- Brief anatomy of the uterus
- What is erosion
- Causes of ectopia
- Symptoms of cervical erosion
- Diagnostics
- Treatment of cervical erosion
- — Conservative therapy
- — Surgical methods
Cervical erosion is not a clinical diagnosis of the disease. This term is only a statement by the gynecologist of the presence of changes, not always pathological, but requiring certain diagnostic studies to clarify the diagnosis. To understand what is meant by this concept and why cervical erosion is dangerous, you need to have a general understanding of the structure of the organ.
What are the complications and consequences of cervical erosion?
Any woman diagnosed with erosion will worry about the possible consequences and complications of this disease.
The complexity and danger of erosion depends on what the specialist discovered during the examination.
If a woman has pseudo-erosion, then there is nothing to fear. The woman’s health is not in danger and there will be no consequences.
If a woman has true erosion caused by infectious diseases, then the threat may lie in the penetration of the infection itself into the uterus or its appendages, which can cause infertility.
If a woman has dysplasia and is not seen by a doctor, then the likelihood that she will develop cervical cancer in a couple of years is extremely high.
One of the most dangerous consequences and complications of cervical erosion (inflammatory process in the endometrium (mucous membrane of the cervix)) is the possibility of the disease developing into a malignant formation, cervical cancer. The risk of developing a rupture of the mucous membrane during childbirth also increases if a woman has previously been diagnosed with cervical erosion. For nulliparous women, a serious threat is the possibility of a woman developing infertility.
With cervical erosion, the risk of infection entering a woman’s body through damaged areas of the endometrium of the cervix (the mucous membrane in the uterus) increases.
Need for treatment
But first, it is worth understanding one simple truth - almost any disease must be treated, and erosion is no exception. Unfortunately, there is a generally accepted opinion that this disease does not deserve close attention and can be avoided without treatment.
This approach is fundamentally wrong, and if no action is taken, inflammatory processes in the reproductive organ may begin, leading to infertility or even malignant neoplasms. And in order to prevent the development of complications, it is necessary to begin eliminating the pathology, and immediately.
Who may experience cervical erosion?
Unfortunately, a disease such as cervical erosion can be diagnosed in a woman of any age. However, in most situations, erosion occurs in young women aged 20–35 years.
Basically, this disease is diagnosed in women who have sexual intercourse. However, in some cases, erosion can also be found in girls who have not yet had sexual intercourse or have not yet given birth.
The likelihood of pseudo-erosion is highest in young girls and women, as well as in women who take contraceptive medications.
The likelihood of true erosion is highest in women who change sexual partners quite often.
The likelihood of dysplasia increases in women who change sex partners quite often. An increased risk is also possible in women whose first sexual intercourse occurred before the age of 18. In addition, women who smoke a lot may suffer from dysplasia.
The effectiveness of home treatment
Listed above are several of the most popular ways to treat erosion at home. In terms of effectiveness, they are no worse than traditional methods. But at the same time, certain conditions must be observed. And first of all, every woman should know that it is highly not recommended to experiment on herself! Like a number of other drugs, some herbs also have their side effects, including contraindications. And only a doctor can approve treatment using a particular plant.
But if everything is resolved with the first one and the use of traditional medicine is approved by the doctor, it is worth taking into account that the course of treatment is quite long. Moreover, for complete healing you will need to go through it more than once, or even twice.
And to increase efficiency, it is advisable to combine several folk techniques. For example, after the douching procedure, insert a tampon with a medicinal extract. Or, in addition to tampons, take herbal infusions.
The effectiveness of folk remedies in relation to how to treat erosion (photos can be found in the text) has been proven by time, which is confirmed by the abundance of recipes. And if you put them all together, you can write a whole multi-toned novel. And therefore, women should not despair if, for various reasons, it is impossible to resort to modern methods of treatment. In this case, it is worth visiting a doctor who will tell you what herbalist experience may be useful.
What are the chances of conceiving a child if diagnosed with cervical erosion?
It should be noted that uterine erosion should not be considered a cause of infertility, since it in no way affects a woman’s chances of becoming pregnant. In the case of pseudo-erosion, a woman can easily conceive and bear a healthy baby. For pseudo-erosion, no treatment is required. In addition, a woman should not worry about possible complications, since they will not arise due to pseudo-erosion.
In a situation with true erosion, it is best for a woman to delay pregnancy. Now she should start treating erosion. The presence of genital infections in the body, which in most cases cause erosion, can also become the root cause of infertility. And if a woman is already pregnant, then they can harm the unborn baby.
With first degree dysplasia, a woman can safely plan a pregnancy. If a woman has been diagnosed with second or third degree dysplasia, then the woman will most likely need treatment before starting to plan a pregnancy.
Characteristic signs
Unfortunately, the symptoms of erosion are very weak, and for this reason, making an accurate diagnosis at an early stage of the disease is problematic.
However, there are main symptoms, which include:
- High temperature, fever, rapid heartbeat, which indicates a suppuration of the process.
- The presence of bloody discharge after sexual intercourse accompanied by an unpleasant odor.
- The menstrual cycle is disrupted.
- Menstruation is accompanied by pain.
- Problems with urination.
- Sexual intercourse is painful, causing significant discomfort.
In some cases, the pathology occurs with a minimum number of symptoms or their complete absence. In this regard, women may not be aware of their painful situation. In the future, this negatively affects not only conception, but also the pregnancy itself.
What are the chances of conceiving a child after treatment for cervical erosion?
Most often, a woman has every chance of conceiving a healthy child after successful treatment of erosion, without seeking help from specialists.
However, in some cases, a woman may become infertile after the cauterization procedure. A similar risk is observed if cauterization was carried out with electric current. This is why this method of erosion therapy is contraindicated for women who have not yet given birth.
Laser therapy, radio wave therapy or treatment of erosion using liquid nitrogen are considered the most acceptable methods of combating cervical erosion, especially for a girl who is just planning to become a mother.
How to treat erosion with laser coagulation?
The essence of this method is to cauterize the erosion using a laser. Recently, this technique has become increasingly widespread due to its high degree of efficiency and safety. The specialist controls not only the depth of laser penetration into the epithelium, but also its power. In this case, the beam is directed strictly at the affected area, avoiding contact with healthy tissue. The damaged cellular structure simply evaporates under the influence of the laser and, as a result, no scar changes remain in the tissue.
The procedure is performed at the end of the menstrual cycle. It takes 3 to 4 weeks for the cervical epithelium to completely heal. The rehabilitation period usually passes without complications. Sometimes spotting may appear and this should not be alarming as it is normal. And until the epithelial tissue has completely healed, a woman should refrain from sexual intercourse.
To avoid infection, the doctor prescribes the use of vaginal suppositories. After 1.5 months, the woman needs to undergo an examination to assess the positive effects of laser coagulation. A couple can plan their next pregnancy only after three months after the procedure, not earlier!
What to do if cervical erosion was detected during pregnancy?
Erosion can be detected throughout pregnancy, but most often it is detected during the first trimester (12 weeks). In this case, erosion cannot harm the mother and her baby. However, constant monitoring by a specialist will not hurt.
Pseudo-erosion during pregnancy is not dangerous and therapy is not needed in this case.
Having discovered true erosion, the specialist will recommend that the woman undergo additional examination for the presence of hidden infections (PCR). If test results confirm the presence of such infections, the specialist will prescribe drug therapy for the woman.
If a woman has been diagnosed with first-degree cervical dysplasia, then she has nothing to fear. Dysplasia will go away on its own a couple of weeks after birth. A woman only needs to undergo preventive monitoring of the cervix in order to be sure that everything is in order. If the diagnosed dysplasia is of the second or third degree, then the specialist will also not prescribe treatment for cervical erosion. Intervention of any kind can lead to miscarriage or cause premature birth. In order to control this pathological process, a woman should be regularly examined by a specialist and take all the necessary tests. And after childbirth, the specialist will prescribe the woman an effective course of treatment for cervical erosion.
Features of home treatment
Even in our modern times, when significant breakthroughs have occurred in various fields of medicine, traditional methods of healing do not lose their relevance. Moreover, their effectiveness is in no way inferior to many traditional analogues. As for the treatment of erosion, it is most effective when the affected area is small. Otherwise, you cannot do without consulting a specialist.
In addition, many doctors even advise sometimes resorting to the use of certain plants, which are no worse when compared with pharmaceutical drugs, but there is a certain danger. In this regard, if there is a need to solve the question: “How to treat erosion with folk remedies?”, You should definitely consult a doctor.
Treatment of cervical erosion
After making an accurate diagnosis, when the woman undergoes all the necessary diagnostics and tests to identify cervical erosion and determine the shape and type of erosion, the gynecologist can prescribe the necessary course of treatment. Most often, methods such as cryotherapy, chemical coagulation, laser therapy, diathermocoagulation and radio wave exposure are used to treat cervical erosion. More information about the methods and methods of treating unhealthy changes in the endometrium (mucous lining) of the uterus can be read in the article: treatment of cervical erosion, what types and methods of treating cervical erosion exist, the effectiveness of a specific treatment method, indications for use and consequences, possible complications of treatment of erosion cervix.
Radio wave surgery for the treatment of cervical erosion
This method of treating cervical endometrial erosion is considered to be the safest and most painless, but it is not effective for all cases and types of erosion. After radio wave surgery, patients usually do not feel any pain in the lower abdomen or other painful symptoms, and the period of complete recovery after the operation begins within months. This procedure for treating cervical erosion is not carried out in every clinic, because... The equipment for such an operation, like the operation itself, is very expensive.
Electrical burning (diathermocoagulation) for the treatment of cervical erosion
This type of erosion treatment is considered the most effective, because Almost always, when used correctly, it allows you to get rid of the tumor. In some cases, the use of electric current may be used more than once, so several sessions may be performed before the entire tumor is removed. This method of treating erosion is painful and is not recommended for women who have not yet given birth or are planning to have children. Electrical burning has many complications and consequences compared to other methods of treating cervical erosion.
Chemical coagulation or burning with Solkovagin
Most often, this method of treating erosion is used for small formations and is practically painless. But a treatment method such as chemical coagulation does not always provide a complete guarantee that the affected areas will be removed. And such a procedure is not carried out in every clinic due to specific and expensive equipment. Most often, this treatment is used in nulliparous women and girls.
Cryotherapy (burning with liquid nitrogen)
A popular method for removing cervical erosion, which is virtually painless. After the operation, heavy physical activity and sexual intercourse are prohibited for the first month. This method is a very common method for treating erosion, but cannot guarantee complete removal of dense areas. That is why cryotherapy or burning with liquid nitrogen is used to remove superficial lesions during cervical erosion.
Diagnostics
Diagnosing erosion based only on the patient’s complaints is difficult, since an uncomplicated disease is practically asymptomatic. The appearance of any serious changes is due to the addition of a secondary infection.
The main diagnostic methods are examination of the cervix in speculum and colposcopy.
Examination using a speculum
During examination of the vagina using speculum, a bright red area is visualized on the cervix. The formation has uneven contours and is characterized by increased bleeding, which develops even with a slight touch.
Colposcopy
Diagnostic colposcopy of cervical erosion is the most informative way to identify pathological changes. During the study, the vaginal segment of the uterus is examined by a gynecologist under 10x magnification.
The surface of a healthy mucosa has an even pink color. The vessels are not visible.
The affected areas are visually different. Depending on the stage and severity of the disease, the patient may have:
- accumulations of enlarged cells in the form of grape-shaped formations;
- spherical papillae;
- ectopic fragments;
- open glands represented by dark dots;
- immature epithelium;
- retention cystic formations are vesicles filled with yellow liquid.
An advanced version of colposcopy allows you to get a clearer picture. The gynecologist performs additional tests - Schiller and acetoacetic.
In the latter case, the affected area is treated with a 3% vinegar solution. At the same time, unchanged – healthy – areas retain their original pink color. The area of inflammation becomes glassy, and the vessels narrow sharply.
Schiller's test involves smearing erosive areas with Lugol's solution. Healthy areas are evenly painted dark brown. Pathological cells do not change color.
Required laboratory tests
Determining erosion also requires laboratory testing. The woman is prescribed the following tests:
- microflora smear;
- tests for urogenital infections, HIV, syphilis, hepatitis;
- cytological examination.
If necessary, a biopsy is performed.
