Cervicitis

Cervicitis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment

Cervicitis, in most simple terms, refers to inflammation of the cervix. The cervix is the area of the uterus where it connects to the vagina, and it is calmer known to swell for different reasons including; infections, irritations, among other medical concerns. This ailment can generally be treated; however it is important for people to recognize its signs and possible adverse effects. In this piece dive into an exploration of cervicitis encompassing its origins, symptoms, treatment methods and preventive measures.

What is Cervicitis?

Cervicitis is used to describe all inflammation of the cervix. Menses, which entails shedding of the uterine endometrial lining, is one of the reproductive processes a woman undergoes. The cervix as a structure is responsible for holding the existing endometrial surface while correctly timing the shedding of the subsequent surface. When the cervix is inflamed however, this brings about various side effects, symptoms or even pain. It may be stated that, cervicitis is rarely fatal but when left to fester without the necessary treatment, this may give rise to other health complications such as pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), barrenness or even during pregnancy, there may be complications.

Cervicitis can be classified in two categories acute cervicitis and chronic cervicitis.

1. Acute Cervicitis

First acute cervicitis begins abruptly and is mainly due to the infection by pathogens such as bacteria or viruses that cause STDs but also yeast and other vaginal infections.

2. Chronic Cervicitis

In contrast chronic cervicitis extends for a relatively long stretch of time and may follow episodes of active infection, or chemical by irritation. It tends to be mild with regards to symptoms yet still causes some degree of pain or discomfort.

Symptoms of Cervicitis

The symptoms occurring in cervicitis can differ from one individual to another; in some cases, there may be a complete absence of symptomatic presentation. The symptoms of cervicitis may include:

1. Abnormal Vaginal Discharge: Unusual vaginal discharge, quite often, presents as one of the first signs of cervicitis. The vaginal discharge can be yellow, green, slightly blood or just foul smelling.
2. Pain during Intercourse (Dyspareunia): Pain ceases in most conditions, but in cases of cervicitis where the cervix is affected, sexual activity may be interrupted by pain. The involved pain may be acute, dull, or influences the whole pelvis.
3. Pelvic Pain or Lower Abdominal Discomfort: There may be cases of cervicitis whereby pain does not only present in the pelvic region but also in the lower abdominal area which is persistent in nature especially when there is an infection or inflammation present.
4. Abnormal Bleeding: People diagnosed with cervicitis will likely have bleeding in between their regular menstrual cycles or prolonged menses.
5. Painful Urination: Where the cervical inflammation also affects adjacent structures, it results in dysuria or discomfort upon urination.
6. Fever: In such cases, especially those tumbles due to bacterial infection, there may be a rise in temperature with cases of cervicitis.

These symptoms in some persons with cervicitis may be absent. Thus, regular gynecological examinations are required for prevention, especially among the active and sexually inclined groups.

Causes of cervicitis

It is evident that cervicitis can be caused by various factors. Infections are the most frequent causes but there are also wider factors like allergies or irritations from chemicals that can cause cervicitis.

1. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Chlamydia

Chlamydia trachomatis is a bacterial infection that is one of the leading causes of cervicitis. Usually asymptomatic, it can however, because serious health issues if not treated.

Gonorrhea

Neisseria gonorrhea is another sexually transmitted infection that causes cervical inflammation in most cases. In the same way as chlamydia, gonorrhea very often has nonspecific signs but carries a risk of possible health disorders.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

Some types of HPV are recognized to contribute to sickness like cervicitis. Usually, the virus does not give symptoms, but chronic forms of the virus may lead to abnormal pap smears and increased risk of cervical cancer.

Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV)

In its relevant medical aspect, the herpes simplex virus corresponds to the capability for women affected by this virus to develop warts on the cervix that are likely to be painful and infection of the cervix as well.

2. Infections caused by other factors

Bacterial Vaginosis

When there is a disturbance of the normal equilibrium of the bacteria within the vagina leading to an overgrowth of the other harmful bacteria, this can hence cause cervicitis as well. A characteristic foul-smelling and soothing non-itching irritating discharge is among the few signs.

Causative agents of Trichomoniasis

This condition is more frequently noted in females due to an organism called Trichomonas vaginalis which is primarily responsible for cervicitis and manifests with a combination of symptoms including itching, a discharge, and pain.

3. Fungal Infections

Third infections cervicitis under fungal infections this type of the cervicitis may be observed due to candidiasis mostly as in frequent cases of vaginal thrush. The symptoms include a lot of itching thick whitish discharge and pain.

4. Physical or Chemical Irritation

Cervicitis may also be caused by any exacerbating effects those results from the use of external agents or trauma to the cervix. The following are the most common irritants:

Douching: One of the main reasons for such an achievement is the over-douching which disturbs the normal vaginal flora balance and leads to cervicitis as a consequence.

Irritation due to Use of Scented Female Hygiene Products: The use of women’s soaps, sprays, or other hygienic products leads to inflammation of the cervix and the vaginal region.

Contraceptive Devices: In some situations the use of certain method of birth control such as intrauterine device or cream will lead to inflammation or cervicitis.

Sexual Activity: Intercourse which occurs too often or too energetically can lead to slight physical trauma to bare the cervix, especially in the absence of proper mucus.

5. Autoimmune Disorders

With regards to the last, cervicitis may also be attributed to certain systemic conditions and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis are examples of such diseases where it may occur. In illnesses such as this, the immune system of the body, defense mechanism is turned against the self’s cells in this case even the cervix is not spared.

Diagnosis of Cervicitis

In case you feel cervicitis is a risk to you or suffer from any symptoms like abnormal discharge or pelvic pain, receiving medical attention for diagnosis purposes is advisable. Here are some of the diagnostics that your physician may consider:

1. Pelvic Examination: When determining whether a woman has cervicitis, there is a need to first evaluate the woman for pelvic disorders by looking at the cervix for any inflammation, pus, and any other abnormalities.

2. Pap smear: In Pap smear, few cells are collected from the cervix for analysis in order to obtain squamous epithelial cells and other cell types that are required. Such specimen is checked for the viruses, such as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), and for screen lesions on the specimen of female genital tract which may contain precancerous cells.

3. Testing and Culturing for Sexually Transmitted Infections: Such type of sampling may be done often when the doctor assesses an infection and if a vaginal smear is done, cultures can be done to exclude or include the presence of chlamydia, gonorrhea or vaginalis infections.

4. Tissue sampling or Biopsy: Rarely, if there are signs of chronic cervicitis or abnormalities on a Pap smear, therefore a small tissue sample (biopsy) of cervix may be taken from the cervix for further testing.

Treatment for Cervicitis

In order to treat cervicitis, the objective should be to ascertain the cause and get rid of it. Here are some common treatment options:

1. Antibiotics

If cervicitis develops due to a bacterial infection, antibiotics will be recommended to be able the causal infection. This is the typical management for infections such as gonorrhea, chlamydia and bacterial Vaginosis.

• Gonorrhea: Frequently treated with a mixture of antibiotics like ceftriaxone and azithromycin.
• Chlamydia: Usually treated with azithromycin or doxycycline.
• Bacterial Vaginosis: Often treated with metronidazole or clindamycin.

2. Antifungal Medication

In yeast infection cervicitis the doctor might recommend to use antifungal drugs that include an oral antibiotic topical clotrimazole or fluconazole.

3. Medications for Antiviral Treatments

An antiviral treatment such as acyclovir or valacyclovir may be prescribed for patients suffering from cervicitis who have herpes or human papilloma virus infection in order to decrease the symptoms and control the episodes.

4. Treatment for Chemical Irritation.

Treatment is likely to include eliminating the irritant as the first step in treatment in cases where cervicitis develops from the use of products like douches or soaps. A doctor may recommend some mild creams/suppositories from a chemist for the cervix.

5. Surgical Procedure

In chronic cases or severe, such as progressive cervicitis due to the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) or atypical precancerous transformations, your physician may advise for the removal of the abnormal cells, which may include cryotherapy, diathermy or cone biopsy.

Cervicitis Prevention

There may be factors that contribute to cervicitis which help in developing ameliorate the condition, but this gives room for different ways to lead control of cervicitis.

1. Safe Sex Practice: The importance of education and the use of condoms during sexual intercourse cannot be overemphasized in the control of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including infection with the pathogens that cause cervicitis.

2.  Regular Pap smear Test Screening: Pap smear test screening considerations for cervical cancer or abnormal cells in this case to even prevention of cervicitis is thus undergone to prevent its complications hence the disease is arrested at its early stages of developments.

3. Avoid Irritants: practices like vaginal douching, powders sprinkling, fragrant soaps or any other irritant substances should be avoided as they will lead to chemical irritation of the cervix.

4. Ensuring Proper Hygiene: This is to ensure that the risk of infection is as low as possible with the sanitary conditions maintained including the genital area being clean and dry.

5. Vaccination: Available for persons so that they do not contract specific types of the human papillomavirus that has been known to cause cancer of the cervix which is HPV.

Summary

Cervicitis is a widely prevalent ailment that when ignored brings sore and other severe complications. It is imperative to identify the symptoms, the causes as well as to seek treatment and management of the condition as early as possible. In most cases, cervicitis is effectively managed using medicines regardless of its causative agents whether it is infections irritants or other conditions. Avoidable practices such as regular cervical cancer screenings, safe sex, and maintaining total reproductive health can minimize the risk or even prevent cervicitis and its effects. If you are noticing any cervicitis symptoms together with other warning signs of illness, please do not hesitate to visit a doctor for prompt diagnosis and treatment.