As a rule, the weaker sex very carefully monitors the state of their female health. And at a time when the concepts of "thrush" or "cystitis" are very well known to everyone, there are less common diseases in wide circles. One of these problems is exocervicitis. What is it, what are its symptoms, how to treat it, and are there ways to avoid this disease? Let's get it right.
Exocervicitis - what is it?
Due to the specific features of the female anatomy, and in particular the genitourinary system, pathogenic organisms can very easily enter the body. As a result, they can cause cervical exocervicitis . What it is? These are inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane of the cervix, which are accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and uncharacteristic discharge for a woman.
The inflammatory process - exocervicitis - is most often observed in women aged 25 to 35 years who lead an active and disordered sexual life.
Causes of exocervicitis
There are several factors that can trigger the onset of the disease:
- Erratic sexual relations, unprotected sex.
- Decreased immunity due to kidney or liver failure, HIV infection, diabetes.
- Abortion, childbirth, and the presence of injuries caused to internal genital organs as a result of these processes.
- Cervical prolapse.
- Inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system (colpitis, cystitis, etc.).
- The presence of diseases during which microbes are spread throughout the body along with blood (tonsillitis, various inflammations, etc.).
- Improper use of internal contraceptives (spirals, vaginal suppositories) or frequent douching with aggressive drugs to protect against pregnancy.
- Hormonal disruptions in the body. Most often this happens in women in the postmenopausal period, when the production of female hormones is significantly reduced and because of this, atrophic inflammation begins to develop in the mucous membrane. Another cause of hormonal failure can be the incorrect use of oral contraceptives (birth control pills).
- Ignoring personal hygiene.
Cervical exocervicitis: what is it and what are its symptoms
With a question, what is cervical exocervicitis , sorted out - these are inflammatory processes in its mucous membrane. What symptoms accompany these processes? It depends on the stage of the disease. While at the initial stage a woman may not even suspect the presence of infections and inflammatory processes in the reproductive system, in case of exacerbation, some specific symptoms will appear that can be used to judge the disease:
- discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen;
- pain during sex and spotting immediately or after a short period of time after it;
- discomfort, pain, or burning during urination;
- a change in the nature of the discharge - they can become bloody, with impurities of pus or mucus.
- itching in the external genital area.
In addition to the main symptoms, drowsiness, general malaise, and an increase in body temperature can be observed.
Disease classification
Depending on the nature of the disease, exocervicitis is divided into two groups:
1. Acute exocervicitis.
This type of disease is characteristic of a healthy cervix. It is provoked by a fungal infection or gonorrhea. The characteristic signs of acute exocervicitis are the appearance of purulent or mucopurulent vaginal discharge, severe pain and fever.
2. Chronic exocervicitis.
In most cases, it develops in the case of inappropriate treatment of acute exocervicitis. This type of disease is characterized by an increase in pain, a tightening of the cervix, severe inflammation and cyst formation, and epithelial rejection.
Diagnosis of the disease
In order for the treatment to proceed as quickly as possible and without extra efforts, it is important to notice the symptoms of the disease in time and consult a doctor to confirm the diagnosis of exocervicitis. What it is and what its symptoms have been described above, so now it’s worth knowing in more detail about how to diagnose a disease.
A visit to the gynecologist begins with a small survey. The doctor asks questions about the nature and duration of abdominal pain, the presence or change of vaginal discharge, the peculiarities of the menstrual cycle, previous infections, and so on.
The second stage of diagnosis is examination on a gynecological chair. First of all, the external genital organs are examined, after which the doctor goes to the vagina and cervix. Already during the examination, the gynecologist determines the nature and type of the disease: acute or chronic exocervicitis.
For a more accurate diagnosis and the appointment of a correct and effective method of treatment, in addition to examination, the following procedures are carried out:
- Taking a smear on the flora from the vagina.
- Diagnosis of possible viral sexually transmitted diseases (including HIV, hepatitis B).
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs (ovaries, uterine appendages).
- General blood and urine tests.
- Colposcopy
- Conducting a cytological examination. It helps to finally confirm the diagnosis of exocervicitis. The cytogram will help the doctor once again verify the presence of inflammatory processes, obtain information about changes in the vaginal flora. Particular attention is paid to the nature of changes in the epithelium.
If the cytogram corresponds to exocervicitis, the gynecologist prescribes the necessary course of treatment. In this case, treatment is selected exclusively on an individual basis based on their characteristics of the patient's body.
Disease treatment
The next stage after the diagnosis of exocervicitis is treatment. It can be of a different nature, depending on the severity of the disease and its pathogens.
If the inflammation was caused by bacteria, a course of antibiotic therapy is prescribed. At the same time, only a doctor can prescribe a drug and dosage!
In the case of the viral nature of the disease, treatment is carried out with a course of antiviral therapy. The most popular drugs in this case are Valtrex and Acyclovir. As in the previous case, the required dosage is calculated individually.
If exocervicitis was caused by a fungus, then, accordingly, antifungal drugs are prescribed.
After a course of treatment, drugs are prescribed to restore the vaginal microflora. It can be various ointments or candles, which are also selected individually.
If the disease was diagnosed too late and caused complications, surgical interventions are possible. Their goal is to remove the damaged layer of the epithelium using laser radiation.
Disease prevention
Exocervicitis - what is it? What symptoms does it have and why does it occur? The answers to all these questions are in the article. Therefore, understanding how to protect yourself from this trouble is no longer difficult. The main rule: to prevent the onset of causes of the disease and undergo mandatory examinations by a gynecologist at least once a year.