Is cervicitis the same as cervical erosion?

Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 22, 2024
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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.

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Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How to check for cervical erosion?

Whether there is cervical erosion needs to be assessed through a gynecological examination at the hospital, involving the use of a vaginal speculum, similar to checking for erosion in the right eye. Cervical erosion is physiological, especially during puberty under the effect of estrogen, leading to the enlargement of the cervix. The cervical canal mucosal tissue migrates outward, and the squamocolumnar junction moves outward, resulting in this condition. The surface of the cervix appears granular and pink, similar to what is observed as erosion in the right eye. As estrogen levels decline after menopause, the cervix shrinks and some of the erosions may disappear. It is recommended that women of childbearing age with cervical erosion undergo further cervical cancer screening.

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Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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cervical erosion symptoms

Cervical erosion does not belong to any disease, and therefore, it does not cause any symptoms or consequences. If there are symptoms, then there are other issues. For instance, if there is bleeding, one must consider whether there are precancerous lesions of the cervix, severe inflammation of the cervix, or inflammatory issues of the uterus, among others. If there is abnormal discharge that is excessive, yellowing, itchy, or has an unusual odor, it is necessary to consider the presence of vaginal inflammation or cervical inflammation, rather than cervical erosion. Regular physical examinations and cervical cancer screenings are sufficient.

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Written by Hou Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.

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Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.

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Written by Sun Shan Shan
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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.