Cervical erosion is a condition when cells and tissues that should line the inside of the cervix or cervix, grow on the outside of the cervix. This condition can cause the cervix to appear red and inflamed. However, most cases of cervical erosion do not cause symptoms.
Cervical erosion or also known as cervical ectropion is quite common in women who are entering their fertile period. This condition is usually harmless and is not a sign of certain diseases, such as cervical cancer.
However, if you have bothersome symptoms, such as pain or discomfort in your lower abdomen, pain during or after sex, or vaginal bleeding, you should still see a doctor to determine what the cause is.
Causes of Cervical Erosion
The most common causes of cervical erosion are hormonal changes and an increase in the hormone estrogen. This condition generally occurs in women who are in puberty, pregnant, or have taken birth control pills that contain estrogen.
Not only that, some cases of cervical erosion can also occur in women due to congenital or genetic factors.
In fact, several studies have found that women who have sexually transmitted infections, such as chlamydia and HPV infection, are more prone to cervical erosion. However, this still requires further research.
Various Symptoms and Signs of Cervical Erosion
Most women with cervical erosion have no symptoms. If so, symptoms can include:
- vaginal discharge
- Abnormal spotting of blood, which is when you are not menstruating
- Bleeding during or after sexual intercourse
- Pain during sexual intercourse or after
Not only that, cervical erosion can also cause women to experience pain or bleeding after or during the examination PAP smear.
How to treat cervical erosion
Although cervical erosion tends to be harmless, this condition should not be underestimated. The reason is, cervical erosion can also arise as a result of certain health problems, such as infection, fibroids or polyps, endometriosis, side effects of spiral contraception, and uterine cancer or cervical cancer.
To determine the cause, the doctor will perform a physical and supporting examination consisting of:
- Pap smear, which is an action to detect the presence or absence of abnormal cells that can develop into cancer
- Colposcopy, which is a closer examination of the cervix using bright lighting and a magnifying device
- Biopsy, which is the act of taking a small tissue sample to be tested for suspected cancer cells
Most cases of cervical erosion clear up on their own without any treatment. Especially in cervical erosion caused by pregnancy, this condition usually goes away after the baby is born. Likewise in cases of cervical erosion caused by side effects of contraceptives, such as birth control pills or spiral contraception.
However, if this condition causes bothersome and persistent symptoms, you may need to see a doctor. Here are some steps to treat cervical erosion that doctors can do:
Administration of drugs
If cervical erosion is caused by an infection or sexually transmitted disease, the doctor can provide treatment, such as antibiotics. Meanwhile, to treat HPV, especially those that have caused warts around the vagina or cervix, doctors can give antiviral drugs and perform surgery.
Operation
If cervical erosion has caused severe disruption to the cervix or is suspected of being cancer, the doctor can perform cauterization or electrosurgery to treat the condition.
In addition, doctors can also perform other procedures to treat cervical erosion, such as conventional surgery or frozen surgery.cryosurgery).
Of course, before doing treatment, you will be given local anesthesia (anaesthesia) so you don't feel pain when given the action. Likewise, after treatment, you may be advised by your doctor not to have sex and use tampons for about 4 weeks to prevent infection.
Cervical erosions are generally harmless and do not always need to be treated. However, if there are disturbing complaints, such as smelly vaginal discharge or bleeding from the vagina, you should consult a doctor. After the cause of the complaint is known, the doctor can provide the appropriate treatment.
