What Are the Treatments for Chronic Cervicitis?

Cervicitis is an inflammation of the tissues in a woman's cervix. Almost all cases of cervicitis are caused by sexually transmitted diseases and, if left untreated, can cause long-lasting medical problems, including the inability to conceive and maintain a pregnancy. Usually, cervicitis can be effectively treated with antibiotics or other medications. If the cervicitis is chronic, however, three other treatments are available.

Aspects

• Cervicitis is most often caused by the three sexually transmitted diseases trichomonas, gonorrhea and chlamydia, although the condition can also be caused by microbes such as staphylococcus, the herpes virus, or streptococcus. Cervicitis is characterized by gray or yellow vaginal discharge, pain while urinating and painful intercourse often followed by vaginal bleeding or spotting.

Chronic cervicitis

• Chronic cervicitis is characterized by episodes of cervicitis that either recur repeatedly despite treatment or require prolonged treatment to clear up. Chronic cervicitis can cause a number of health problems, including difficulty conceiving and a much higher risk of miscarrying or delivering prematurely if a pregnancy is achieved. The condition can also pose a threat to a newborn baby; a woman suffering from chronic cervicitis risks damaging the eyesight of the child during birth and heightens the possibility of it developing a serious infection during its first few weeks of life.

Cauterization

• There are three main treatments for chronic cervicitis. The first is cauterization, in which an electrically heated probe is used to burn, or cauterize, the chronically inflamed and infected cells located on and around the cervix. While this technique was used for many years, it is not as common now that other treatment methods are available.

Cryosurgery

• Cryosurgery involves the use of extremely cold carbon dioxide or nitrous oxide gas. The gas is used to freeze and kill the abnormal cells on the cervix. This gas is administered by a physician through the use of a small handheld device that is inserted into the vagina. Cryosurgery is less painful than cauterization and is easier for the physician to control and monitor.

Laser surgery

• Laser surgery is considered the best treatment choice for women with large areas of chronically inflamed tissue on their cervix. In this method, laser light is used to destroy abnormal cervix surface tissue. Laser surgery can take longer than the other two methods and is more expensive, but it is highly effective.