In the article, we will consider why the cervix hurts. What causes this unpleasant symptom worries many women. In order to prevent pain in the cervix, a woman must know its structure and structure. This will save you from many problems and will allow you to understand the causes of such an unpleasant pathology.
Building
The cervix is the lower part of the organ, that is, the transition zone from the vagina to the uterus. Its shape resembles in girls and nulliparous women a cone or a cylinder after childbirth. The size is influenced by several factors. The norm is about 3-4 cm long, 2.5 cm wide. In a pregnant woman, the neck shortens before childbirth and softens, that is, it becomes the birth canal for the baby.
Parts of the neck
There are 2 parts of the cervical region:
- lower located in the vagina (vaginal part);
- upper, located above the vagina (supravaginal part).
The cervical canal runs inside the cervix. Along its edges are pharynxes - internal, whichleads to the uterine cavity, and also external, it opens into the vagina. The cervical canal fills with mucus. It is produced by the glands after the completion of menstruation, it is a kind of natural protective barrier for the uterus from the effects of pathogenic microflora. The external os is the transition zone, which is considered the most vulnerable part in the neck. This pharynx is exposed to various risks that can provoke the formation of malignant tumors.
The main function of the cervix is childbearing, so pain in this area should alert a woman planning a pregnancy. This is a serious reason to urgently see a doctor.
Cycle phases
The structure, size and location of the organ is influenced by the phase of the menstruation cycle:
- Beginning of the cycle - the neck is lowered and hard, with a dense structure.
- The middle of the cycle is ovulation. The neck acquires a loose structure, softens. Mucus becomes more liquid, in consistency it resembles the protein of a chicken egg. Then she leaves the cervix for the unhindered passage of spermatozoa. The opening of the lower pharynx occurs, as a result, the neck rises higher. This is the most favorable period for conception, and the organs are thus prepared for this.
- The cervix falls before the onset of menstruation. A similar condition can be observed during early pregnancy.
- During menstruation, the cervical canal expands to allow blood clots to pass through.
Can the cervix hurt, it is interesting to many patients. This is a signal for a woman aboutpossible pathology. The reasons why it occurs can be very diverse.
Painful sensations can be pathological or physiological, but only a gynecologist can make a differential diagnosis and identify their origin.
Pain also differs in its manifestation.
Pathological pain
So, the discomfort that is caused by the disease:
- Endocervicitis and cervicitis, inflammation of the cervical canal and the cervix in general, led to chronic pain.
- Erosion, dysplasia or cervical cancer often lead to sharp pain during intercourse.
- Endometritis, salpingitis, oophoritis provoke lingering pain.
- Fibroids, polyps and cysts - benign neoplasms of the cervix lead to aching pains with low intensity.
How else does the cervix hurt?
Physiological pain
There is a physiological nature of pain:
- When menstruating.
- After healing surgery.
The cause of the disease will become clear only after a thorough examination in a antenatal clinic or a medical center. Perhaps a latent asymptomatic course of the disease at the initial stage. Neck pain can be extreme.
So, why does the cervix hurt most often?
Possible pathologies that occur most often
Let's list the diseases in which the cervix often hurts in women. These include:
- Erythroplakia. It is the degree of extreme atrophy of the stratified epithelium, up to the basal layer. For this reason, blood vessels are visible in the defect, so it looks like a red spot. Malignant degeneration of pathology is not excluded.
- Ectropion. It is considered an eversion of the cervical mucosa. The cause is a previous abortion, planned curettage, or complications after natural childbirth.
- Leukoplakia. On the epithelium of the neck there are small areas of a whitish hue. This happens most often due to injuries, infections, reduced immunity, or hormonal imbalances with simple leukoplakia. The most dangerous form of the disease is verrucous, which was initiated by HPV with a high risk of carcinogenesis. The pathological focus is a layer of excessive epithelial keratinization, which should normally be absent. Also, the possibility of degeneration of verrucous leukoplakia into cancer is not excluded. If there is pain in the cervix with leukoplakia, then the disease is already in an advanced form.
- Erosion of the cervix. The mucous membrane of the epithelium of the cervical part is slightly damaged, erosion occurs. Usually, a wound or ulcer can heal on its own without any therapy, provided there are no inflammatory processes. In a neglected form and with severe inflammation, the cervix will hurt and bleed during intercourse. Sometimes the cervix hurts after cauterization of erosion.
- Ectopia (pseudo-erosion), congenital or acquired. The epithelium of the cervical canal is not located inside, but outside it. It can be found invaginal part of the cervix. The cause of occurrence is improper healing of erosion. Painful sensations against the background of pseudo-erosion are extremely rare. As a rule, there are no symptoms with such a pathology, and pain is observed during an incorrect examination by a gynecologist. If intense inflammation joins, then the woman will have pain in the lower abdomen. When the cervix hurts, the doctor should determine the reasons.
- Benign neoplasm - Naboth's cyst, myoma and polyp. Cysts provoke pain with a size of more than 2 cm - in such cases, a puncture is necessary. Fibroids and polyps often cause spotting, brown discharge, and bleeding in addition to pain.
Cytological smear during preventive examinations at the gynecologist should be taken regularly to detect diseases of the cervix in the early stages. A more accurate result is observed with colposcopy and biopsy.
When Pregnant
Find out why the cervix hurts during pregnancy.
At this time, the doctor should especially control this organ. It is his condition that affects whether a woman bears a child or not.
After the fertilization of the egg has occurred, significant changes await the cervix. It sprouts with new vessels, blood flow increases, under the influence of progesterone, the tissues of the vagina and cervix swell. Against the background of such processes, mild pain or, rather, discomfort such as bursting may occur. The cervix has a bluish tinge on examination. If the doctor finds that the cervix is soft and the canal is slightly open, he will suspect a threatened miscarriage.
In the last stages of pregnancy, the cervix shortens and softens a lot - this is the first sign that childbirth is coming soon. A mucous plug comes out of the cervical canal. A woman may feel training contractions, during which pain in the neck is felt.
Why does the cervix hurt during pregnancy?
Possible deviations
The reasons for this must be identified. This happens most often:
- when uterine hypertonicity is due to low progesterone levels or high prolactin levels, stress, infections or exercise;
- cervical insufficiency - in this case, the cervical part cannot withstand the pressure of the fetus or opens due to hormonal imbalance, and pain occurs in the lumbar region and lower abdomen;
- endocervicitis - an inflammatory process in the cervical canal as a result of sexual infections or the circulation of opportunistic microflora, pathological vaginal discharge is also observed;
- erosion - occur for a short period of time, for 10-14 days, so the patient most often does not notice pain.
Consequences
Is it dangerous that the cervix hurts a lot?
In the absence of proper attention to your body and ignoring pain in the body, serious diseases occur, such as dysplasia and cervical cancer. Especially if HPV is present. So you should be vigilant. Very often, neglected diseases lead to the appearance of malignant tumors.
Sometimesa woman is not even aware of the erosion that occurs due to frequent abortions or difficult births, with promiscuity. Many self-medicate or hope for a miracle that everything will pass.
Papillomas and polyps
Papillomas and polyps that form on the cervix and genitals are especially dangerous. The former are of viral origin. Polyps are an overgrowth of the cervical canal glands. Although benign, they can degenerate into cancer in the future.
Oncology is easy to detect by histological examination. This is one of the pathologies that may not manifest itself for quite some time.
Cervical pain during pregnancy can lead to early miscarriage or later preterm labor.
Follow all doctor's recommendations and take all tests.
Therapy
If the cervix hurts, treatment should be immediate.
First of all, you need to establish an accurate diagnosis. Only then proceed to treatment.
In the presence of erythroplakia, dysplasia, leukoplakia, ectopia, one of the types of surgical intervention is required. The most popular are:
- cryolysis - treatment of the affected area with liquefied nitrogen;
- radio wave treatment;
- diathermocoagulation - high frequency currents affect the problem;
- conization of the cervix - part of the cervix is removed in the shape of a cone;
- laser therapy.
Age,the degree of neglect of the pathology and plans for pregnancy affect the choice of surgery. At the same time, antibacterial, antiviral, immunomodulatory therapy is carried out.
With such a diagnosis as ectropion, the doctor first determines the presence or absence of foci of the inflammatory process. Then the cervical canal is restored. Treatment is selected on an individual basis. Complications are extremely rare.
Currently, chemical coagulation is very popular in the treatment of small ectopias. The focus is treated with a drug ("Solkovagin", "Vagotil").
Most often, manipulations are painless, but slight discomfort may be felt.
Benign growths are usually removed surgically. But sometimes conservative treatment is enough. Hormonal remedies are prescribed if the cervix hurts.
When planning a pregnancy, you should undergo a comprehensive examination to exclude cervical pathology. If they are found, then they first carry out therapy, after which conception can be carried out.
We looked at what it means if the cervix hurts. What to do with this pathology is also described in detail.
