cervical erosion symptoms

Written by Wang Jing Hua

Obstetrics and Gynecology

Updated on March 07, 2025

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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 Sun Shan Shan

Obstetrics and Gynecology

1min 1sec

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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.

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Written by Wang Jing Hua

Obstetrics and Gynecology

43sec

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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.

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Written by Wang Jing Hua

Obstetrics and Gynecology

44sec

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Causes of cervical erosion

Cervical erosion is considered a physiological phenomenon, not a disease. It is part of the normal anatomical structure of females, characterized by a more apparent red appearance of the columnar epithelium on the cervix. This is due to the relatively high levels of estrogen in young women, which causes the columnar epithelium to evert from the cervical canal, resulting in a vigorous growth of the epithelium, and thus the red, erosion-like appearance. This is normal, and as age increases, the columnar epithelium gradually moves inward and is covered by squamous epithelium, resulting in a smooth appearance of the cervix.

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Written by Shen Li Wen

Obstetrics and Gynecology

1min 24sec

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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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Written by Jia Rui

Obstetrics and Gynecology

39sec

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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.