Cervicitis is an inflammation of the cervix (the lower, narrow part of the uterus that opens into the vagina). Cervicitis is common and affects many people with a cervix at some point during their adult lives.
Cervicitis is often caused by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) like gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis or herpes simplex (a virus). It can also be caused by other organisms that are not sexually transmitted. Reactions or irritations to latex, douches or vaginal creams can also cause cervicitis.
To find out if you have cervicitis, you need to visit a health care provider and have lab tests done.
The condition of cervicitis does not spread. It is the STIs that spread through condomless oral, vaginal or anal sex that cause cervicitis.
Symptoms of cervicitis can include:
It is also possible to have cervicitis and not have any symptoms.
If left untreated, cervicitiscan spread to the uterus and fallopian tubes. These infections can lead to difficulty getting pregnant, ectopic or tubal pregnancy, ongoing pelvic pain or pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). Visit HealthLinkBC File #08c Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) for more information.
Cervicitis caused by bacteria may be treated with antibiotic pills. It is important to follow your treatment instructions carefully. If you are given pills, finish all of them. If the infection is sexually transmitted, sexual partners from the last 2 months should be tested and treated. It takes time for the infection to clear from the body, so it is important that you do not have any oral, vaginal or anal sex for 7 days after you and your partner(s) start the antibiotic treatment.
Ensure you or your partner(s)finish the treatment. If you miss pills, experience vomiting after taking medication or have condomless sex before you have finished all the medication, there is a chance that the infection will stay in your body. It may also be passed back to you or your sexual partner(s) and cause health problems later. If this happens, talk to your health care provider who will help you determine if you need further treatment. Other treatments may be offered by your health care provider if another cause is identified.
There is very little evidence to show that antibiotics reduce the effectiveness of hormonal birth control. Examples of hormonal birth control include the pill, the patch, the ring or the shot. If you are being treated with antibiotics, it is important to keep using your birth control as you normally would. If you have concerns, use condoms
until your next period starts after completing the antibiotics. Speak to your health care provider for more information.
When used correctly, external (“male”) and internal (“female”) condoms help prevent the spread of many STIs during vaginal, anal and oral sex. Condoms are less effective at protecting against STIs transmitted by skin-to-skin contact, such as herpes simplex virus, genital warts (human papillomavirus (HPV)), and syphilis (when sores are present).
A dental dam is a piece of thin latex that is placed over the vagina/internal genitals or anus during oral sex. It can also be called a latex barrier/sheet, latex dam, oral dam or sheet. Dental dams are a good way to lower the chance of getting or passing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Important things to remember when using dental dams:
There are medications that can lower your chances of getting or passing on certain STIs. For more information, visit HealthLinkBC File #08o Preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
Some STIs, such as hepatitis A, B and human papillomavirus (HPV) can be prevented with vaccines. Talk to your health care provider about how to get these vaccinations.
If you have recently changed sexual partners, or have multiple sex partners, getting regularly tested for STIs will tell you if you have an infection. Some people can have an STI and not have any symptoms. Finding and treating an STI reduces the chances of passing infections on to your partner(s).
The more partners you have, the higher your chance of getting exposed to STIs is.
Talk to your partner(s) about STIs and how you would like to prevent them before having sex. If you are having trouble discussing safer sex with your partner(s), talk about it with your health care provider or a counsellor.
For tips on how to talk to your partner(s), visit the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) Smart Sex Resource https://smartsexresource.com/sexual-health/partners-communication/talking-to-your-partners/.
If you have a sexually transmitted infection and are sexually active, it is important to tell your sexual partner(s). This will enable them to make decisions about their health and testing.
For more information on how you can reduce your chance of getting an STI, visit HealthLinkBC File #08o Preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
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