Is cervical erosion serious?

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 12, 2024
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Cervical erosion is actually a physiological phenomenon and is not alarming. It is caused by the increased levels of estrogen in the body, which causes the columnar epithelium inside the cervical canal to descend and evert. During gynecological examinations, this part of the cervical canal appears red and granular, like eroded protrusions, as if it has decayed. However, this is not the case. When the estrogen levels in a woman's body decrease, this tissue will retract back into the cervical canal and will no longer be visible. In most cases, treatment is not necessary. Treatment is only required if the erosion is combined with an infection, or if there is bleeding after intercourse, or if there is an increase in thick, sticky vaginal discharge that affects sperm passage. Additionally, some women may have cervical cancerous changes that also appear as erosive growths. Therefore, when a woman notices cervical erosion, it is advisable to undergo a TCT screening to rule out the possibility of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and precancerous lesions of the cervix.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 24sec home-news-image

Is cervicitis the same as cervical erosion?

Cervical inflammation is not cervical erosion. Firstly, cervical erosion is merely a physiological phenomenon, where elevated estrogen levels in a woman's body cause the downward and outward movement of the columnar epithelium of the cervix. This condition is mainly seen in women of childbearing age. For instance, postmenopausal women generally have lower levels of estrogen, making cervical erosion less common. For example, during pregnancy, elevated estrogen levels can increase the area of cervical erosion. After childbirth, as estrogen levels gradually return to normal, the area of cervical erosion might reduce and might even become invisible. However, cervical inflammation is caused by pathogenic microorganisms. For example, a common scenario is vaginal inflammation spreading to the columnar epithelium of the cervix in some women. Additionally, some women experience sexually transmitted diseases, like the common infection of Neisseria gonorrhoeae, which causes inflammation of the columnar epithelium. Therefore, there is a fundamental difference between cervical inflammation and cervical erosion; cervical inflammation is a pathological change, while cervical erosion is a physiological change.

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Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Is cervical erosion cervical inflammation?

Previously, cervical erosion was considered a manifestation of cervicitis. Recent research has proven that cervical erosion occurs when the epithelium inside the cervical canal grows out towards the external os and vaginal portion of the cervix, replacing the original epithelium at these sites. This results in a bright red appearance, visually similar to erosion, hence the term cervical erosion. Since the outward migration of the endometrium is a physiological phenomenon that typically retracts back into the cervical canal as age increases, cervical erosion generally does not require treatment if there is no inflammation.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 32sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Li Lin
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 5sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Does cervical erosion hurt?

Cervical erosion is not considered a disease and does not cause pain. If there is pelvic inflammation, some people may experience chronic pelvic pain, a sense of heaviness, or lower back pain. Issues with the cervix generally do not lead to noticeable symptoms. Some may have increased discharge or contact bleeding, which usually indicates a concurrent infection. In such cases, screening for precancerous cervical lesions and bacterial vaginosis tests should be conducted. Treatment should be based on the specific condition to be targeted. Simple cervical erosion does not require any treatment.