Is uterine erosion dangerous during pregnancy? Let's figure it out in this article.
Pathological processes in the internal organs of the reproductive system of a woman during pregnancy can lead to severe diseases of the fetus, as well as affect its intrauterine development. An inflammatory process localized in the cervix can cause bleeding, especially in the first trimester.
Erosion during pregnancy occurs quite often.
Erosion description
Erosion of the uterine cervix is quite common in gynecological practice. Such a pathology can affect the reproductive system of both a woman who has given 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 the violation of the integrity of the mucous membrane of the cervical canal. The main danger of pathology is the increased vulnerability of the female reproductive system to various infectious lesions. Therefore, it is very important to visit the gynecologist regularly if the patient has been diagnosed with erosion of the uterine cervix.
The cervical mucosa 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 normal epithelial cells of the uterine cervix are replaced by columnar epithelium. There are a number of factors that can affect the development of erosion. In some cases, the impact on the body occurs for a long time and only then manifests itself in the form of erosion.
There are also situations when signs of erosion are first detected during pregnancy. In this case, the appearance of pathology is provoked by changes in the hormonal background of a woman during childbearing.
Find out why erosion occurs during pregnancy.
Reasons
The exact causes of erosion have not yet been clarified. There are quite a few theories about this. However, doctors can name several factors that can affect the development of this pathology:
- Starting sexual activity before the age of twenty. This is due to the fact that the mucous membrane of the cervical canal may not be fully formed by this age, so during intercourse it is damaged, which provokes the development of erosion.
- Decrease in the body's immune properties. Erosions are common among patients who have been diagnosed with cancer.or other severe pathologies of internal organs. Immunity resistance decreases, which provokes an infectious lesion of the reproductive system and the occurrence of erosion.
- Impaired hormonal balance in the body. These are conditions of a secondary type that develop against the background of other diseases, for example, in the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, ovaries, etc.
- Infectious diseases transmitted through sexual contact that have not been treated in time. Harmful microorganisms penetrate the internal membranes of the uterine cavity and provoke an inflammatory process.
Provoking factors
There are also a number of reasons that have no scientific justification, but many experts attribute them to the provoking factors of cervical erosion during pregnancy:
- Prolonged use of oral contraceptives, which cause imbalance of hormones in the female body.
- Abortions or miscarriages.
- Frequent change of sexual partners. In this case, we are talking about injury to 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 who had uterine erosion during pregnancy, they did not feel discomfort, and also did not experience pain in the lower abdomen. However, not alwayserosion proceeds 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 cervical erosion during pregnancy, many women report brown discharge, most often after intercourse. In addition, they may appear after taking a hot shower or bath, playing sports. Lifting weights is also considered to be a trigger for discharge.
With erosion during pregnancy, the discharge may become dark brown or scarlet. Seek medical attention if this is the case.
Danger sign
It happens that erosion bleeds during pregnancy.
Bleeding is considered a dangerous symptom that should not be ignored. Bleeding against the background of erosion is accompanied by a feeling of discomfort and pulling pains in the lower abdomen. Sexual intercourse, excessive physical activity and weight lifting can provoke the release of blood from erosion. As a rule, the pain syndrome of moderate intensity lasts for several hours. At the same time, women report paroxysmal pain.
Rarely, erosion is accompanied by any symptoms of a general deterioration in 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 the baby
Erosion of the uterine cervix in the active phase can be dangerous not onlyfor the woman, but also for the unborn child. If regular blood loss occurs due to discharge from the formed erosions, then a pregnant woman may notice signs of anemia. This is due to the fact that against the background of blood loss, the level of hemoglobin, which is 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 bleeding during cervical erosion during pregnancy has a detrimental effect on the overall development of the child. At the same time, anemia is not severe, since hemoglobin is within 90 g / l. If this indicator falls below, complex treatment is required not only for anemia, but also for erosion.
Since the damaged mucosa is susceptible to various infectious lesions, the fetus can also 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.
The areas of the mucosa that are prone to erosion gradually lose their density. They become thinner and torn 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 child during childbirth are patients who have a narrow cervical canal. Doctors in this case prefer to do a caesarean section and refuse natural childbirth.
The appearance of erosionon the mucous membrane of the uterine cervix during pregnancy can provoke premature birth. In some cases, there is an untimely discharge of water. These conditions are dangerous for the unborn child and require emergency medical attention.
But the most common erosion occurs after pregnancy and childbirth.
Diagnosis
Erosion is not detected through laboratory tests alone. The causes of the pathological process are determined during a comprehensive examination.
The diagnosis of "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 colposcopy to the woman. This is a highly accurate method of examining the cervix, which involves examining it with 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 a colposcopy, you can take a sample of material for a biopsy. Thus, it will be possible to evaluate morphological changes in the organ. A biopsy allows for differential diagnosis and excludes the possibility of transformation of erosion into a malignant formation.
Biopsy research is carried out on the basis of a specialized laboratory. Analysis in progress for several days.
STD testing
If a woman has cervical erosion during pregnancy, the specialist prescribes a complexexamination, which includes tests to identify foci of sexually transmitted infections. As a rule, the test involves testing for the presence of gonococci, chlamydia, herpes viruses, pale treponema, HIV and some types of HPV.
During an extended examination, a vaginal swab is mandatory. Thus, cellular diagnostics is carried out, which makes it possible to identify atypical cells that indicate a neoplasm. Further, a full examination is carried out and complex treatment is prescribed.
Treatment
Many women, especially during pregnancy, ask the specialist about the need to treat the identified erosion. Doctors believe that in the case of the physiological type of erosion, that is, which 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 he althy 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 of age undergo a similar process.
If instead of regression, the pathology of the uterine cervix begins to progress, the doctor may prescribe treatment. Various methods of erosion control are distinguished, which are used only in case of emergency.
Let's consider the main ones:
- Radio wave moxibustion. This method is the most popular among specialists. It can be performed on girls who have not yet given birth. This method is prescribed in the case when inflammation becomeschronic form and a tendency to relapse. After cauterization, a scar remains on the uterine neck, and the tissues lose their 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.
- Electric current. This method has been used quite often in the past. However, today preference is given to more modern methods of treatment, since electric current is an aggressive and traumatic method. Scars and scars of a rather large size remain on the uterus after exposure.
- Nitrogen. This is another method of cauterization of erosion. Under the influence of liquid nitrogen, it is possible to treat the affected area. The advantage of this treatment is the reduced risk of scarring or scarring of the uterine cervix.
- Laser exposure. This method is currently quite widely used in gynecological practice. This is a non-aggressive way of influencing damaged tissues, which does not leave scars and scars. Specialists use the method of laser exposure when erosion is in the active acute phase.
- Other methods. As a rule, cauterization is used only when absolutely necessary. In other situations, doctors try to avoid such an effect on the uterine cervix. Women during pregnancy may be prescribed drugs whose action is aimed at eliminating the cause that led to the occurrence of erosion. Effective is a restorative therapy aimed at improving the protective qualitiesorganism.
Conclusion
Often gynecologists state the regression of erosion after delivery. In this case, we are talking about the physiological origin of the pathology. Also, the cause of regression of erosion can be the normalization of the balance of hormones in the body of a woman after childbirth. Doctors try not to prescribe treatment for uterine erosion during pregnancy, often choosing expectant tactics. Treatment is prescribed only in the case of an active stage of development of the pathology.
