Cervicitis is a common gynecological disease, but it is often overlooked by women.
Cervicitis leads to infertility.
Chronic cervicitis is one of the most common gynecological diseases, often occurring after childbirth, miscarriage, or surgical injury to the cervix, leading to infection due to pathogen invasion, and it develops from acute cervicitis. It is often a result of inadequate treatment of acute cervicitis, where pathogens hide in the cervical mucosa, causing chronic inflammation.
Many women have mild symptoms of acute cervicitis, which are often overlooked, leading directly to chronic cervicitis. Among patients with excessive vaginal discharge, about 20%-25% is caused by cervicitis. If the inflammation causes thick, purulent discharge, it can hinder sperm passage through the cervical canal, leading to infertility.
What are the symptoms of cervicitis?
Increased vaginal discharge is the most common symptom of acute cervicitis, sometimes even the only symptom. The discharge may be purulent or mixed with blood, often accompanied by lower back pain and lower abdominal heaviness. Sometimes, the vulva may experience itching, burning sensations, and urinary symptoms such as frequent urination and urgency due to irritation from inflammatory secretions. A few patients may experience pain during intercourse and elevated body temperature.
Self-check for vaginal discharge: Test if your discharge is normal. Common gynecological diseases 'vaginal discharge' analysis. Increased discharge, do not self-medicate.
Some people may have mild symptoms after developing acute cervicitis, making it easy to overlook and progress to chronic cervicitis. The main symptom of chronic cervicitis is increased vaginal discharge. When the inflammation spreads along the uterosacral ligaments to the pelvic cavity, there may be pain in the lower back and pelvic heaviness. The main clinical manifestations include cervical erosion, cervical hypertrophy, cervical polyps, cervical canal cysts, and cervical mucositis.
Correct understanding of cervicitis.
Generally speaking, having cervicitis alone does not pose a significant threat to health, but the symptoms caused by cervicitis, such as increased discharge, back pain, and lower abdominal heaviness, can affect a person's mood. Moreover, from a cancer prevention perspective, cervicitis is closely related to cervical cancer. Data from cancer prevention screenings show that women without cervical erosion have a 0.39% chance of developing cervical cancer, while those with cervical erosion have a 2.05% chance. This indicates that actively treating chronic cervicitis and taking proactive preventive measures is of great significance for ensuring women's health and preventing cervical cancer.
There are many misconceptions about cervicitis.
Although cervicitis is a common gynecological disease, many women are currently unaware of this condition and hold some misconceptions. Some believe that all married women will have cervicitis, which does not affect work or life and is insignificant, so treatment is the same whether or not it is done. Others believe that cervicitis is a precancerous condition, leading to a fear of cancer that affects personal emotions and daily life.
These are all incorrect. Chronic cervicitis and cervical cancer share some common symptoms, such as post-coital vaginal spotting or discharge.
