Cervical Erosion
How to treat cervical erosion?
Cervical erosion in women is considered a physiological phenomenon, and it usually does not require special treatment. Treatment is only necessary if the woman experiences contact bleeding or has particularly thick secretions that affect sperm passage. Treatment options include using traditional Chinese medicinal suppositories or physical therapies such as common cervical treatments like microwave therapy, cryotherapy, and electrocautery, all of which are very effective for cervical erosion. If the erosion is extensive, it may be necessary to perform cervical TCT and HPV tests to determine the presence of CRN lesions. If there are CRN lesions, such as middle to high-grade lesions, a cervical conization surgery might be considered.
How does second-degree cervical erosion heal by itself?
In general, if one hopes for cervical erosion to heal on its own, it might take a long time and the effects might not be very clear. Therefore, if cervical erosion is found to be severe, it is recommended that the patient visits the obstetrics and gynecology clinic of the local hospital. If necessary, physical therapy or anti-inflammatory treatment may be needed to treat the cervical erosion. Generally, after clinical treatment, most patients with cervical erosion will receive effective treatment. If cervical erosion repeatedly persists and does not heal, it is advised for the patient to promptly identify the reasons causing it to persist and seek timely symptomatic treatment.
Is cervical erosion surgery painful?
Cervical erosion surgery, if you are afraid of pain, can generally be performed painlessly. The method of cervical erosion surgery depends on the approach used. Methods like laser, electrocoagulation, and cryocondensation typically do not pose major issues. During the surgery, patients may feel discomfort or a burning sensation, but these are generally tolerable and most patients handle them well. For patients with severe cervical erosion, electrosurgical loop excision surgery might cause more significant pain. If worried about pain, patients can opt for a non-invasive loop excision surgery. Therefore, patients who are particularly sensitive to pain can request their doctors to perform a painless surgery, which does not cause suffering, and is generally bearable and free from fear for most patients.
Cervical erosion grade one
Cervical erosion of the first degree simply means that the area of cervical erosion is not very large. Cervical erosion of the second degree is also a physiological phenomenon and doesn’t need to be overly concerned about. As long as the screening results for precancerous cervical lesions are normal, and there is no contact bleeding or infection in the discharge, it's not a problem. Simple cervical erosion is just a physiological phenomenon, as young women naturally have higher levels of estrogen, and their columnar epithelium is prone to eversion. It is a physiological state and should not be treated as a disease.
Does cervical erosion affect pregnancy?
Cervical erosion does not affect pregnancy because cervical erosion itself is not a disease. It is a physiological state where the columnar epithelium is everted due to the high levels of estrogen common in young people, appearing as a bright red state of cervical erosion. However, it is not a disease, but rather an issue with endocrine function, which is normal and a sign of youth. Therefore, cervical erosion does not affect pregnancy, and one should not panic and undergo unnecessary physical treatments.
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.
Is cervical erosion serious?
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.
Can cervical erosion be treated with the nine-valent vaccine?
Whether to get the nine-valent cervical cancer vaccine is unrelated to cervical erosion. The nine-valent cervical cancer vaccine is generally suitable for individuals under the age of 25. Those who are not within this age range cannot receive the nine-valent vaccine. Patients with cervical erosion should first go to the hospital for cervical cancer screening, typically involving a TCT and HPV test. TCT, also known as ThinPrep cytologic test, and HPV, known as the human papillomavirus, are used to preliminarily screen for cervical cancer and precancerous lesions. Therefore, patients with cervical erosion can receive the nine-valent vaccine as long as the cervical cancer screening shows no issues and they are under the age of 25.
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.
How long does cervical erosion bleed after the scab falls off?
Cervical erosion, if treated with methods like laser or electrocoagulation, may experience bleeding during the scab shedding process. This bleeding usually ceases within about a week. It is common for the blood volume to increase slightly when the scabs fall off, then the bleeding gradually decreases, and stopping within a week is considered normal. If bleeding persists for more than a week after treatment for cervical erosion, it is necessary to visit a hospital for relevant examinations, and receive targeted treatments based on the condition of the cervical wound. If there is active bleeding, treatment should be based on the examination results. Therefore, if bleeding due to scab shedding from cervical erosion lasts excessively long, it is crucial to seek appropriate medical attention at a hospital. Generally, sexual intercourse should be avoided within a month after the operation for cervical erosion, and anti-inflammatory targeted treatments are necessary post-surgery.