Causes and treatment of atrophic cervicitis
The inflammatory process of the epithelial cells of the cervix, or cervicitis, has quite a few varieties. Among others, atrophic cervicitis is distinguished, which has a number of features, but at the same time develops according to the principles common to cervicitis. Among the many causes of the disease, there are those specific to the development of the atrophic process, but at the same time there are general causes that are characteristic of all types of pathology.
Causes of atrophic cervicitis
The cause of atrophic cervicitis can be inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system, such as inflammation of the appendages, endometritis, colpitis, cystitis, erosion of the cervix.
Also, unprotected sexual intercourse can provoke the development of atrophic cervicitis, if it causes the penetration of pathogens of various sexually transmitted diseases into the body. Infectious agents include trichomoniasis, mycoplasmosis, gonorrhea, candidiasis, chlamydia, and viral diseases. The cause of the disease can also be nonspecific infections, the causative agents of which are in the intestine, including streptococci and staphylococci.
Atrophic cervicitis also develops on the damaged area of the mucous membrane of the cervix, the cause of the injury may be abortion, curettage for diagnostic purposes, rupture of the cervix during labor.
In addition to mechanical damage to tissues, cervicitis can provoke prolapse of the vagina and cervix.
A decrease in the body's defenses not only serves as one of the unfavorable factors in the development of the disease, but also aggravates the course of the disease.
If we assess the risk factors for the development of atrophic cervicitis, then the group of women in whom the likelihood of such a diagnosis increases sharply can include patients of childbearing age with a history of several partners and promiscuous sexual intercourse. In addition, the frequent use of spermicides and hormonal disruptions, including in menopause, can adversely affect a woman's gynecological health.
So, during the onset of menopause, the concentration of estrogen in the blood drops sharply, which contributes to the development of atrophic cervicitis. The disease leads to thinning of the mucous membrane, which becomes quite vulnerable, and a change in the structure of the tissue makes it vulnerable to the reproduction of microorganisms.
Treatment of atrophic cervicitis
In the treatment of atrophic cervicitis, exclusively hormonal drugs containing estrogens are used, which allow to normalize the structure of epithelial cells in the vagina and cervix. In addition, the drugs help restore acidity and physiological microflora in the vagina.
Preventive measures include regular visits to the gynecologist - at least twice a year. It is also important to take care of the provision of qualified assistance during labor, especially if there is a risk of violation of the integrity of the cervical membranes, to exclude abortion, to choose the right method of contraception, to comply with the requirements of personal hygiene,
Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist
Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".
