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Cervical Erosion
Does cervical erosion hurt?
In most cases, cervical erosion does not cause pain. However, cervical erosion caused by inflammation of the cervix and vagina can result in lower abdominal pain in some patients. The primary reason for this pain is the irritation from the inflammation, which can lead to lower abdominal pain and discomfort in the lower back. Therefore, if a patient experiences pain in the lower abdomen and lower back, it is recommended to visit the gynecology department of the local hospital for a gynecological examination to determine whether there is cervical erosion and chronic inflammation, and to provide timely treatment if necessary.
Moderate cervical erosion treatment duration
Patients with moderate cervical erosion can generally use topical medications for treatment. If treating with topical medications, it usually involves applying the medication for 7 to 10 days per month, continuing for three menstrual cycles before a follow-up examination. Alternatively, patients with moderate cervical erosion can opt for physical treatments such as laser therapy, electrocoagulation, or cryoablation. Typically, one or two sessions of such treatments can lead to improvement. After treatment using physical methods, the cervix usually returns to normal within two months. Furthermore, before patients with cervical erosion seek treatment at the hospital, they must first undergo cervical cancer screening to rule out cervical cancer and precancerous conditions. Only if cervical erosion is confirmed without accompanying cancerous or precancerous conditions, treatment with medication or laser can be considered. Cervical cancer screening typically involves a TCT (ThinPrep Cytologic Test) and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) virus testing. These tests help determine whether the cervical condition includes cancer or precancerous changes, and if it's only inflammation, then treatment with medication or laser is feasible.
Cervical erosion is classified into several grades.
Cervical erosion is generally divided into three grades: Grade 1 cervical erosion refers to erosion covering less than one-third of the total cervical area, which is also called mild erosion. Grade 2 erosion, also known as moderate-to-severe erosion, refers to the erosion covering about two-thirds of the total area, which is considered moderate, being the middle grade of erosion. Grade 3 cervical erosion is the last and most severe grade, also known as severe erosion. In this case, the erosive area exceeds two-thirds of the entire cervical area, and may even involve the entire cervix. This condition is generally more serious and typically requires examination including a TCT (ThinPrep Cytologic Test) and HPV (Human Papillomavirus) co-screening to investigate the possibility of cervical lesions. Further assessments might include a colposcopy or localized treatment, as severe erosion could lead to symptoms like contact bleeding and increased discharge that need to be addressed.
Can you swim with cervical erosion?
Cervical erosion is permissible for swimming because cervical erosion itself is not considered a disease; it is merely a physiological condition, a normal physiological phenomenon in young women. Cervical erosion is due to high estrogen levels in young people, leading to the proliferation and externalization of columnar epithelium, which is a normal state. It does not affect daily life, including swimming. As long as the water quality in the swimming pool meets health standards and does not lead to infections, normal daily activities can be carried out. Therefore, there is no need to be overly concerned about cervical erosion detected during a physical examination.
Is cervicitis the same as cervical erosion?
Cervicitis is a common inflammation of the female lower genital tract. It is often caused by pathogenic infections of the cervix, leading to cervicitis lesions, most commonly presenting symptoms such as purulent vaginal discharge, vulvar itching, bleeding after intercourse, and visible cervical bleeding and edema during gynecological examinations. This condition requires antibiotic treatment. Cervical erosion, strictly speaking, is not a disease. Cervical erosion occurs when glandular epithelial cells from inside the cervical canal grow outward onto the external part of the cervix. Since glandular epithelial cells are thin, they appear bright red, resembling erosion, thus colloquially termed cervical erosion. These externalized glandular epithelial cells are susceptible to viral or bacterial invasion, causing cervical lesions, thus medicinal treatment is also often recommended.
Is third-degree cervical erosion severe?
Grade III cervical erosion, if cervical cancer and precancerous lesion screening show no issues, simple Grade III cervical erosion is not severe and not frightening. Normally, cervical erosion is classified by the size of the area into Grade I, Grade II, and Grade III erosion. Grade III erosion is the most severe type among cervical erosions. Patients with cervical erosion typically start by undergoing routine cervical cancer screening at hospitals. This usually involves a TCT (ThinPrep Cytologic Test) and HPV virus testing. Through these two tests, it is possible to preliminarily screen for cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. If these tests show no issues, simple Grade III cervical erosion is not frightening. At this point, treatment can include physical methods such as laser, electrocoagulation, or cryocondensation for symptomatic treatment, or some people may use medication for symptomatic treatment, which is also an option. If the cancer screening shows no problems, Grade III cervical erosion is not severe.
How to treat cervical erosion?
Cervical erosion in women is considered a physiological phenomenon, and it usually does not require special treatment. Treatment is only necessary if the woman experiences contact bleeding or has particularly thick secretions that affect sperm passage. Treatment options include using traditional Chinese medicinal suppositories or physical therapies such as common cervical treatments like microwave therapy, cryotherapy, and electrocautery, all of which are very effective for cervical erosion. If the erosion is extensive, it may be necessary to perform cervical TCT and HPV tests to determine the presence of CRN lesions. If there are CRN lesions, such as middle to high-grade lesions, a cervical conization surgery might be considered.
How does second-degree cervical erosion heal by itself?
In general, if one hopes for cervical erosion to heal on its own, it might take a long time and the effects might not be very clear. Therefore, if cervical erosion is found to be severe, it is recommended that the patient visits the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of the local hospital. If necessary, physical therapy or anti-inflammatory treatment may be needed to treat the cervical erosion. Generally, after clinical treatment, most patients with cervical erosion will receive effective treatment. If cervical erosion repeatedly persists and does not heal, it is advised for the patient to promptly identify the reasons causing it to persist and seek timely symptomatic treatment.
Is cervical erosion surgery painful?
Cervical erosion surgery, if you are afraid of pain, can generally be performed painlessly. The method of cervical erosion surgery depends on the approach used. Methods like laser, electrocoagulation, and cryocondensation typically do not pose major issues. During the surgery, patients may feel discomfort or a burning sensation, but these are generally tolerable and most patients handle them well. For patients with severe cervical erosion, electrosurgical loop excision surgery might cause more significant pain. If worried about pain, patients can opt for a non-invasive loop excision surgery. Therefore, patients who are particularly sensitive to pain can request their doctors to perform a painless surgery, which does not cause suffering, and is generally bearable and free from fear for most patients.
Cervical erosion grade one
Cervical erosion of the first degree simply means that the area of cervical erosion is not very large. Cervical erosion of the second degree is also a physiological phenomenon and doesn’t need to be overly concerned about. As long as the screening results for precancerous cervical lesions are normal, and there is no contact bleeding or infection in the discharge, it's not a problem. Simple cervical erosion is just a physiological phenomenon, as young women naturally have higher levels of estrogen, and their columnar epithelium is prone to eversion. It is a physiological state and should not be treated as a disease.