How to Manage Cervicitis

Cervicitis is an inflammation and irritation of the cervix. Cervicitis can be caused by a sexually transmitted disease. In some cases, cervicitis is not caused by infection. It may be due to trauma, frequent douching, or exposure to chemical irritants. Symptoms of cervicitis can be similar to vaginitis, with vaginal discharge, itching, or pain with intercourse. This article will describe how to diagnose and manage cervicitis.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

1. Make an appointment with your MD or OB/GYN if you think you may have cervicitis. Your doctor will ask about your medical history and whether you have any new sexual partners. He or she will do a pelvic exam to look at your cervix. If you have cervicitis, the lining of the cervix may appear red, inflamed, swollen or irritated. During the pelvic exam, your doctor will take a sample of discharge from your cervical opening so it can be tested in a laboratory and examined under a microscope to determine if you have an infection such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, trichomoniasis, or genital herpes. He or she may also check for yeast or bacterial vaginosis, which can cause similar symptoms.
2. Call for your test results. If you do have a diagnosis of cervicitis, there are many treatment options.
3. Follow your treatment regime. Treatment is based on the type of infection you have. If you are at risk for an STD, or if the your examination suggests you may have cervicitis, the MD may start treatment with antibiotics for STDs before the test results come back. Gonorrhea is usually treated with an injection of the antibiotic ceftriaxone (Rocephin) or treatment with an oral antibiotic such as ofloxacin or levofloxacin. Chlamydia is typically treated with oral antibiotics such as azithromycin (Zithromax), doxycycline (sold under several brand names), ofloxacin (Floxin), or levofloxacin (Levaquin). Trichomoniasis is treated with the antibiotic metronidazole. If you are allergic to any of these antibiotics, an alternative can be prescribed. If you have genital herpes, an antiviral medication will be prescribed. This could be acyclovir (Zovirax), valacyclovir (Valtrex) or famciclovir (Famvir). You will need to take the medication for up to 10 days the first time you develop genital herpes. If the condition comes back, you will need to take the medication for up to five days. Cervicitis caused by trauma or an IUD is treated with an antibiotic targeted to the type of bacteria. The associated inflammation will heal within days to a few weeks. It will help to avoid sexual intercourse until symptoms improve to avoid any further irritation to the cervix.Once the appropriate treatment is started, symptoms should start to improve within a few days.
4. Practice safe sex. Cervicitis most often is caused by an STD, so it is important to use a condom every time you have sex and to limit the number of sexual partners you have.
5. Call your MD or OB/GYN if you have recurring pain during intercourse, a new vaginal discharge or discharge that has changed in color, vaginal spotting, or bleeding between periods. and if your symptoms also include fever or abdominal pain.

Tips & Warnings

• If you are diagnosed with an STD, it is important to tell any recent sexual partners that they must see a health care professional for testing and treatment. This is especially important so that you do not get the infection again after you have been treated successfully.