| General Illness Information |
Common Name: |
Cervicitis |
|
Medical Term:
|
None Specified. |
| Description: |
Inflammation or infection of the
cervix. There are two types, and either may be contagious: Acute
cervicitis, which is usually a bacterial or viral infection with
specific symptoms and chronic cervicitis, which is a long-term
infection that may not have symptoms.. |
| Causes: |
The organism Chlamidia
trachomatis most commonly causes acute cervicitis. Other causes
are: Neisseria Gonorrhea and Herpes Virus. Chronic cervicitis is
caused by recurrent episodes of acute cervicitis, or an infection
that is not treated long enough to heal completely. |
| Prevention: |
Have
an annual pelvic examination and Pap smear.
Wear
cotton underpants or pantyhose with a cotton crotch. Avoid
underpants made from non-ventilating materials. Synthetic
materials hold in vaginal wetness and warmth, which may trigger
vaginal or cervical infections.
Have
your sexual partner use condoms
If
cervicitis is caused by a sexually transmitted infection, then
your sexual partner needs treatment too.
|
| Signs
& Symptoms |
|
Acute cervicitis: |
 |
Thick, yellow vaginal discharge. |
|
Chronic cervicits: |
|
Slight sometimes-unnoticeable vaginal discharge. |
|
Backache. |
|
Discomfort with urination. |
|
Discomfort with sexual intercourse. |
|
Extensive chronic cervicitis: |
|
Profuse vaginal discharge. |
|
Bleeding between menstrual periods. |
|
Spotting or bleeding after sexual intercourse. |
|
| Risk Factors |
|
Multiple sexual partners. |
|
Diabetes mellitus. |
|
Acute or recurrent vaginitis. |
|
| Diagnosis & Treatment |
| General
Measures: |
|
Diagnostic tests may include a culture of the
cervical discharge and laboratory blood studies. |
|
Avoid tampons during treatment. |
|
Treatment involves destruction of abnormal cells
with cryosurgery (destruction of abnormal tissue by applying
freezing temperatures, usually with liquid nitrogen); or
electrocautery (destruction of tissue by heat applied with a
controlled electric current), or laser treatment. |
|
Surgery (hysterectomy) for widespread tissue
destruction (rare), if not responding to above treatment. |
|
| Medications: |
|
Oral antibiotics if bacterial cervicitis is
diagnosed. |
|
Antiviral or antibiotic vaginal creams or
suppositories to fight infection may also be prescribed. |
|
| Activity: |
|
No sexual relations until the infection is
healed. |
|
| Diet: |
|
No special diet. |
|
| Possible
Complications : |
|
Cervical polyps (rarely cervical cancer). |
|
Pelvic inflammatory disease. |
|
| Prognosis |
|
Mild cervicitis may require no treatment.
Acute cervictis caused by venereal disease is transmitted
through sexual intercourse and is curable with appropriate
treatment. Most other cases of cervicitis can be cured
with treatment. All women with cervicitis need regular
checkups until the condition heals. |
|
| Other |
|
|