Cervicitis - what is it? Diagnosis, causes, treatment

The modern pace of life does not allow paying enough attention to one's own health. Often a person just does not notice the body's signals about violations in the work of systems and organs. As a result, medical statistics provide every year with less and less comforting facts about the health status of modern people, in particular women: the level of inflammatory and infectious diseases is growing, more and more women of reproductive age suffer from infertility or face bearing problems of childbearing. One of such common diseases was cervicitis. What it is, what symptoms of the disease and how to cure it - consider in detail in our article.

What is cervicitis?

Cervicitis is a process of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the cervix. The causes of this condition can be various infectious diseases of the reproductive system, chronic problems of the reproductive system, mechanical trauma and mucosal damage.

What is dangerous disease?

Cervicitis - what is it and how dangerous is the disease? The cervix is a muscular organ that is located between the vagina and the uterus. Its main function is to protect the uterus from getting and spreading various infections of the genital tract. During pregnancy, the cervix protects the fetus from infection and mechanically supports the growing organ in the small pelvis, revealing itself only during the period of labor for normal delivery.

Foci of inflammation in the cervix disrupt its protective functions, which, accordingly, leads to the spread of pathogenic and opportunistic microflora in the body. Especially dangerous is cervicitis in pregnancy, as the fetus becomes susceptible to infection with various diseases, as well as the risk of premature birth or miscarriage. In addition, they contribute to the development of complications of the root cause of the problem, namely, bacterial and viral infections.

Cervicitis in women causes unpleasant symptoms, and also contributes to the development of concomitant diseases, such as erosion, polyps and atrophy of the cervical mucosa. Against the background of a general weakening of the protective functions of systems and organs, it is possible to attach one or several secondary infections, which complicates the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.

Types of cervicitis

Depending on the area of the cervix, an inflammatory focus is formed, cervicitis is divided into two types:

1. Exocervicitis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the vaginal area of the cervix. This problem can be detected with a standard gynecological examination.
2. Inflammation of the cervical canal , which is designated by the medical term "endocervix", is called "endocervicitis." This type of disease is difficult to detect during routine examination. Additional tests and observation of characteristic symptoms are necessary.
3. Separately it is necessary to allocate a chronic cervicitis. What it is? This is a long inflammatory process in the cervix, which is characterized by the development of exacerbation during the appearance of unfavorable external factors (weakening of immunity, hormonal disorders, infection). Often accompanied by mucosal atrophy.

Causes of the disease

Causes of inflammation of the mucous membrane of the cervix are very different: from a common yeast infection (candidiasis) to mismanagement. Therefore, it is extremely important for every woman to undergo regular preventive examinations at the gynecologist at least twice a year. And if you have any complaints, you should immediately consult a specialist for advice, since it is much easier to prevent the development of complications and chronic forms of the disease in the early stages of the spread of the inflammation focus.

Classify the causes of cervicitis can be as follows:

• Infections that are sexually transmitted (STDs), such as urogenital mycoplasmosis, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, candidiasis, vaginosis and others;
• Viral diseases: herpes, human papillomavirus;
• Getting into the cervix of the nonspecific conditionally pathogenic microflora: Escherichia coli, fungi, staphylococci;
• Hormonal disorders;
• Mechanical damage to the mucosa: birth trauma, consequences of abortion and surgical intervention;
• Irritation with chemicals: contraceptives, personal hygiene products, uncontrolled syringing.

In addition, inflammatory processes, neoplasms of the cervix, scars, decreased immunity lead to the development of cervicitis. How to treat inflammation - consider below.

Symptoms of cervicitis

Often cervicitis does not have severe symptoms. The disease is detected in this case only during the passage of a scheduled physical examination. A woman may have a pulling sensation in the lower abdomen, changes in color and consistency of sexual secretions occur. Such symptoms are not immediately noticed, but in the meantime the disease progresses and affects an increasing area of the cervix, additional symptoms appear.

The symptomatology of cervicitis is quite diverse and depends on the underlying cause of the development of the inflammatory process. It is necessary to pay attention to the following signs, which can talk about the development of the inflammatory process in the cervix:

1. Change in secretions from the genital tract. So, with cervicitis, caused by a bacterium of the genus Candida, there are curdled discharge. If the root cause of inflammation of the cervix is gonorrhea, then notice the purulent, yellowish color of the discharge. With urogenital mycoplasmosis and chlamydia - transparent, trichomoniasis is characterized by frothy secretions from the genital organs.
2. Drawing pains in the lower abdomen, often aching and dull, resembling menstrual. Less often the pain is acute, sharp. Can give back, sacrum.
3. Bloody discharge in the middle of the cycle or during intercourse.
4. Unpleasant sensations during intimate relationships, decreased libido.
5. Frequent urination or false urge.
6. An additional symptom is confirmed colpitis. Cervicitis in this case is often a concomitant disease.

Diagnosis of the disease

To diagnose cervicitis can the gynecologist after survey with use of gynecologic mirrors. With the disease, the cervix has swelling, redness, possibly the detection of hemorrhages and erosion. If the cause of inflammation is the infection of the genital tract, the gynecologist will notice different from the norm of allocation: a change in color, quantity, consistency, odor.

The gynecologist, taking into account the results of the examination, anamnesis and symptomatology of the patient, will recommend a number of laboratory tests:

• Microscopy of the urogenital smear, which will determine the number of leukocytes (with cervicitis the indices exceed 30), lymphocytes, histiocytes, the presence of morphological damages of the cylindrical and flat epithelium;
• Bacterial culture on the pathogenic microflora will reveal the causative agent;
• PCR diagnostics and ELISA will detect human papillomavirus, gonorrhea, herpes, mycoplasmosis and other infections even if there is a single pathogenic microflora in the body;
• Sensitivity of the detected pathogenic microorganism to antibacterial drugs for the purpose of an effective agent;
• A cytomorphological study will tell the doctor about cell damage and help monitor the treatment process in dynamics.

Widely used kolkoskopiyu to confirm the diagnosis of "cervicitis." What is this and how is the procedure going? It is carried out by means of the introduction of a special apparatus - a kolokoscope, which displays the received image. Thus, the doctor can assess the condition of the cervical epithelium, detect inflammation, polyps, neoplasms, erosion. According to the indications, it is possible to carry out the procedure using various tests, for example, iodine or acetic, Hrobak's test. Usually, during a coloscopy, a smear and a biopsy are taken for later laboratory testing.

Preparations for the treatment of infectious cervicitis

Inflammation of the cervix, caused by bacterial infection, suggests treatment with antibacterial drugs. In order to determine the substance acting on the detected pathogenic microorganism, an analysis is made for antibiotic sensitivity. Based on the results, the doctor prescribes the necessary treatment. In order to cure infectious cervicitis, the following drugs are used:

• "Ceftriaxone";
• "Azithromycin";
• "Erythromycin";
• Doxycycline;
• "Ofloxacin";
• "Flagel";
• "Tinidazole";
• "Penicillin";
• "Azithromycin".

In parallel with taking antibiotics, the doctor will prescribe medications to normalize the local microflora and remove puffiness, for example, the "Livarol" suppository. In addition to taking antibacterial drugs, the gynecologist will give recommendations on abstinence from intimate relations, treatment of a sexual partner and remind about personal hygiene rules: frequent changes of underwear, washing, use of individual towels.

After taking a course of antibiotics, the doctor, if necessary, will prescribe surgical methods for removing papillomas, cauterization of erosion and others.

Treatment of cervicitis of viral origin

Viral cervicitis how to treat? To do this, antiviral drugs are prescribed, for example, "Acyclovir" and its analogues. Usually the duration of the course is 5 days. As with infectious infection, the gynecologist will give recommendations on compliance with personal hygiene rules and offer laser treatment, cryosurgery or other methods of surgical treatment of complications of the inflammatory process.

Treatment of nonspecific and chronic cervicitis

In the treatment of cervicitis caused by opportunistic microflora or mechanical damage, the following drugs are used:

1. Antibiotics: Lomefloxacin, Clarithromycin and their analogues.
2. Antiprotic drugs: "Metronidazole", "Atrikan".
3. Antimycotics: "Diflucan", "Mycoflucan".
4. Local therapy: candles "Neo-pentotran forte", "Geksikon", "Terzhinan".
5. Preparations for the restoration of microflora: Bifidumbacterin, Ginoflora, Acilact.
6. Immunocorrection therapy: "Immunal", "Immunomax".

Chronic cervicitis of the cervix, which caused atrophy of tissues, is treated with hormonal local drugs: creams, ointments, suppositories. The most common drug is "Ovestin". Reviews speak of its high efficiency and safety.

Physiotherapy

To treat cervicitis of various origins, in parallel with the use of medications, methods of physiotherapy are used. With their help effectively treated benign cervical structures, colpitis, ectopia. Cervicitis has a feature to spread - physiotherapy methods contribute to reducing the area of the focus of inflammation and removing puffiness. Apply the following types of therapy:

• Magnetotherapy;
• Electrophoresis;
• Treatment with ultrasonic waves;
• Irradiation with ultraviolet rays.

Surgical methods of treatment

In modern medicine, surgical methods are cervicitis. Reviews about such methods are ambiguous. Doctors speak about the high efficiency of surgical intervention in the inflammatory process of the cervix. But the procedures are often painful, have a number of contraindications and side reactions. For the treatment of cervicitis the following methods are used:

1. Cryosurgery is cauterization of damaged tissues with liquid nitrogen. The procedure is usually painless, carried out without anesthesia for literally 10 minutes. But after the procedure for 3 weeks may manifest various side effects: the presence of unusual discharge, bleeding, in rare cases, there are convulsions, infection, scarring.
2. Thermotherapy is the cauterization of diseased tissues with a thermal sensor. Sometimes the procedure causes pain, so the use of anesthetics is possible. In the postoperative period, bleeding, alteration of secretions, and scarring are also possible.
3. Remove the diseased tissue and using a laser beam . Carry out the procedure with the use of anesthesia. In the recovery period, you need to see a doctor if bleeding occurs, an unpleasant odor of discharge, pain in the lower back, pelvis and in the lower abdomen.

Cervicitis: folk remedies

Inflammation of the mucous membrane of the cervix uteri is a serious and dangerous disease, so self-medication is not recommended. But to use the useful properties of plants as an additional means of treatment, without forgetting to comply with all the recommendations of the doctor, will be useful. We offer such folk recipes from cervicitis:

1. Squeeze juice from several cloves of garlic. Dilute it in a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Then add a tablespoon of honey. Wet a cotton swab in the resulting mixture and insert into the vagina for an hour. This remedy can not be used in the presence of erosion of the mucosa.
2. A steam sessile bath with the addition of a few drops of tea tree oil helps with cervicitis caused by candidiasis. The duration of the session should be 15 minutes.
3. Ready-made fees for the treatment of gynecological problems can be purchased at the pharmacy and conducted with their help douching procedure. To independently prepare the herb collection, you will need such plants: plantain leaves, lilac flowers, chicory root, sage leaves - all in equal proportions. It is necessary to pour 2 tablespoons of crushed plants with a liter of boiling water and cook over low heat for 15 minutes. After that, drain and cool to a temperature of 38 degrees. Using a rubber pear, perform the douching procedure. You can use this remedy for a week once a day, preferably before bedtime. Treatment of chronic cervicitis is not without syringing decoctions of medicinal herbs.

Be attentive to your health: watch for food, do not forget about the rules of personal hygiene, responsibly choose a sexual partner and means of protection against STI. At the first symptoms of the disease, consult a doctor.