Is uterine erosion dangerous during pregnancy? We will understand this article.
Pathological processes in the internal organs of the female reproductive system during pregnancy can lead to severe fetal diseases, as well as affect its intrauterine development. An inflammatory process localized in the uterine cervix can provoke bleeding, especially in the first trimester.
Erosion during pregnancy occurs quite often.
Erosion: Description
Uterine cervical erosion is quite common in gynecological practice. Such a pathology can affect the reproductive system of both a woman giving birth and a woman who has not given birth. Age does not matter in this case; it happens that the disease is first diagnosed after 40 years.
Under erosion, gynecologists understand a violation of the integrity of the mucous membrane of the cervical canal. The main danger of pathology is to increase the vulnerability of a woman's reproductive system to various infectious lesions. Therefore, it is very important to regularly visit a gynecologist if the patient has revealed erosion of the uterine neck.
The mucous membrane of the cervical canal is the most vulnerable part of the entire protective membrane. If it enters the vagina, any pathogenic microorganism can injure the mucous membrane.
Pathological erosion
Erosion is called pathological, in which the normal epithelial cells of the uterine neck are replaced by a cylindrical epithelium. A number of factors that can affect the development of erosion are highlighted. In some cases, the effect on the body occurs over a long time and only then manifests itself in the form of erosion.
There are also situations when signs of erosion during pregnancy are first detected. In this case, the appearance of pathology provokes changes in the hormonal background of a woman during the bearing of a child.
We find out why erosion occurs during pregnancy.
Causes
The exact causes of erosion have not yet been elucidated. There are quite a few theories about this. However, doctors can name several factors that can affect the development of this pathology:
- Beginning of sexual activity before reaching the age of twenty. This is due to the fact that the mucosa of the cervical canal may not be fully formed by this age, therefore, during intercourse, it is damaged, which provokes the development of erosion.
- Decreased immune properties of the body. Erosions are often found among patients who have been diagnosed with cancer or other severe pathologies of internal organs. Immunity resistance is reduced, which provokes an infectious lesion of the reproductive system and the occurrence of erosion.
- Imbalance of hormonal balance in the body. These are conditions of the secondary type, developing against the background of other diseases, for example, in the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, ovaries, etc.
- Infectious diseases transmitted through sexual contact, which were not treated on time. Malicious microorganisms penetrate the internal membranes of the uterine cavity and provoke an inflammatory process.
Provocative factors
A number of reasons that have no scientific justification are also highlighted, however, many experts attribute them to the provoking factors of cervical erosion during pregnancy:
- Prolonged use of oral contraceptives, which cause an imbalance in hormones in the female body.
- Abortions or spontaneous miscarriages.
- Frequent change of sexual partners. In this case, we are talking about injuring the mucous membrane.
- Human papillomavirus. It should be borne in mind that only certain types of virus can lead to erosion.
- Genetic predisposition.
Quite often, hereditary erosion is congenital.
Symptoms
According to surveys of patients in whom uterine erosion was detected during pregnancy, they did not feel discomfort, and also did not experience pain in the lower abdomen. However, erosion does not always occur in a latent form. In certain cases, a number of symptoms appear, the severity of which directly depends on the degree of damage to the mucous membrane.
With erosion of the cervix during pregnancy, many women note brown discharge, most often after intercourse. In addition, they may appear after taking a hot shower or bath, playing sports. Weight lifting is also considered a provoking factor for the appearance of secretions.
With erosion during pregnancy, the discharge may acquire a dark brown or scarlet hue. With this symptom, you should consult a doctor.
Dangerous sign
It happens that erosion bleeds during pregnancy.
Bleeding is considered a dangerous symptom that cannot be ignored. Bleeding against erosion is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort and pulling pains in the lower abdomen. Provoke the release of blood from erosion can intercourse, excessive physical exertion and weight lifting. As a rule, pain of moderate intensity lasts for several hours. In this case, women note paroxysmal pain.
Quite rarely, erosion is accompanied by any symptoms of a general deterioration of the patient's condition. Women with erosion during pregnancy may not feel any changes. Regular blood loss can, however, lead to drowsiness and fatigue.
Complications for a child
Erosion of the uterine neck in the active phase can be dangerous not only for women, but also for the unborn baby. If regular blood loss occurs due to discharge from the resulting erosion, a pregnant woman may notice signs of anemia. This is due to the fact that against the background of blood loss, the hemoglobin level necessary for the full development and growth of the fetus is significantly reduced. In addition, with the help of hemoglobin, the child receives oxygen.
Anemia
Anemia against the background of spotting during cervical erosion during pregnancy has a detrimental effect on the overall development of the child. In this case, anemia is not pronounced, since hemoglobin is in the range of 90 g / l. If this indicator falls below, a comprehensive treatment is required not only of anemia, but also of erosion.
Since the damaged mucosa is susceptible to various infectious lesions, the fetus can become infected. Some pathologies can lead to malformations of the internal organs and systems of the child's body. The risk is especially high with the development of erosion in the first trimester of pregnancy, when an important stage in the formation of the fetus occurs.
Areas of the mucous membrane susceptible to erosion gradually lose their density. They thin and burst even with minimal impact. This can happen when the baby passes through the birth canal. In the zone of increased risk of infection of the baby during childbirth are patients who have a narrow cervical canal. Doctors in this case prefer to have a cesarean section and refuse to give birth.
The appearance of erosion on the mucous membrane of the uterine neck during pregnancy can provoke premature birth. In some cases, untimely discharge of water occurs. These conditions are dangerous for the unborn child and require emergency medical attention.
But most often erosion occurs after pregnancy and childbirth.
Diagnostics
Erosion is not detected through laboratory tests only. The causes of the pathological process are determined by a comprehensive examination.
The diagnosis of uterine cervical erosion is made after an extended examination by a gynecologist. If red spots are found on the mucous membrane of the cervical canal, the doctor prescribes a woman for colposcopy. This is a high-precision method for examining the cervix, which involves examining it using a special device called a colposcope. The device makes it possible to obtain an accurate image and explore all areas of the cervical canal.
Biopsy study
When conducting colposcopy, you can make a sampling of material for biopsy. Thus, it will be possible to evaluate the morphological changes in the organ. A biopsy allows for differential diagnosis and to exclude the possibility of transformation of erosion into a malignant formation.
A biopsy study is conducted on the basis of a specialized laboratory. The analysis is performed within a few days.
STD tests
If a woman shows cervical erosion during pregnancy, the specialist prescribes a comprehensive examination, which includes tests to identify foci of sexually transmitted infections. As a rule, the study involves checking for the presence of gonococci, chlamydia, herpes viruses, pale treponema, HIV and some types of HPV.
During an extended examination, a swab from the vagina is mandatory. Thus, cell diagnostics are performed, which allows to identify atypical cells that indicate a neoplasm. Next, a full examination is carried out and complex treatment is prescribed.
Treatment
Many women, especially during pregnancy, ask a specialist about the need for treatment of detected erosion. Doctors believe that in the case of a physiological type of erosion, that is, that appeared as a result of the development of the mucous membrane, treatment is not required.
Over time, the body will independently close the damaged area with a healthy layer of epithelium, which will concentrate in the central part of the cervical canal and go further. As a rule, almost all women after 30 years have a similar process.
If instead of regression, the pathology of the uterine neck begins to progress, the doctor may prescribe treatment. Various methods of erosion control are distinguished, which are used only in case of emergency.
Consider the main ones:
- Radio wave cauterization. This method is most popular among specialists. It can be carried out to girls who have not yet given birth. This method is prescribed in the case when the inflammation acquires a chronic form and a tendency to relapse. After cauterization, a scar remains on the uterine neck, and the tissues lose elasticity in this area. This can cause complications during the passage of the child through the birth canal. Therefore, the method is rarely used to eliminate erosion in pregnant women.
- Electricity. Previously, this method was used quite often. However, today, preference is given to more modern methods of treatment, since electric current is an aggressive and traumatic method. After exposure, the scars and scars of a rather large size remain on the uterus.
- Nitrogen. This is another method of cauterizing erosion. Under the influence of liquid nitrogen, it is possible to treat the affected area. The advantage of this method of treatment is the reduced risk of scarring or scarring on the uterine neck.
- Laser exposure. This method is today quite widely used in gynecological practice. This is a non-aggressive method of exposure to damaged tissue, which does not leave scars and scars. Specialists use the method of laser exposure in the case when erosion is in the active acute phase.
- Other methods. As a rule, moxibustion is used only in case of emergency. In other situations, doctors try to avoid a similar effect on the uterine neck. Women during pregnancy may be prescribed drugs whose action is aimed at eliminating the cause of erosion. Effective is general strengthening therapy aimed at improving the protective qualities of the body.
Conclusion
Often, gynecologists note a regression of erosion after delivery. In this case, we are talking about the physiological origin of the pathology. Also, a normalization of the hormone balance in the body of a woman after childbirth can become a cause of regression of erosion. Doctors try not to prescribe treatment for uterine erosion during pregnancy, more often choosing a wait-and-see tactic. Treatment is prescribed only in the case of an active stage of development of pathology.