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The cervix, aka the cervix, is one part of the reproductive organs that is important for maintaining good health. The reason is, this one organ functions as a way out of menstrual blood and babies during childbirth. Because of its very important role, you need to be aware of several health problems that can attack the cervix. One of them is cervicitis or inflammation of the cervix.
What is cervicitis?
The cervix or cervix is the organ that connects the vagina with the uterus. Just like other organs of the body, the cervix is also prone to infection and inflammation known as cervicitis.
Cervicitis is an inflammatory, irritated, or sore condition on the cervix. The lining of the cervix that is injured or irritated can cause swelling, redness, and mucus or pus in the cervix.
Some of the causes of cervical inflammation or cervicitis are:
- Sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes.
- Allergic reactions, usually from spermicide or latex in a condom. A number of feminine care products such as douche can also trigger inflammation of the cervix.
- Overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina. This condition can lead to a vaginal infection called bacterial vaginosis and lead to cervicitis.
Even though it can be overcome, you still need to be aware of the risk of recurrent cervicitis. Yes, women who have had cervicitis before also have an 8-25 percent chance of experiencing it again, as quoted from WebMD.
Signs and symptoms of inflammation of the cervix
Most women are often unconscious when they have inflammation of the cervix or cervicitis. The reason is, this one disease does not cause any symptoms and is usually only known after a pelvic examination.
But at least, there are some signs and symptoms of cervicitis that you can notice early on, namely:
- Abnormal vaginal discharge that is yellow, thick white, or gray in color and smells bad
- Pain when urinating
- Pain during sex
- Bleeding outside of menstruation
- The vagina bleeds after sexual intercourse
If you pay attention, the symptoms of cervical inflammation are similar to the symptoms of other diseases. Therefore, if you experience one or more of these symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.
Cervical infections that are allowed to persist can spread to other reproductive organs, from the uterus, fallopian tubes, to the pelvic cavity and abdomen. As a result, you are prone to experiencing fertility problems and in the end it is difficult to get pregnant. Even if you can get pregnant, an inflamed cervix will interfere with the development of the baby in the womb and block the birth canal.
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