The cervix serves as a protective barrier for the uterus. If it develops issues, the uterus is the first to suffer. Yet the cervix is also a vulnerable area with a complex structure—its upper canal features numerous folds that make it prone to infection and slow to heal. Therefore, we must take thorough measures to protect it. Three common cervical conditions are: acute cervicitis, chronic cervicitis, and cervical cancer. Today, we'll explore cervicitis in detail.
Symptoms of Cervicitis
1. Vaginal bleeding, including contact bleeding, prolonged menstrual periods, shorter cycles, and heavier flow. Postmenopausal women may experience irregular vaginal bleeding. This symptom is relatively noticeable, aiding in early detection of cervicitis.
2. Increased vaginal discharge, appearing white or bloody, sometimes thin like water or rice water, with a fishy odor.In advanced stages, due to ulceration of cancerous tissue, necrosis, and secondary infection, patients may experience copious purulent or rice-water-like foul-smelling discharge.
3. Mucous-like discharge or discharge with streaks of blood, or postcoital bleeding, accompanied by vulvar itching and lumbosacral pain. Thick, purulent discharge impedes sperm penetration and may cause infertility.
4. Early symptoms of acute cervicitis include increased vaginal discharge that is purulent, accompanied by lower back pain and abdominal discomfort.
5. Early symptoms of chronic cervicitis include increased vaginal discharge that is milky white, mucous-like, or contains streaks of blood, or postcoital bleeding, accompanied by vulvar itching, lower back pain, and worsening symptoms during menstruation.
Risks of Cervicitis
1. May lead to deeper pathologies: Chronic inflammation can cause polyps, tears, eversion, cysts, and other severe conditions, potentially life-threatening.
2. Cervicitis carries a risk of malignant transformation: This concern is prevalent among affected women.Recent statistics indicate that women with cervicitis have a cervical tumor incidence rate 10 times higher than those without cervical disease.
3. Cervicitis can cause infertility: When cervicitis occurs, especially in moderate to severe cases, cervical secretions significantly increase in volume and viscosity, containing large numbers of white blood cells. This adversely affects sperm motility and may obstruct sperm entry into the uterine cavity, thereby impairing conception.
4. Cervicitis leads to complications: Persistent inflammation in the cervix can spread to other organs. For example, pathogens causing cervicitis may ascend to cause endometritis; they can also spread through the paracervical ligaments and lymphatic vessels, leading to chronic pelvic inflammatory disease.
Preventing Cervicitis
1. Massage: Rub palms together to warm them. Use palms to push downward on the lower abdomen several times, then massage the inner thighs several times, focusing on tender points until warmth is felt. Finally, knead the lumbar-sacral region with palms, then rub for 2–3 minutes to transfer warmth to the lower abdomen.
2.Poultice and Wash: Decoct 30g Cnidium monnieri, 30g Sophora flavescens, 15g Alum, and 10g Phellodendron bark in water.
3. Zhimi Powder: "Zhimi Powder" is a traditional renowned formula held by Wang Yunfang, a Chinese herbalist and grandson of Wang Xinzhan, a leading figure in traditional Chinese medicine during the Republic of China era. It employs a large-scale formula of 23 ingredients including raw Nelumbo nucifera, raw Indigo naturalis, raw Panax notoginseng, Atractylodes macrocephala, Paeonia lactiflora,Poria cocos, Astragalus membranaceus, Pearl Powder, Borneol, and 23 other major herbs. It demonstrates remarkable efficacy in treating female cervical erosion, cervicitis, and cervical edema.
How to treat confirmed cervical inflammation?
Physical Therapy: Includes electrocoagulation, cryotherapy, laser therapy, and infrared therapy. Suitable for extensive erosion with deep inflammation, typically cured after one session. For example, cryotherapy: a cryogenic treatment using liquid nitrogen at -196°C.During treatment, an appropriate probe is selected based on the erosion condition. Its advantages include simple operation with minimal post-treatment bleeding or cervical stenosis. The disadvantage is increased vaginal discharge post-procedure.
Medication: Acute cervicitis may be treated with oral broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as cephalosporins combined with metronidazole.
Surgical Treatment: Cervical polyps may be removed via polypectomy; cervical glandular cysts can be drained by aspiration. Chronic cervical lacerations and mucosal eversion may be addressed with cervical repair surgery.