Cervicitis

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Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD

Steven Doerr, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Emergency Medicine Physician. Dr. Doerr received his undergraduate degree in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He graduated with his Medical Degree from the University Of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado in 1998 and completed his residency training in Emergency Medicine from Denver Health Medical Center in Denver, Colorado in 2002, where he also served as Chief Resident.

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Medical Editor:

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Jerry R. Balentine, DO, FACEP

Dr. Balentine received his undergraduate degree from McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. He attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine graduating in1983. He completed his internship at St. Joseph's Hospital in Philadelphia and his Emergency Medicine residency at Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center in the Bronx, where he served as chief resident.

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• Cervicitis Overview
• Cervicitis Causes
• Cervicitis Symptoms
• When to Seek Medical Care
• Questions to Ask the Doctor
• Cervicitis Diagnosis
• Cervicitis Treatment
• Cervicitis Surgery
• Cervicitis Next Steps
• Cervicitis Follow-up
• Cervicitis Prevention
• Cervicitis Prognosis
• Synonyms and Keywords
• Author and Editor
• Viewer Comments: Cervicitis - Symptoms

Cervicitis, a common infection of the lower genital tract, is the inflammation of the cervix (this is the neck and outlet of a woman's uterus).

Inflammation may be caused by infection from certain sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) or by injury to the cervix from a foreign object inserted into the vagina, from birth control devices such as the cervical cap or a diaphragm, or by cancer.

Many cases of cervicitis go untreated because women who have the infection do not know they do. Often there are no obvious symptoms.

• If untreated, cervicitis may lead to pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, ectopic pregnancy, chronic pelvic pain, spontaneous abortion, cervical cancer, or other complications during the delivery of a baby.
• Cervicitis is a very common condition. In fact, more than half of all women may develop cervicitis at some point in their adult lives. Risk factors for the development of cervicitis include starting intercourse at an early age, high-risk sexual behaviors, a history of sexually transmitted diseases, and having multiple sex partners. The US Centers for Disease and Control (CDC) estimates that over 19 million sexually transmitted infections (STIs, STDs) occur yearly in the US. Worldwide, it is estimated that 400 million STIs occur every year.

• A vaginal infection or a sexually transmitted disease (such as gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and trichomoniasis) can cause cervicitis.
• HIV, infection with the herpes virus (genital herpes), and human papillomavirus (HPV, genital warts) are additional STDs (also now called STIs) that put you at risk for developing cervicitis.
• You are at increased risk if you have sexual relations at an early age or engage in high-risk sexual behavior with many partners or have a history of sexually transmitted diseases.
• Injury or irritation (a reaction to the chemicals in douches and contraceptives or a forgotten tampon) also can cause the disease. The objects may simply cause irritation and make the cervix more susceptible to infection.
• You may have an allergy to contraceptive spermicides or to latex in condoms that leads to cervicitis.
• Infections are much more often responsible for cervicitis than non-infectious causes.

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