Causes, symptoms, treatment of cervical pseudo erosion

The inner part of the cervix is lined with cells of cylindrical shape. Epithelium can freely move, go beyond the boundaries of the body, expand. In all cases pseudo-erosions of the cervix are formed. This is a pathology that is not a disease, but requires competent treatment and constant monitoring. It is formed exclusively in a healthy area of the mucosa and covers the already existing true erosion.

general information

The cervix connects directly to the uterus itself and the vagina. On the side of the latter, the neck is lined with flat cells in several layers. The canal channel covers the elements of a cylindrical shape. They are located in one layer. When these cells go beyond the canal and crowd out the multilayered flat, they speak of ectopia, that is, pseuderosion of the cervix.

Most often, this pathological process is a consequence of violations at the innate level. Sometimes it is formed because of the previously eroded true erosion. The latter is extremely rare. The erosive focus represents a shallow sore on the cervical mucosa, with bleeding vessels. To heal, it is enough to eliminate the focus of inflammation. If adequate treatment is not available, the pathology turns into pseudo-erosion.

Ectopia is diagnosed mainly in women under 30 years old with an elevated level in the blood of estrogens or during pregnancy, when there are changes at the hormonal level.

Stages, types of pathology

1. By origin, the pathology can be congenital, dyshormonal or post-traumatic.
2. Depending on the type of growth of the epithelium, glandular, papillary and metaplasia of flat cells are isolated.
3. The dynamics of development can be progressive, stationary and healing stages.

Initially gradually increasing in size the cylindrical epithelium forms special erosive glands, therefore this stage is called glandular pseudo-erosion. It can last up to several years. In some cases in the foci of pathology, papillary growths (glandular-papillary pseudo-erosion of the cervix uteri) are observed. Subsequently, the inflammatory processes subside, atypical cells are replaced by a flat epithelium. Such a process determines the stationary stage. In the case of a progressive pathology, gland ducts are blocked by a secret, and specific structures appear on the surface of the mucosa or in the thickness of the uterus. In medical practice, this process is referred to as glandular-cystic pseudo-erosion of the cervix. Education has a tendency to become infected, which entails an increase in the inflammatory process.

Causes of ectopy

• Early sexual life. Mucous uterus finally ripens to 23 years. If this process interferes early, the probability of ectopy increases.
• Hereditary predisposition.
• Random sex life.
• Hormonal imbalance.
• Bad ecology, worsening the quality of life in general.
• Harmful habits (smoking, drinking alcohol) affect the production of female sex hormones in the ovaries, which leads to a violation of the hormonal background.
• Low immunity.
• Injuries (abortions, childbirth).
• Inflammatory processes, infections, dysbacteriosis of the vagina.

Clinical picture

Congenital pseudo-erosion of the cervix is not usually characterized by obvious clinical signs and is found during gynecological examination. Doctors observe it in the form of a red patch that surrounds the outer cervical phallus. It differs from the vaginal mucosa with a more intense color, whereas its natural shade ranges from pale pink to moderately red. The area of the changed color usually has ragged contours, the diameter varies between 3-13 mm.

The acquired variant of ectopy is characterized by the symptoms of the inflammatory process. In the epithelium, small cysts are formed, which are subsequently discarded. On their surface may be mucous or whitish discharge, which comes from the so-called cervical canal. Papillary pseudo-erosion of the cervix is characterized by the appearance of bloody discharge after intercourse, a violation of the menstrual cycle.

What is dangerous for ectopy?

Pseudo-erosion with timely therapy can hardly be considered a serious threat to women's health. However, untreated pathology can lead to serious problems, starting with simple inflammation and ending with the appearance of malignant education, infertility. In addition, pseudo-erosion is prone to repeated relapses.

The main reason lies in the violation of antibacterial function. Mucous healthy cervix forms a kind of cork, which protects the uterine cavity from the penetration of bacteria and viruses of various nature.

Membranes of the epithelial cells of this organ have special receptors that distinguish changes at the hormonal level. Pseudo-erosion of the cervix does not allow them to respond adequately and in a timely manner to the release of the desired hormones. This situation is mainly felt during childbirth.

Ectopia and pregnancy

At the first pregnancy, the conception of the baby and its bearing pseudo-erosion does not interfere. On the other hand, defects on the cervix do not allow it to expand normally during labor, provoking numerous gaps. Poorly sewn up tissues after the next pregnancy will not be able to hold the fruit, and will also act as a gate for the penetration of bacteria.

Due to inflammatory processes and scarring papillose pseudo-erosion of the cervix can impede the fertilization of the egg. In medical practice, cases of spontaneous miscarriages and premature births in women with this diagnosis are known.

If the pathology was found during pregnancy, this indicates that it was formed due to hormonal disorders. In this kind of situation, a change in the habitual structure of the epithelium is considered an open wound. It can cause infection of the membranes of the fetus and lead to infection of the baby. Curing pathology during pregnancy is not possible, so doctors choose expectant tactics. In the first trimester, a woman is recommended to have a monthly checkup, and in the second and third - weekly. Pseudo-erosion of the cervix can be burned only after childbirth, or rather, in 6-8 weeks, when the isolation of lochis ceases.

Basic survey methods

Diagnosis of pathology does not cause any special difficulties. Physical examination of the neck allows you to determine the presence of pseudo-erosion in the form of a reddish patch on a light pink background. To confirm the final diagnosis, determine the inflammatory and exclude the pathological process (for example, cancer), patients are assigned a number of additional examinations:

• Taking cytological smears.
• Extended colposcopy.
• Biopsy for the exclusion of malignant neoplasms.
• Bacteriological seeding of the secretion of the cervical canal.
• PCR-study.
• Blood test for hormones.

Therapy of ectopy

Treatment can be carried out both medicamentally and non-medicamentously. Usually, antibiotics and antimicrobials, as well as restorative and hormonal drugs are prescribed to eliminate the cause of such pathology as pseudo-erosion of the cervix. Treatment with non-medicamentous methods includes:

• Electrocoagulation (burning of affected areas with electric current). On the surface of the neck formed a white crust, under which the procedure begins to restore the epithelium. After 10 days, this scab is rejected, exposing the healing site of the mucosa. Full recovery occurs in about two months. The main disadvantage of this method of treatment is the formation of scars, which for the nulliparous woman is highly undesirable. In the case of the first birth, they can provoke a rupture of the cervical tissue.
• Cryodestruction ("freezing" of problem areas through nitrous oxide of liquid nitrogen).
• Laser destruction (an expensive method of therapy based on the possibility of a laser beam to vaporize and simultaneously coagulate pathological cells).
• Radio wave therapy.

The choice of a specific method of treatment is performed by the doctor. Properly selected therapy allows you to restore the epithelium as soon as possible. It is recommended to take additional measures to prevent possible relapses. Even an acidic environment in the vagina has a traumatic effect directly on the cylindrical epithelium itself. For pregnant or nulliparous women with a diagnosis of "epidermis pseudo-erosion of the cervix," the chemical effect on the uterus is undesirable, so cryodestruction is best done after childbirth. The main side effect of this procedure is the occurrence of burns of tissues and scars, which prevents the elastic opening of the cervix during immediate delivery.

Currently, doctors give preference to radio wave treatment more often. This method is suitable for women of all ages. Radio wave treatment is prescribed on the fifth day of the onset of menstruation. After natural delivery or caesarean section - after the disappearance of bloody discharge (usually after 40 days).

Radio wave therapy: contraindications

• Menstruation.
• Diseases of the inflammatory nature in the stage of exacerbation (colpitis, vulvovaginitis).
• Oncology.
• Pregnancy.
• Mental diseases.
• Diabetes mellitus in the decompensation stage.

Advantages of radio wave treatment

• No burns.
• Only one procedure is enough.
• It is allowed to breast-feed.

After the course of treatment, there may be pains in the lower abdominal area, which usually pass without medication.

Cystic pseudo-erosion of the cervix is also subject to radio-wave treatment. Within 10 days after the procedure, dark brown discharge from the vagina without odor is allowed.

Lifestyle after therapy

Regardless of the chosen method of treatment, patients are recommended to radically revise their lifestyle after the course of therapy. Within 10 days it is undesirable to swim in pools or reservoirs. It is necessary to limit the visit to the sauna, gym. You should refrain from serious physical activity and sexual activity. However, short walks to all without exception will only benefit.

Pregnancy can be planned after the final healing of the lesion. This usually takes from one to three months.

Prevention

With frequent changes in sexual partners and in the case of contraceptive contraception, the vaginal microflora may change, the internal genitalia become more vulnerable to infection. In order to prevent the development of pseudo-erosion of the cervix, it is recommended that every six months to undergo preventive examinations at the gynecologist, observe the basic rules of personal hygiene. It is equally important to timely sanitize existing infectious foci, regulate immunological and hormonal disorders.

As practice shows, the therapy of many inflammatory diseases (colpitis, vulvovaginitis) with untreated erosion does not allow achieving a lasting effect. As a result, pathology acquires a slow and long-term character.

Conclusion

In this article, we described in as much detail as possible what constitutes pseudo-erosion of the cervix. Photos of this pathology can be seen in specialized literature.

Do not be afraid of such a diagnosis and postpone the visit to a specialist. Remember that timely detection of ectopia and adequate treatment can eliminate the problem, minimize the risk of developing sufficiently dangerous complications.

Each woman in childbearing age should take care of her health, regularly undergo preventive examinations at the gynecologist. This article also presents material on preventive measures to prevent the occurrence of pseudo-erosion. We hope that the information presented here is actually useful for you. Be healthy!