Endocervicitis of the cervix. Symptoms, treatment

Endocervicitis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane lining the canal inside the cervix. Most often, the disease is caused by the action of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms. These microbes are present and normal, but can lead to the disease only under certain conditions. Moreover, they perform a useful function, protecting the body from the penetration of more dangerous bacteria. However, due to various reasons (violation of the local immune status, metabolic processes failures), these bacteria from the status of defenders become the status of aggressors.

In addition, endocervicitis of the cervix is often caused by sexually transmitted infections, such as mycoplasma, trichomonas, chlamydia, and others.

With hormonal changes, for example, with an estrogen deficiency, non-infective, or non-specific, endocervicitis may occur.

How does the disease develop? The cervix is one of the biological barriers, it is equipped with several mechanisms of protection: the channel itself in the cervix is narrow, and inside there is a mucous plug with a large number of immunoglobulins and enzymes. During childbirth, with abortion, and also because of invasive diagnostic procedures, protection decreases, which allows the infection to develop a violent activity.

Patients who developed acute endocervicitis of the cervix complain of mucous or purulent discharge from the vagina, sometimes accompanied by a pulling pain in the lower abdomen, as well as in the lower back.

The gynecologist during the examination of the cervix with the help of mirrors will find redness in the area of the external opening of the canal, the mucous membrane will be swollen, possibly the presence of purulent discharge. The surface is often eroded.

Chronic endocervicitis of the cervix will arise if the acute process has not been detected or treated in time. The pathological process passes to nearby tissues. Pseudo-erosions are formed on the cervix of the uterus from the vagina, and secondary infection is also possible. Then follows infiltrative, hyperplastic and dystrophic changes, the neck becomes dense and hypertrophied, with a multitude of cysts.

If endocervicitis of the cervix is caused by gonococci, then in this case it is a specific gonorrhea process. It develops in the mucosa of the cervical canal, affects the glands, then the infection penetrates deeper, into the submucosa, where dense infiltrates form. There is a tendency to abscessing, that is, the appearance of limited foci of inflammation.

A distinctive feature of gonorrheal endocervicitis is a pronounced reaction of inflammation: a strong reddening of the mucosa, puffiness and abundant mucous and mucopurulent discharge.

An unpleasant combination is endocervicitis and pregnancy. The fact is that a disease in itself can make it difficult to conceive. Conversely, endocervicitis of the cervix with a pregnancy that has already arisen can cause the uterus at short periods to increase in tone and cause an early discharge of amniotic fluid. In any case, treatment should begin immediately after diagnosis.

The goal of the treatment is elimination of the cause (destruction of the pathogenic microorganism), elimination of inflammatory processes and normalization of microflora.