cervicitis

• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
  • After intercourse
  • After menopause
  • Between periods
• Unusual vaginal discharge
  • Does not go away
  • Gray, white, or yellow color
  • May have an odor
• Painful sexual intercourse
• Pain in the vagina
• Pressure or heaviness in the pelvis

Note: There may be no symptoms.

A pelvic examination may show:

• Discharge from the cervix
• Redness of the cervix
• Swelling (inflammation) of the walls of the vagina

Tests:

• Inspection of the discharge under a microscope (may show candidiasis, trichomoniasis, or bacterial vaginosis)
• Pap smear
• Tests for gonorrhea or chlamydia

Treatments include:

• Cryosurgery
• Electrocauterization
• Hormonal therapy (especially in postmenopausal women)
• Laser therapy
• Medication (antibiotics or antifungals)

Simple cervicitis usually heals with treatment if the cause is found and there is a treatment for that cause.

Cervicitis may last for months to years. Cervicitis may lead to pain with intercourse (dyspareunia).

Call your health care provider if you have symptoms of cervicitis.

Ways to reduce the risk of cervicitis include:

• Avoid chemical irritants such as douches and deodorant tampons.
• Avoid using spermicidal contraceptives, if possible (however, if they are the only form of contraceptive available to you, it is better to practice safer sex by using them). If you use a barrier method of birth control (diaphragm, condoms, cervical caps) with spermicidal jelly, see your health care provider to discuss other methods of birth control before stopping your current method.
• Begin sexual activity at a later age.
• Have sex with just one person (monogamy).
• Make sure that any foreign objects that you insert into your vagina (such as tampons) are placed properly. Be sure to follow the guidelines as to how long to leave the object in, how often to change it, or how often to clean it.