How to decide if you have Cervicitis?

Most women with cervicitis never find any symptoms but if they are present, they can include abnormal vaginal discharge,blood spotting in between periods, pain during or after vaginal sex, vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse or bleeding even after menopause. If there is an infection in the urethra, the tube that empties in the bladder, due to cervicitis, you might experience burning sensation or pain while urinating. Some women may also feel pressure or heaviness in their pelvic or hip region.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis of cervicitis would involve a physical examination of the cervix at first to see if there is any discharge from the cervix, has redness or swelling in the vaginal walls. After the physical examination, the doctor would take a sample of fluid from your cervix with a swab and send it for a laboratory test. The physician may also conduct other tests such as pap smear to find out the exact cause of the inflammation.

Treatment

The treatment depends upon the cause that led you develop cervicitis. Therefore, if cervicitis was caused due to bacterial infections such as chlamydia, gonorrhea, and others the doctor would prescribe you to take antibiotics. If the infection is due to a virus such as herpes, you would be given antivirals. Hormonal therapy may also be used in women who have reached menopause. If these treatment options do not work or when the condition has been present for a long time, other treatment options may include cryosurgery, electrocauterization or laser therapy. However such therapies are rarely used as antibiotics are highly effective in treating the condition.

Home Remedies

Again, like any other sexually transmitted infections cervicitis should be treated immediately. If it is not treated on time, it may lead you to develop serious complications. It is also important that your partner or partners also get examined and treated for the infection.

If cervicitis is not treated it can cause severe pain or permanent damage to the reproductive system, making it hard for you to get pregnant or stay pregnant. It can also make it easier for you to get HIV or spread HIV to others, therefore it is very important that you receive a proper treatment for the condition.