ABC Medical Center > Diseases > Cervicitis

What is cervicitis?

4 May 2021

It refers to a frequent pathology in which the cervix is inflamed, generally due to a sexually transmitted disease, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, or for non-infectious reasons. Cervicitis can be caused by the following causes:

  • Bacterial vaginosis.
  • Exposure to certain chemicals.
  • Recurrent sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, genital herpes, trichomoniasis, and human papillomavirus).
  • Allergic reactions caused by some feminine hygiene items, such as douches and vaginal deodorants, as well as spermicides or the latex in condoms.

Risk factors that can trigger cervicitis include:

  • Placement of a device inserted into the pelvic area (diaphragm or IUD).
  • History of sexually transmitted diseases.
  • Having had sexual intercourse at a young age.
  • Having more than one sexual partner.
  • Having a new sexual partner.
  • Having a sexual partner who has sex with several other people.

Signs and symptoms Cervicitis

Sometimes cervicitis does not have symptoms, but the most common signs are:

  • Painful sexual intercourse.
  • Pain or discomfort on a pelvic exam.
  • Vaginal itching
  • Abundant and constant vaginal discharge.
  • Frequent and painful urination.
  • Bleeding between menstrual periods.
  • Vaginal bleeding at the end of sexual intercourse.

If cervicitis is not detected in time, it can cause fertility problems and increase the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS from an infected sexual partner, so if you have any of these symptoms, it is important that you see your doctor for a check-up and that you regularly perform your gynecological check-ups to detect any abnormality.

Diagnosis and treatment Cervicitis

After learning about your symptoms and medical history, your doctor will perform a physical examination and pelvic exam to check for redness of the cervix, swelling of the vaginal walls, and discharge from the cervix.

They will also request a urine test and take a sample of cervical and vaginal fluid to analyze in the laboratory. If deemed necessary, tests to detect chlamydia and gonorrhea will also be required.

The treatment to follow will depend on the cause of the cervicitis. If it is due to a sexually transmitted disease, both you and your partner will need antibiotics.

If the pathology is due to an allergic reaction, you may not need treatment, perhaps only anti-inflammatories. In the event of a herpes infection, you will be prescribed antivirals.

For women in the menopausal stage, your doctor may suggest hormone therapy, either estrogen or progesterone.

If the symptoms continue even after treatment, you should undergo a study that allows your doctor to evaluate if the bacteria is resistant to the antibiotics prescribed.

Comprehensive women’s health is our priority at the Women’s Center, so we offer services focused on women in all their chronological stages with the highest standards of care to improve their quality of life, through a wide range of prevention, diagnosis, timely treatment, and follow-up services. It has three specialized units:

  • Obstetrics Center.
  • Gynecology Center.
  • Gynecology in adolescence.

Related centers and departments Cervicitis

High Specialty Surgery Center
Ob-Gyn and Pediatrics Center
Radiology and Molecular Imaging
Clinical Laboratory

Fuentes:

  • hopkinsmedicine.org
  • mayoclinic.org
  • medlineplus.gov
  • msdmanuals.com
  • topdoctors.es
  • medigraphic.com
  • Trejo SO, Hurtado RH, López VJL, et al. Evaluación de la actividad reepitelizante del Triticum vulgare en la cervicitis crónica erosiva. Rev Fac Med UNAM . 2001;44(1):8-11.
  • Canedo PAM, Alcántara VA, Ortiz HC. Expresión de p16INK4a en biopsias de cérvix uterino. Utilidad en el diagnóstico diferencial entre cervicitis crónica reactiva, neoplasia intraepitelial cervical de bajo y alto grado y carcinoma invasor. An Med Asoc Med Hosp ABC. 2006;51(2):49-57.
  • Pascual-Confesor T, Sainz-Vázquez L, Ortiz M.A, et al. Cervicovaginitis posterior a la aplicación del dispositivo intrauterino: Experiencia en una Unidad de Medicina Familiar. Arch Med Fam. 2007;9(3):133-136.
  • Martínez-Ojeda M, Saldaña-González J, Sánchez-Hernández MA. Criterios para el diagnóstico de cervicovaginitis aplicados en el primer nivel de atención. Correlación con la norma oficial mexicana. Rev Med Inst Mex Seguro Soc. 2007;45(3):249-254.

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