Cervicitis is inflammation of the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that attaches to the vagina, so the most common symptoms are usually vaginal discharge, painful urination and bleeding outside the menstrual period.
If you think you may have cervicitis, select what you are feeling to find out what the chances are of actually having cervicitis:
- 1. Yellowish or grayish vaginal discharge Yes No
- 2. Frequent bleeding outside the menstrual period Yes No
- 3. Bleeding after intimate contact Yes No
- 4. Pain during intimate contact Yes No
- 5. Pain or burning when urinating Yes No
- 6. Frequent desire to urinate Yes No
- 7. Redness in the genital region Yes No
In some cases, the woman may not even show symptoms of cervicitis, but be constantly with this inflammation, being known as chronic cervicitis. In these situations, cervicitis is usually identified by the pap smear and may be caused by a sexually transmitted disease. Learn more about chronic cervicitis and how it is treated.
Cervicitis can be transmitted to men, especially in cases of unprotected intercourse, causing urethritis, which is inflammation of the urethra that is often accompanied by symptoms such as a false urge to urinate, burning or bleeding when urinating and redness in the male sexual organ..
Main causes of cervicitis
There are several causes that can lead to the development of a cervicitis, however, the most common ones include:
- Sexually transmitted diseases, such as Gonorrhea, Chlamydia or Trichomoniasis; Allergy to intimate hygiene products, vaginal showers or latex; Use of tampon, as they can cause irritation of the cervix; Bacterial infection, usually during or after a case of vaginosis; Hormonal imbalance, especially when women have low levels of estrogens and high amounts of progesterone.
In addition, and although it is more rare, cervicitis can also be one of the early signs of cervical cancer and, therefore, it is very important to go to the gynecologist to do at least 1 pap smear per year to identify if there are changes, like cervicitis, which could be a sign of cancer. See 6 symptoms that may also indicate cervical cancer.
Usually, the symptoms of cervicitis caused by a sexual infection are more intense, causing a lot of discomfort.
How to confirm the diagnosis
To confirm the presence of cervicitis, it is very important to go to the gynecologist to do tests such as pap smears, which allow the doctor to assess the presence of changes in the cervix. In addition, during pap smear, if cervicitis is suspected, the gynecologist can rub a small cotton swab which will then be evaluated in the laboratory to assess the presence of an infection.
During the consultation, it is also possible for the doctor to make an assessment of the woman's habits such as number of partners, type of contraception she uses or if she uses some type of intimate hygiene product, for example.
How to treat
Treatment for cervicitis is usually done at home only with the intake of antibiotic drugs, such as azithromycin, which help to fight a possible infection. However, in cases where the woman feels a lot of discomfort, vaginal creams can also be used.
During treatment it is recommended that the woman does not have intimate contact and her partner should consult a urologist to assess whether she has also been infected. See more about Cervicitis Treatment.
