Cervical canal
Culture and smear from the cervical canal
Definition of the cervical canal
The cervical canal is the area of the cervix that connects the vagina and the uterine cavity. It has a fusiform shape, connecting through the internal pharynx (opening) with the uterine cavity, and through the external - with the vagina. The cervical canal is covered from the inside by a mucous membrane, consisting of a cylindrical epithelium, which produces mucus (secretion). During menstruation, bloody discharge passes through the canal and spermatozoa penetrate through it during intercourse.
The width of the canal is on average 7-8 mm, and its shape can change throughout a woman's life, depending on many factors. These include: the woman's age, the presence or absence of childbirth, abortion, hormonal levels, and much more.
Culture and smear from the cervical canal
In a normal state, the cervical canal is sterile, but when opportunistic bacteria enter it - staphylococci, candida, E. coli and others, inflammation of the canal develops - endocervicitis. The causes of microflora and endocervicitis disorders are:
Elementary non-observance of hygiene rules, · metabolic disease, Hormonal changes (for example, insufficient production of the hormone estrogen in the body of girls and women), Inflammation of the nearby genitourinary organs, · The consequences of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial therapy.
The degree of development of the inflammatory process depends on the state of the woman's immune system and the characteristics of the infection; endocervicitis can be acute and chronic. Sometimes the disease is latent.
Analysis of a smear from the cervical canal allows you to identify the causative agent of the disease and prescribe the most effective treatment. It is carried out by material microscopy. For a smear, the discharge of the canal is collected from the surface with a special brush or swab, after which the material is sent for microscopic analysis.
A smear is taken no earlier than 24 hours after douching to obtain more reliable results. Normal microflora for the cervical canal is considered to be the presence of lactobacilli at least 10 7, the content of E. coli up to 10 2, yeast up to 10 2, enterococci up to 10 2 CFU / ml is allowed
Doctors recommend that women take a smear at least once a year, especially since this is one of the fastest, painless and most effective methods for detecting atypical cells in the cervix.
In addition to a smear, the doctor may also prescribe a culture of the microflora of the cervical canal. It is carried out to determine the type of pathogen. The procedure is similar to taking material for a smear, only the obtained sample is placed in a growth medium for propagation. Then the specialist determines the strain of microorganisms and their sensitivity to various antibiotics.
Curettage of the cervical canal
Usually, curettage is prescribed for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the cervical canal. When diagnosing, the procedure is carried out in order to obtain material for histological examination. For medicinal purposes, scraping of the canal and the uterine cavity is performed with hyperplasia (excessive thickening of the uterine mucosa), polyps, uterine bleeding and before the operation to remove the fibroid. Scrapings obtained from scraping are sent to the laboratory separately.
It should be remembered that doctors prescribe this not very pleasant procedure only if absolutely necessary, when it is the only method for diagnosing and treating the genitals. If scraping takes place in a planned manner, then the operation is prescribed a few days before the onset of menstruation, as a result of which it naturally coincides with the physiological period of rejection of the uterine mucosa - menstruation. Diagnostic curettage is performed under intravenous anesthesia.
Within 2-3 weeks after the operation, it is necessary to observe intimate hygiene with particular care, avoid hypothermia and exclude heavy physical exertion. It is also not recommended to visit the solarium and the gym, the renewal of sexual activity. Swimming in the sea, pool, bath is contraindicated, you can only take a shower. This is due to the fact that the genital tract has not yet healed and a woman can pick up some kind of infection.
Today, more and more doctors are using hysteroscopy - a new method that is an alternative to curettage. This medical and diagnostic procedure allows, with the help of an ultra-thin optical instrument - a hysteroscope, to examine the inside of the fallopian tubes, the cervical canal, and the uterine cavity. The procedure is minimally traumatic (in comparison with curettage) and, which is very important, during its implementation, it is possible to take a biopsy for examination in any suspicious place of the organs being examined.
Do not forget that diseases of the female genital organs can occur due to infections, hormonal disorders, trauma, the development of tumors, and only a regular visit to the gynecologist (at least once a year) will help to identify any pathological changes as early as possible.
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".
