Consequences of cervical erosion

Erosive damage to the epithelial layer of the cervix is called erosion. The causes of such damage may be some infectious diseases, inflammatory processes, disorders of the vaginal microflora, premature sexual activity. The consequences of cervical erosion in the vast majority of situations are not so harmless.

The main purpose of the cervix is reproduction, and the mucous secreted from the cylindrical epithelium of the cervical canal and the surface layer of the cervix should ensure free penetration of seminal fluid into the uterus. In addition, healthy cervical tissue is a potential barrier to the penetration of all kinds of infectious agents into the uterine cavity.

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Symptoms of the consequences of cervical erosion

Among the most common adverse effects of untreated or improperly treated pathology, the following can be distinguished:

1. The mucous layer damaged by the erosive process is an unimpeded path for a large number of various infections. The risk of getting an infectious disease of the internal genital organs increases several times. Due to the damaged mucous membrane of the cervix, diseases such as:

• endometritis (inflammatory reaction of the endometrium);
• myometritis (an inflammatory process in the muscular layer of the uterus);
• endometritis (inflammatory process of the endometrial and muscular layers of the uterus);
• salpingitis (inflammation of one or two fallopian tubes);
• oophoritis (inflammatory reaction in one or both ovaries);
• salpingo-oophoritis, also known as adnexitis (a combined inflammatory process of the ovary and fallopian tubes, on one or both sides);
• pelvic peritonitis (inflammatory reaction of the pelvic peritoneum).

2. Untreated erosion can become a causative factor for early dilation of the cervix in a pregnant woman, which poses a threat of premature birth or spontaneous abortion.

What are the possible symptoms of the consequences of cervical erosion when pathogenic microorganisms penetrate the internal genital organs?

• Pain in the lower abdomen, in the pelvic area.
• When the process becomes purulent, there is a high temperature, rapid heartbeat, and fever.
• Bleeding or discharge of blood from the vaginal cavity that is not related to menstrual bleeding (possibly after sexual intercourse).
• Other pathological discharge (ichor, pus, etc.).
• Painful sexual intercourse, discomfort during sexual intercourse.
• Problems with urination.
• Rarely – a feeling of discomfort in the abdomen, dyspepsia.

Sometimes complications of erosion can occur with a minimum number of symptoms, or even in a hidden form. Therefore, a woman may not even suspect her disease. The pathology can subsequently negatively affect the ability to conceive, as well as the course of pregnancy itself.

Consequences of major cervical erosion

With a large erosion of the cervix, ideal conditions are created for the vital activity of pathogenic microorganisms, which can lead to the emergence of various inflammatory and infectious diseases. Most often, there is a lesion by chlamydia, fungal infection, trichomonas and other microorganisms, which, due to erosion, freely enter the uterine cavity and appendages. All these factors can lead to the inability of a woman to conceive, since the erosive surface plus foreign pathogenic flora and inflammatory processes serve as a major obstacle to normal fertilization.

Moreover, erosion on the surface of the cervix can degenerate from a benign process into malignant oncology, that is, provoke the development of a cancerous tumor of the cervix.

Cervical cancer is a dangerous and, unfortunately, very common phenomenon among women of childbearing age with diagnosed, untreated or completely untreated erosion.

In order to avoid such dangerous complications, all women without exception are recommended to visit a gynecologist every six months and undergo all necessary examinations. The doctor will select the necessary treatment regimen immediately after detecting cervical pathology.

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Consequences of advanced cervical erosion

Cervical erosion is considered a benign process, but it is not possible to claim that this disease is harmless. Of course, sometimes this disease can heal itself without any medical manipulations, but in most situations, an advanced erosive process is the main factor in the occurrence of tumor complications.

In addition, advanced erosion can cause:

• herpes infection or chlamydia;
• human papillomavirus (which, in turn, can trigger the appearance of condylomas and the development of a precancerous condition);
• the transition of erosion to the bleeding stage, which most specialists assess as a pre-oncological condition of the cervix.

When a gynecologist examines an advanced erosive process, the doctor usually removes an element of epithelial tissue from the surface of the erosion. This procedure is called a biopsy. In some cases, a smear for cytological examination may be taken instead of a biopsy. Both diagnostic methods are aimed primarily at detecting potential cancer.

In case of cervical erosion, it is important to remember that delaying a gynecological examination and delaying treatment can lead to very unpleasant and even tragic consequences.

Consequences of removal of cervical erosion

Removal of cervical erosion is possible in different ways. The doctor considers each specific case separately and individually decides on the choice of treatment method, taking into account the characteristics of the disease in each patient. Factors of disease development, the course of the pathology, as well as the size and depth of the erosion are taken into account.

Erosion removal can be carried out using the following methods:

• laser removal;
• radio wave removal;
• cauterization of erosion with liquid nitrogen (cryodestruction).

Despite all the positive aspects of these methods, there are also certain undesirable consequences of removing cervical erosion. Let's consider the possible consequences of each of the most popular methods of treating erosion.

1. Diathermocoagulation using electric current is considered an accessible and effective way to remove the erosive process. The consequences of cauterization of cervical erosion using electric current can be different. For example, there is a high probability of formation of scar tissue on the areas of the former erosive surface. In the future, this may cause difficulties in opening the cervix during labor. For this reason, this method is used only in women who do not plan to have children in the future.
2. The consequences of freezing cervical erosion with liquid nitrogen are that the specialist cannot always be sure that all layers of damaged tissue were subjected to the cryodestruction method. Because of this, getting rid of the pathology may be partial, with the possible development of a relapse of the disease in the future. In addition, treatment with liquid nitrogen often becomes impossible due to the great depth of the lesion. And with an irregular shape of erosion, damage to absolutely healthy tissue is possible, because it is difficult to manipulate liquid nitrogen with a standard-sized tip. In order to prevent the consequences of cryodestruction of cervical erosion, this method is recommended to be used only for erosions of small scale.
3. The consequences of laser cauterization of cervical erosion are much less pronounced. Laser therapy is the most preferred method that can be used by patients of any age, including those who are planning a pregnancy in the future. The percentage of recurrent diseases after laser cauterization of cervical erosion is extremely low, but it still exists. In some cases, laser cauterization can contribute to the development of secondary infection of the internal genital organs and even the formation of endometriosis.

All the above-mentioned consequences of cervical erosion removal may not affect you if the therapeutic procedures are performed by a qualified and competent specialist. For this reason, for therapeutic and diagnostic procedures, it is necessary to contact well-known, time-tested and experienced clinics and medical centers that have the appropriate necessary equipment and trained specialists.

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Treatment of the consequences of cervical erosion

Unfortunately, ideal therapeutic methods do not yet exist. However, it is still necessary to undergo treatment, and not independently, but by contacting a good and experienced specialist. It is much easier and faster to cure the disease if the procedures are started in a timely manner. Treatment of the consequences of cervical erosion will be much more difficult, longer, and the result may be less favorable.

Ignoring the disease is unacceptable, since the lack of proper treatment threatens the process to become malignant, or other equally dangerous complications, which we have already mentioned.

Today, doctors have a wider range of treatment options than they had just a few years ago. When choosing a therapeutic procedure, the doctor relies on the results of tests, the age and general health of the patient, the severity of the erosive process, and the wishes of the woman herself. Listening to advice and carefully following all the doctor's instructions - only this can guarantee the complete preservation of the reproductive function of the female body, as well as serve as a preventive measure against the development of oncological pathology of the genital area.

Unfortunately, the consequences of cervical erosion are a common occurrence in gynecology. However, prevention of these consequences is possible in most cases, and this primarily depends on the patient herself. Timely diagnostics, regular visits to the doctor (especially if there have been previous erosions that have been treated), compliance with personal hygiene rules, careful attention to sexual contacts and partners - all these are the main principles that allow you to prevent the occurrence of cervical erosion and its undesirable consequences.