Can chronic cervicitis lead to infertility? Gynecological experts point out that caution should be exercised as chronic cervicitis can cause infertility. Chronic cervicitis is one of the most common gynecological diseases. The inflammation can cause vaginal discharge to become thick and purulent, making it difficult for sperm to pass through the cervical canal, thereby leading to infertility. A significant portion of infertility cases are caused by chronic cervicitis.
Cervicitis is a common gynecological disease but is often neglected by women. Nowadays, the high incidence rate of cervicitis has raised an alarm for all women.
1. Cervicitis Leading to Infertility
Chronic cervicitis is one of the most common gynecological diseases, often occurring after childbirth, abortion, or surgical damage to the cervix, where pathogens invade and cause infection, transforming from acute cervicitis. It is often due to incomplete treatment of acute cervicitis, allowing pathogens to hide within the cervical mucosa and form a chronic inflammation.
Many women with acute cervicitis show no obvious symptoms, which are often ignored and directly turn into chronic cervicitis. About 20%-25% of patients with excessive vaginal discharge are caused by cervicitis. If the inflammation causes the vaginal discharge to become thick and purulent, it will be unfavorable for sperm to pass through the cervical canal, leading to infertility. In infertility clinics in various hospitals, a considerable number of cases are caused by chronic cervicitis.
2. Symptoms of Cervicitis
Increased vaginal discharge is the most common symptom of acute cervicitis, sometimes even being the only symptom. The discharge is purulent or mixed with blood, often accompanied by lower back pain and pelvic heaviness. Sometimes, external genitalia are stimulated by inflammatory secretions, causing itching, burning sensation, and urinary symptoms such as frequent urination and urgency. Some patients experience dyspareunia, fever, etc.
Some people who develop acute cervicitis have no obvious symptoms, so it is often overlooked and develops into chronic cervicitis. The main symptom of chronic cervicitis is increased vaginal discharge. When the inflammation spreads along the uterosacral ligament to the pelvis, there may be lower back and sacral pain, pelvic heaviness, etc. Clinically, it mainly manifests as cervical erosion, cervical hypertrophy, cervical polyps, cervical gland cysts, and cervical mucosal inflammation, etc.
3. Correct Understanding of Cervicitis
In general, simple cervicitis does not pose a significant threat to health, but the symptoms of increased vaginal discharge, waist pain, and lower abdominal heaviness caused by cervicitis can affect one's mood. From a cancer prevention perspective, cervicitis is closely related to cervical cancer. According to anti-cancer screening data, the incidence of cervical cancer in people without cervical erosion is 0.39%, while those with cervical erosion have an incidence of 2.05%. This shows that actively treating chronic cervicitis and taking preventive measures based on symptoms is crucial for ensuring women's health and preventing cervical cancer.
This article is excerpted from: Changchun Tongji Gynecology Hospital Official Website. Original address: http://blog.39.net/admin/NewArticle.aspx For more information about gynecological diseases, please visit the official website of Changchun Tongji Gynecology Hospital.