stomach pain, and fatigue. The gynecologist will brief you on this before giving you the prescription
Step 2. Consider electrocautery
In case of non-infectious cervicitis, antibiotic and antiviral drugs are not needed. Therefore, your gynecologist may suggest three surgical options. The first is electrocautery, which is a procedure by which unwanted tissue can be removed by burning.
Step 3. Consider cryosurgery
Your gynecologist may also recommend cryosurgery for non-infectious cervicitis. Cryosurgery (a word that derives from the Greek and literally means "cold intervention") involves the use of very low temperatures to "freeze" or destroy abnormal tissues.
Step 4. Consider laser therapy
Finally, the gynecologist may suggest laser therapy for non-infectious cervicitis. This procedure involves the use of intense beams of light to precisely burn, destroy or eliminate unwanted tissue.
Step 5. Don't irritate the vagina
As you discuss various treatment options with your gynecologist, you can also take steps to relieve the discomfort caused by cervicitis. Avoid anything that could irritate the vagina or the cervix: eliminate douches, harsh cleansers and sexual intercourse.
Step 6. Refrain from sexual activity until the treatment is finished
Depending on the type of therapy you choose, you will likely need to avoid having sex for up to a week after treatment. Ask the gynecologist how long you need to wait before you can resume sexual intercourse.
Step 7. Tell the partner you are having sex with
If you have infectious cervicitis, the person you have sex with should also undergo treatment. Keep in mind that, even if she has no symptoms, she may have become infected and re-infected even after following the treatment instructions prescribed by the gynecologist to the letter. Therefore, it is important that you take care of both his health and yours.
Advice
- Symptoms of cervicitis can be annoying, stressful, and embarrassing, but don't worry. It is very common and can be cured.
- You can prevent some types of cervicitis by using a male or female condom, especially if you have casual sex.
- If you continue to have symptoms even after treatment is finished, consult your gynecologist again.
- Women with chlamydia or gonorrhea have a higher risk of getting infected a second time within 6 months of treatment. It is important to have regular tests for sexually transmitted diseases for 3-6 months following diagnosis.
- Unprotected sex with multiple partners can increase the risk of developing infectious cervicitis.
