Cervical erosion examination what

Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on June 27, 2025
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The term "cervical erosion" has been abolished, meaning that cervical erosion is not a disease but a normal physiological condition, which is the ectopic placement of columnar epithelium on the cervix and does not require treatment. However, if there are erosion-like changes observed on the cervix accompanied by contact bleeding, it is necessary to conduct a precancerous cervical screening. This is because precancerous lesions or cervical cancer can also present with erosion-like changes on the cervix. Therefore, if cervical erosion is observed but no lesions are found during the cervical cancer screening, then no treatment is needed.

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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.

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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.

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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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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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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.