| Basic Information |
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| Description |
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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.
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| Frequent Signs and Symptoms |
Acute cervicitis:
- Thick yellow vaginal discharge.
Chronic cervicitis:
- 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.
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| Causes |
- Acute cervicitis is usually caused by the organisms Neisseria
gonorrhoeae or Chlamydia trachomatis. Herpesvirus can also be a
cause.
- Chronic cervicitis is caused by repeated episodes of acute cervicitis,
or one episode that is not treated long enough to heal completely.
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| Risk Increases With |
- Multiple sexual partners.
- Diabetes mellitus.
- Acute or recurrent vaginitis.
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| Preventive Measures |
- Have an annual pelvic examination and Pap smear.
- Wear cotton underpants or pantyhose with a cotton crotch.
- Avoid underpants made from nonventilating materials.
- Synthetic materials hold in vaginal wetness and warmth, which
may trigger vaginal or cervical infections.
- Avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases by having your
sexual partner wear a condom for intercourse.
- If cervicitis is caused by a sexually transmitted infection, your
sexual partner also needs treatment.
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| Expected Outcome |
- Mild cervicitis will heal without treatment.
- Acute cervicitis caused by venereal disease is contagious through
sexual intercourse and is curable with medication.
- Most other cases of cervicitis can be cured with treatment.
- All women with cervicitis need regular checkups until the condition
heals.
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| Possible Complications |
- Cervical polyps.
- Pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Malignant change in cervix cells (rare).
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| Treatment/Post Procedure Care |
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| General Measures |
- Diagnostic tests may include a culture of the vaginal discharge
and laboratory blood studies.
- Use sanitary pads instead of tampons during treatment.
- Don't douche unless it is recommend.
- Treatment may involve destruction of abnormal cells with silver
nitrate (chemical used for cautery); 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).
- Surgery (hysterectomy) for widespread tissue destruction (rare).
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| Medication |
- Oral antibiotics if infectious cervicitis suspected.
- Antiviral or antibiotic vaginal creams or suppositories to fight
infection may be prescribed.
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| Activity |
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No restrictions, except to avoid sexual relations until determination
that the infection has healed.
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| Diet |
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No special diet
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| Notify Your Healthcare Provider If |
- You or a family member has symptoms of cervicitis.
- During treatment, discomfort persists longer than 1 week or symptoms
worsen.
- Unexplained vaginal bleeding or swelling develops during or after
treatment.
- New, unexplained symptoms develop. Drugs used in treatment may
produce side effects.
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