As a rule, the weaker sex is very carefully monitoring the state of their women's he alth. And while the concepts of "thrush" or "cystitis" are very well known to everyone, there are diseases that are less common in wide circles. One such problem is exocervicitis. What is it, what are its symptoms, how to treat it, and are there ways to avoid this disease? Let's figure it out.
Exocervicitis - what is it?
Due to the specific features of the female anatomy, and in particular the genitourinary system, pathogenic organisms can very easily penetrate the body. As a result, they can cause exocervicitis of the cervix. What it is? These are inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane of the cervix, which are accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen and discharge uncharacteristic for a woman.
Inflammatory process - exocervicitis - more oftenmost observed in women aged 25 to 35 who have an active and disordered sex life.
Causes of exocervicitis
There are several factors that can trigger the onset of the disease:
- Promiscuous, unprotected sex.
- Reduced immunity due to kidney or liver failure, HIV infection, diabetes.
- Abortion, childbirth, and the presence of injuries inflicted on the internal genital organs as a result of these processes.
- Prolapse of the cervix.
- Inflammatory processes in the genitourinary system (colpitis, cystitis, etc.).
- The presence of diseases during which microbes are carried throughout the body along with the blood (tonsillitis, various inflammations, etc.).
- Incorrect use of internal contraception (spirals, vaginal suppositories) or frequent douching with aggressive drugs to protect against pregnancy.
- Hormonal disruptions in the body. Most often this occurs 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 reason for hormonal failure can be the wrong intake of oral contraceptives (birth control pills).
- Ignoring the rules of personal hygiene.
Cervical exocervicitis: what is it and what are its symptoms
With the question, what is cervical exocervicitis,figured 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 be aware of the presence of infections and inflammatory processes in the reproductive system, in the event of an exacerbation, some specific symptoms will appear that can be used to judge the disease:
- feeling discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen;
- pain during sex and spotting immediately or shortly after;
- discomfort, cramps or burning during urination;
- change in the nature of the discharge - they can become bloody, mixed with pus or mucus.
- itching in the vulva.
In addition to the main symptoms, there may be drowsiness, general malaise, fever.
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 he althy cervix. It is provoked by a fungal infection or gonorrhea. Characteristic signs of acute exocervicitis are the appearance of purulent or mucopurulent discharge from the vagina, severe pain and fever.
2. Chronic exocervicitis.
In most cases, it develops in case of improper treatment of acute exocervicitis. This type of disease is characterized by an increase in pain, hardening of the cervix, severe inflammationand the formation of cysts, rejection of the epithelium.
Diagnosis of disease
In order for the treatment to pass as quickly as possible and without any extra effort, 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 learning more about how to diagnose the disease.
A visit to the gynecologist begins with a short survey. The doctor asks questions about the nature and duration of abdominal pain, the presence or change in vaginal discharge, the characteristics of the menstrual cycle, previous infectious diseases, and so on.
The second stage of diagnosis is an examination on a gynecological chair. First of all, the external genital organs are examined, after which the doctor proceeds 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 appointment of the correct and effective method of treatment, in addition to the examination, the following procedures are also carried out:
- Vaginal flora smear.
- Diagnosis of possible sexually transmitted viral diseases (including HIV, hepatitis B).
- Ultrasound of the pelvic organs (ovaries, uterine appendages).
- General blood and urine tests.
- Colposcopy.
- Carrying out 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, the treatment is selected exclusively on an individual basis, based on the characteristics of the patient's body.
Treatment of disease
The next step 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 the drug and dosage!
In the case of a viral nature of the disease, treatment is carried out with a course of antiviral therapy. The most popular drugs in this case are V altrex and Acyclovir. As in the previous case, the required dosage is calculated individually.
If the exocervicitis was caused by a fungus, then, accordingly, antifungal drugs are prescribed.
After the 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 provoked complications, surgical interventions are possible. Their purpose is to remove the damaged layerepithelium using laser radiation.
Disease prevention
Exocervicitis - what is it? What are its symptoms and why does it occur? The answers to all these questions are in the article. Therefore, it will not be difficult to understand how to protect yourself from this trouble. The main rule is to prevent the appearance of the causes of the disease and undergo mandatory examinations by a gynecologist at least once a year.
