Quite often women after visiting the officegynecologist first heard about the diagnosis called "cervical ectopia." This term is not completely understood by a person without medical education, and therefore patients are trying to find additional information on this topic.
So what is this pathology?How dangerous is she? Under the influence of what factors does the disease develop and can it somehow prevent its occurrence? What symptoms should pay attention to? Answers to these questions will benefit many readers.
Ectopic cervical and cervical endocervicosis: what is it?
Of course, women are primarily interestedthe question of what constitutes the disease. In fact, the disease is known in medicine under different terms - this is both pseudo-erosion and cervical endocervicosis. What is it and how dangerous can it be?
To answer the question, you need tofirst consider the features of female anatomy. The cervix is the lower part of the organ that connects the vagina and the uterus. Inside the cervix passes the cervical canal. The very vaginal part of the neck is covered by very characteristic flat epithelial cells, which are arranged in several layers. But the cervical canal is lined with one layer of cylindrical epithelium. For some reasons, for one reason or another, cylindrical cells spread to the vaginal part of the cervix, replacing the stratified squamous epithelium. In such cases, women are diagnosed with cervical ectopia with squamous metaplasia.
Physiological ectopia - what is it?
It is worth noting that this pathology is not always dangerous. Special therapy is prescribed only at risk of developing complications.
In some cases, the replacement of squamous epithelium andaltogether considered normal. For example, such changes in the structure of the cervix are often found in adolescent girls and young women. This tissue change is associated with an increase in the level of sex hormones (estrogens), which is completely normal at this age.
Pregnancy can also be attributed to physiological reasons, because during this period of a woman’s life, the body also goes through significant hormonal changes.
What are the causes of the pathological process?
There are other risk factors that can lead to the pathological spread of cylindrical epithelium.
- If we are talking about external exposure, then cervical ectopia can develop against the background of infection in the cervical tissue (including venereal diseases).
- Risk factors include early onset of sexuallife, cervical injury during intercourse, promiscuous, use of barrier contraceptives (eg spirals), too frequent use of spermicides.
- Cervical injuries may occur during childbirth, abortion, diagnostic or therapeutic curettage.
- As for the internal factors, they can be attributed to hormonal imbalance, for example, in case of a disease of one or another of the organs of the endocrine system.
- Endogenous causes also include protracted inflammatory diseases of the reproductive system, against which cervical ectopia may develop (cervicitis and other ailments).
- There is a suggestion that developmentpathology can result from hormonal contraceptive use, as well as bad habits (especially smoking), working in hazardous industries, and hereditary predisposition. Nevertheless, the importance of these factors has not yet been proved, and therefore among researchers the question remains open.
What are the symptoms of the disease?
Cervical ectopia of the cervix rarely leads toany deterioration in well-being. As a rule, pathology is detected by chance during a routine inspection. External symptoms appear only if the ectopia is complicated by inflammation.
The signs include the appearance of non-characteristicwith unpleasant odor, as well as itching and discomfort in the area of the external genital organs. Some women complain of pain during intercourse, as well as the appearance of bleeding after it ends. Burning and soreness during urination are possible. But again, these symptoms indicate the presence of an inflammatory process in the tissues of the cervix.
Ectopia and pregnancy: how dangerous is it?
In this case, much depends on whethercervical ectopia detected before or during pregnancy. If the pathology was diagnosed during the planning period of the child, then treatment is necessary, especially if an inflammatory process with infection was detected during the studies. In such cases, antibiotic therapy is necessary, after which the site of the pathology is cauterized.
If the ectopia was formed duringpregnancy, it is most likely related to physiological changes and treatment is not required. In any case, the expectant mother should undergo regular checkups and tests. At accession of an infection sparing antibacterial treatment is carried out. However, the wound can be cauterized only 6-8 weeks after delivery.
Chronic form of the disease
On the chronic form of the disease say thatif ectopia, along with complications in the form of the inflammatory process, was not diagnosed in time. Prolonged inflammation is accompanied by approximately the same symptoms as the acute form - patients complain of pain, unpleasant discharge, itching in the genital area.
Chronic form is much hardertherapy and requires additional diagnostic measures. If you do not treat inflammation of the cervical canal and ectopia, then the appearance of other complications, up to infertility.
Modern diagnostic methods
Actually, cervical ectopia is a pathology,which is fairly easy to detect with standard gynecological examination with the help of mirrors. When the cylindrical cells of the cervix of the vagina spread beyond the permissible limits, these areas become more red. The cervix is as if covered with small wounds.
Naturally, further research is also needed for differential diagnosis (this pathology must be distinguished from, for example, true erosion, cancer):
- To begin with, a cell scraping is taken from the cervical canal. Samples are then sent for cytological analysis, which helps determine the presence of malignant transformation.
- A colposcopy is performed, and the doctor studies the structure and condition of the cervix using special solutions, to which healthy and altered cells react differently.
- Biopsy - a study that is conducted when a cancer disease is suspected. During the procedure, the doctor excises a small area, receiving tissue samples for further laboratory research.
- Bacteriological seeding of samples taken fromcervical canal, allows you to determine whether there is a bacterial infection, as well as find out the exact type of pathogen, find out its resistance to certain types of antibiotics.
- PCR research is shown when a viral infection is suspected - this is perhaps the only way to accurately determine the pathogen by the characteristics of its DNA.
Drug treatment and its effectiveness
What to do if you have cervicalectopia? Treatment in some cases may not be required at all. For example, in adolescent girls, pathology often disappears on its own after normalization of hormone levels. The same applies to pregnant women - ectopia heals after childbirth and lactation.
Specific drug therapy is required inIf the pathology is complicated by infection. Depending on the type of pathogen, the patient is prescribed antibacterial, antiviral or antifungal drugs. If ectopia is associated with hormonal imbalances, appropriate treatment with hormonal drugs can be performed.
Other therapy methods
In addition to medical treatment, it is sometimes requiredremove the pathology site itself in order to prevent further "spreading" of the cylindrical epithelium. Modern medicine offers several ways:
- Cryodestruction - the area with pathologically changed tissues is affected by ultra-low temperatures (in fact, liquid nitrogen).
- Chemical destruction is a procedure in which the cylindrical epithelium is destroyed with the help of chemically aggressive solutions (for example, Vagothyl, Solkovagin).
- Diathermocoagulation - cauterization of pseudo-erosion using electric currents.
- Radio wave therapy is a technique that allows you to eliminate pathological areas using high-frequency currents, and without direct contact with the tissues of the cervix.
- Laser destruction is a technique that allows you to quickly remove foci of the disease, minimizing the risk of infection of tissues. This technology practically does not require a rehabilitation period.
Are there any preventive methods?
Unfortunately, there is no vaccine or anyanother medicine that can prevent the development of this disease. However, if you avoid risk factors and follow some standard recommendations, you can minimize the likelihood of such a pathology as ectopia of the cervical epithelium.
В частности, стоит отказаться от беспорядочных sexual intercourse, and in any case use protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Any infectious or inflammatory disease of the pelvic organs should be treatable in time, because then the probability of complications is reduced. In no case should not arbitrarily use hormonal drugs (including contraceptives). It is important to follow the rules of personal hygiene.
