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Cervical Erosion
What are the symptoms of cervical erosion?
Simple cervical erosion is not considered a disease, so there are no symptoms associated with cervical erosion itself. However, if the cervical erosion is due to inflammation, resulting in a large affected area, abnormal secretions, or contact bleeding, then treatment must be aimed at addressing the infection. All women, regardless of whether they have cervical erosion, should undergo routine screening for precancerous cervical lesions. The decision on whether to treat and what treatment to opt for should be based on the presence or absence of precancerous cervical lesions or cervical vaginal inflammation.
How is cervical erosion treated?
Cervical erosion is not considered a disease, so there is no need for any treatment for cervical erosion, including the use of anti-inflammatory drugs or various physical therapies such as laser, microwave, LEEP, etc. Simple cervical erosion is just a physiological condition, and routine cervical precancerous lesion screening is necessary. If there are no precancerous cervical lesions, and if the usual secretions are normal without abnormal odor or itching, then no treatment is needed if there is no infection.
Symptoms of cervical erosion
Most patients with cervical erosion do not exhibit symptoms. Those with symptoms largely display an increased amount of vaginal discharge, which is mucopurulent. Vaginal secretion can stimulate itching and burning sensation in the vulva. Additionally, symptoms may include bleeding outside of menstruation periods and post-coital bleeding. If combined with a urinary tract infection, symptoms can include urgency to urinate, frequent urination, and painful urination. Gynecological examination may reveal congestion and edema of the cervix, mucosal eversion, and mucopurulent secretions attached or even flowing out of the cervical canal. The cervical canal mucosa is fragile and prone to bleeding. If infected with Neisseria gonorrhoeae, due to the involvement of paraurethral and vestibular glands, congestion and edema of the urethral and vaginal openings may be observed, along with a copious amount of purulent discharge.
Does cervical erosion cause itching?
Simple cervical erosion does not cause itching symptoms. Since cervical erosion is not a disease, if itching occurs, there are other problems involved. For example, some people experience itching due to inflammation of the vulva and vagina, which requires routine checks for vaginal bacteriology, classification of inflammation, and selection of targeted medications for treatment; others might have itching due to allergies, such as allergies to underwear, sanitary pads, or even semen; and there are also cases involving issues like vulvar lichen sclerosus.
How to check for cervical erosion?
Firstly, women who are sexually active and have cervical erosion need to visit a hospital for further examinations such as colposcopy to check for erosion. Cervical erosion is a physiological manifestation, caused by the external migration of columnar epithelium from the cervical canal due to hormonal levels, presenting as an erosion-like appearance. Thus, this condition is also a physiological response. Once sexually active, women who have been sexually active for over two years need to regularly undergo cervical cytology testing using the human papillomavirus (HPV) and liquid-based cytology to see if there are other potential issues. If there are no problems, cervical erosion can be periodically monitored, and it's advised to avoid cold exposure, fatigue, spicy and irritating foods, and maintain cleanliness of the external genital area.
Cervical erosion is graded into several degrees.
In clinical practice, cervical erosion is divided into three degrees. It is considered first degree when the area of cervical erosion is within one-third; it falls under the second degree if it exceeds one-third but is within two-thirds; and it is classified as third degree if the area of cervical erosion exceeds two-thirds. Preliminary judgments can be made based on the results of the examination. Regardless of the degree of cervical erosion, timely treatment is necessary. Generally, normal condition can be restored with systematic treatment based on the attending physician's advice.
Is electrocauterization good for cervical erosion?
Cervical erosion electrocautery is a treatment method used in the past. Nowadays, most cases can generally be treated through physical methods like laser, electrocoagulation, and cryocondensation. After electrocautery, the cervical tissue typically becomes harder, which can result in cervical lacerations during childbirth for patients who plan to conceive in the future. Therefore, electrocautery is rarely used now, and most treatments currently employ laser or electrocoagulation methods. Patients with cervical erosion should first visit a hospital for cervical cancer screening, which generally involves TCT and HPV testing. If these tests show no cervical cancer or precancerous lesions, simple cervical erosion is generally not a serious issue. At this time, topical medications or some physiotherapy treatments can also be used for symptomatic treatment. (Please undergo medication under the guidance of a professional doctor, and do not medicate blindly.)
Moderate cervical erosion is what?
Cervical erosion can be classified into mild, moderate, and severe based on the size of the erosion area. Mild erosion occurs when the erosion area is less than 1/3 of the cervical area, and moderate erosion when the area is between 1/3 and 2/3. Severe erosion occurs when the area exceeds 2/3 of the cervical area. Women with moderate cervical erosion often suffer from infertility and miscarriages. More seriously, if moderate cervical erosion is left untreated or persists without healing, it can develop into severe cervical erosion or precancerous lesions, and even cervical cancer. Moderate cervical erosion can affect future normal fertility, so it is crucial to take the disease seriously and undertake preventive measures.
Can you swim with cervical erosion?
Cervical erosion can swim because simple cervical erosion is not a disease itself, it does not need to be concerned about, and does not need attention. Since it is not a disease, there are no prohibitions, including no dietary restrictions; you can eat anything and engage in activities like swimming or other aspects of life, such as sexual activity, etc. Because cervical erosion is not a disease, there's no need to worry about it; don't be anxious about whether you have cervical erosion. Routine check-ups for pre-cancerous cervical lesions and checking for any abnormal vaginal discharge are sufficient.
Is cervical erosion prone to pregnancy?
Cervical erosion, if not severe, generally does not affect pregnancy. However, if cervical erosion continues to worsen, leading to chronic inflammation of the uterus, it is likely to result in infertility. Timely treatment can be administered, and once disease symptoms are controlled, it is possible to become pregnant again. Treatment methods such as LEEP (Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure) with blue light can be used to effectively alleviate the symptoms of cervical erosion. Cleansing with traditional Chinese medicine can also have a certain therapeutic effect on alleviating cervical erosion.