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Medical Author:

Arasi Thangavelu-Veluswamy, MD, FAAEM

Coauthor:

Suzanne R Trupin, MD

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 Causes

• 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.