The first sign of a malfunction in the body is pain. Any unpleasant or painful sensation gives a signal that the body that brings discomfort needs attention. Uterine diseases occur without obvious symptoms, because most of the reproductive organs do not have pain receptors.
Women in most cases at a gynecologist’s appointment are very surprised that something threatens their health. Such diseases that occur without pain include ectopia of the cervix.
What does the scary word ectopia mean?
The main reproductive organ of a woman’s body is the uterus. It consists of several departments: the neck, body and bottom. They are covered with a cylindrical fabric, with the disease, the integument changes its location. If you have a question, ectopia of the cervix - what is it, the photo can be viewed in special medical textbooks. This disease, the hallmark of which is the atypical arrangement of cells. Pathology can only be detected by examination in a gynecological chair. This is not a malignant disease, which then does not become cancerous. There are several types of ectopia:
- Chronic and acquired.
- No complications and complicated.
- Glandular and papillary.
1) Chronic ectopy of the cervix is diagnosed at a transitional age, and the patient remains under the supervision of a doctor. The disease has no symptoms, so it does not make itself felt, but when a girl passes into reproductive age, complications are very difficult to eliminate, the worst of them is infertility.
Acquired ectopia has many causes. The main one is a change in the hormonal background. If the first menstruation appears earlier than 12 years, then this means that the menstrual cycle or reproductive function has been violated, which means that there is an ectopia of the cervix. In addition, if the body is weakened by a lack of vitamins, other diseases and low immunity, then all this can become the background for the occurrence of ectopia.
2) Uncomplicated has no consequences. With such an ectopy of the cervix, treatment is not required, since this is not a disease. The need is only to conduct frequent examinations by a gynecologist in order to prevent the occurrence of pathologies.
Complicated ectopia implies the onset and development of inflammation in the body. The cervix swells, it is easy to damage and spread the infection to other organs.
3) Based on the structure of the affected tissue, ectopia is divided into:
- Glandular. The glands of the cylindrical epithelium are inflamed.
- Papillary. Affected cells form small papillomas.
- epidermizing. Cells of inflamed flat tissue of a flat shape are introduced between the cylindrical, while displacing them. The cervix is thus restored. And in this case, treatment can be dispensed with.
Why does ectopia occur?
The cervix is conveniently divided into the vaginal part and its channel. The coating of tissues in different parts, respectively, is completely different. The vagina covers the stratified epithelium, and the cervix is cylindrical. Upon entry into reproductive age, the hormonal background of a woman changes. The content of hormones in the blood increases. Therefore, the peak of the occurrence of pathologies falls on the age of 17-35 years.
Causes of the disease:
- If a woman uses hormonal contraceptives or has a thyroid disease.
- Frequent sexual intercourse with unverified partners.
- Hormone jumps due to pregnancy. In pregnant women, the disease is especially common.
- If the uterus was injured due to childbirth, abortion, or genital surgery.
- Infections or inflammation. The structure of the mucosa is disturbed due to secretions containing many bacteria.
- The cause of ectopy of the cervix can be severe injuries. They can occur during early childbirth, or when a girl began to have a sexual life early.
- Cervicitis is an inflammation in the cervix.
Symptoms of the disease
In most cases, an ectopia of the cervix proceeds without obvious symptoms. The disease is very difficult to diagnose on your own.
After an active intimate relationship began, childbirth occurred, or the body had a severe abortion, as a rule, the disease can occur as a result. Most often, patients come to see a doctor. So, what are the signs of cervical ectopy can be observed:
- Strange highlight. Abundant, brightly colored or, conversely, faded, there is an unpleasant odor and a strange consistency. This is one of the clear and very early indicators that the body needs support, and something is wrong with it.
- Pain in the back and lower abdomen.
- Menstruation. It can be very plentiful or, conversely, not pronounced. Both that and another lets know that there are hormonal failures.
- Blood discharge after intimacy. This means that there is damage on the surface of the cervix.
Also signs of cervical ectopy of the cervix include:
- Unpleasant sensations during urination.
- Pain during sex.
- Itching and pain in the genitals.
- Blood discharge that is not associated with menstruation.
The main thing is to remember that the symptoms of cervical ectopia are quite subjective. They are inherent in many other genital infections.
Diagnosis and treatment of the disease
Many women may be mistaken in ignoring the symptoms of an onset disease. But even small damage to the epithelium can grow into a big disease.
After all of the above, the question arises of how to treat cervical ectopy. Not everything is as complicated as it seems. First, you need to establish the cause of the disease by examination or colposcopy.
Vaginal ultrasound will allow you to consider lesions that are deeper. A smear is taken on the microflora of the cervix, the presence of viruses or fungi is checked, various infections are also determined. To determine the type of bacteria, bacterial inoculation is performed.
The study of polymerase chain reaction. It helps to accurately determine the type of infection that is present in the body. KLA and urinalysis will show the white blood cell count, that is, the presence of infection.
To determine the degree of development of the disease, it is required to take a scraping of tissue from the cervix. If cells of an atypical structure are found, a biopsy is required and a histological examination is desirable.
Cervical ectopy treatment
The disease is treated even when its complications arose.
If an infection in the body is detected, then the patient is required to prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatory drugs. If the disease has an infectious nature, then it is treated with antifungal and immune-enhancing drugs. Lactobacilli and drugs to restore the internal microflora of the body are prescribed in the presence of vaginal dysbiosis.
Ectopia can be caused by hormonal imbalances in the body. Hormonal contraceptives or Dufaston can correct them.
If the gynecologist, having examined, observes visible and global damage to the organ, then an immediate intervention by the surgeon will be required. If a cyst is found in the vagina, then you need to open it and, having removed the contents, cauterize. Polyps are removed in a slightly different way. They can be frozen, cauterized by electric current or laser cleaned.
Treatment of ectopia of the cervix in nulliparous women should be less traumatic. These include laser cauterization, destruction by radio waves. The main thing to remember: it is impossible that scars remain on the surface of the cervix, this can provoke adhesions, for this, treatment methods should be considered in more detail.
Radio wave surgery
Pain during the procedure is weak, pulling. No scars or scars remain.
The procedure is as follows. Passive electrodes are placed under the patient’s buttocks, and a thin electrode is inserted into the vagina, and the doctor begins to treat the cervix using radio waves from 3.8 to 4.1 megahertz. When penetrating into the affected epithelium, radio waves begin to dry it. This method is most popular for those women who have not yet given birth and who are planning further offspring, because laser-treated tissues do not scar.
Cold treatment
This method is also called cryodestruction. When conducting, anesthetics are not required, since pain is minimal.
Before starting the process, the doctor processes the cervix in order to isolate the damaged areas, then the cryoprobe, or rather its tip, tries on the cervix. In this way, the doctor checks to see if the tool is firmly attached to the damage zone. If the tip completely covers the cervix, you can begin the procedure. Treatment takes place in several stages of freezing and further thawing of damaged areas. The procedure is effective in more than 85% of cases.
Moxibustion
This method is not suitable for every sick patient, since it is quite painful, and the tissues begin to scar after the procedure. Before starting the operation, the doctor punctures the cervix with painkillers. For the procedure, the unit is used, which is called a thermocauter. They cauterize the upper layer of the mucosa, thus giving the possibility of the appearance of healthy cells. This method has been common for a long time, but it has not become less effective.
Laser treatment
Like cauterization, laser treatment is painful, and you have to anesthetize the organ. A similar practice was introduced not so long ago. This treatment is very accurate and does not affect intact tissues. Typically, this method of treatment is prescribed in almost all cases of ectopia. The percentage of recovery is from 89 to 98%.
How to behave after surgery?
After the operation, some rules for caring for your body should not be neglected. First of all, you should refrain from intimacy for a month. There is a chance of damaging healing tissue. Also try to wear less weights. Overstrain of the body can delay recovery for a long time.
When menstruating, you should try not to use tampons. A damaged surface is very susceptible to infections that can cause inflammation again.
If spotting has arisen after laser exposure, this is an alarming call that requires you to see a doctor.
Herbal treatment
After medical intervention, it will not be superfluous to restore the microflora of the body. Raspberry, mint, thyme infusions, which trigger enhanced healing processes in the body, can help well.
Decoctions of licorice, leaves of a golden mustache, chamomile and fennel are great for douching.
The most working and effective means include honey. It is used by the applicative method with the help of impregnated tampons. Honey increases the body's resistance to pathogenic bacteria. The main thing is to take into account the individual tolerance of honey by the body.
Sea buckthorn oil increases the elasticity of the walls of blood vessels, normalizes hormonal balance. And inflammatory processes magically come to naught and have no further development. Based on reviews of cervical ectopia, sea buckthorn oil is one of the most effective remedies for the disease.
Treatment can be done with propolis. This is a sticky substance that bees produce. Propolis is valued for the healing properties and prevention of cancer.
Another folk remedy is mummy. Solid and brittle mineral, easily soluble in water. It has a pronounced analgesic effect, antiseptic and antiviral effects. It can be used as an ointment or infusion.
Calendula has a disinfecting and healing effect. Also, the plant is easy to find throughout Russia.
Disease prevention
In order to prevent the development or occurrence of the disease, it is necessary to follow the recommendations of the attending physician:
- One of the main rules is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Proper nutrition and maintaining immunity will help get rid of many diseases.
- It should be remembered that in no case do you need to self-medicate, if you have problems, you should consult a doctor.
- Use condoms for protection during sexual intercourse. And generally refrain from unprotected and accidental sexual contact.
- Regularly undergo examinations by a gynecologist to prevent any diseases of the reproductive system in principle.
- Be sure to follow the rules of intimate hygiene.
- If there is a use of intrauterine devices, then only high-quality should be chosen and they should be changed in a timely manner.
- Do not douche with or without. Do not forget about the rising infection.
- For intimate hygiene, non-perforated products should be used.
The main thing is to remember simple truths. Health should be protected and cherished. Not a single prescription for self-treatment can replace a professional doctor's consultation.