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Cervicitis is an inflammation in the cervix or the opening of the womb. Cervicitis is common and affects many women at some point during their adult lives.
Cervicitis can be caused by germs transmitted through sex like gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes, or sometimes other organisms that are not routinely tested for.
Having unprotected sex or not using a condom with someone who has a sexually transmitted infection, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, can cause cervicitis.
To find out if you have cervicitis, you must be examined by a doctor or nurse and have lab tests done.
You may have cervicitis and not have any symptoms. You may notice an increase in the fluid from the vagina, a burning feeling while urinating, the need to urinate more often, bleeding or blood spotting from the vagina, or pain during sexual activity.
If cervicitis is not treated, it can spread and damage organs in the body, especially the reproductive organs. A woman may have difficulty getting pregnant if the cervicitis goes untreated.
Pregnant women may pass the infection to their baby's eyes during childbirth. Some types of infection can cause blindness if the baby is not treated.
The treatment for cervicitis is antibiotic pills. Any sexual partner(s) of the person diagnosed with cervicitis must be treated, regardless of their test results.
Do not have sex until you and your sexual partner(s) have finished all the medication. Take all of the medication exactly as instructed.
If you have different sexual partners, or if your partner has different partners, you should also be tested for other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including gonorrhea, chlamydia, syphilis and HIV virus linked to AIDS. The more sexual partners you have, the higher your risk of getting a STI. You should also consider getting vaccinations to prevent hepatitis B infection.
Birth control pills may not work very well when you are taking some antibiotics. Keep taking your birth control pills while taking any medication. Use also a second form of birth control, such as a condom, until your next period after completing the antibiotics.
For more information, see HealthLink BC File #08o Condoms Help Prevent Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs).
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For more HealthLink BC File topics, visit www.HealthLinkBC.ca/healthfiles/index.stm or your local public health unit. Click on www.HealthLinkBC.ca or call 8-1-1 for non-emergency health information and services in B.C. For deaf and hearing-impaired assistance, call 7-1-1 in B.C. Translation services are available in more than 130 languages on request. |
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