Causes of cervical erosion

The causes of cervical erosion, unfortunately, have not been fully studied, but in modern medicine it is generally accepted that the main prerequisites for the development of this female disease are inflammatory processes of the genital organs, such as endocervicitis and vaginitis.

In addition, among the causes of erosion, one can note various sexually transmitted infections (in particular, mycoplasmosis, trichomoniasis or chlamydia), mechanical trauma to the mucous membrane of the cervix, as well as hormonal disorders in the female body, etc.

Cervical erosion is currently one of the top ten most common diseases of the female reproductive system: approximately every second woman in the world faces this disease.

What is the diagnosis called "cervical erosion"? These are peculiar "defects" (wounds) of small size that cover the mucous membrane of the cervix and can cause various complications if not treated in a timely manner (infection of the genitourinary system, infertility, termination of pregnancy).

To detect cervical erosion, it is necessary to be examined by a gynecologist, since in most cases the disease is asymptomatic. A woman may not even suspect its development. That is why it is so important to diagnose and begin treatment of cervical erosion in a timely manner - a woman's health depends on it!

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Causes of cervical erosion

The causes of cervical erosion can be varied. Of these, it makes sense to highlight the following factors:

• infections of the genitourinary system, especially of viral etiology (in most cases, the human papilloma virus, as well as ureaplasmosis, toxoplasmosis, chlamydia);
• frequent douching, leading to disruption of the vaginal microflora;
• hormonal disorders caused by estrogen deficiency;
• inflammatory processes in the cervix of a chronic nature;
• unsuccessful implantation of the contraceptive IUD;
• vaginal dysbiosis resulting from frequent changes of sexual partners;
• mechanical injuries to the vaginal walls and cervical mucosa due to medical intervention during childbirth or abortion;
• sophisticated sexual contacts using "toys" that can damage the cervix.

Cervical erosion can occur not only in women who lead an active sexual life, but also in young girls who have not experienced sexual intimacy. The disease occurs in both women who have given birth and pregnant women.

The causes of cervical erosion may be associated with immune imbalance in the female body, difficult childbirth, excess weight and obesity, as well as surgical intervention (for example, removal of polyps).

There are several types of cervical erosion:

• Congenital – occurs during the intrauterine development of the fetus as a result of incorrect differentiation of the uterine epithelium. As a rule, this type of erosion does not pose a threat to women's health and disappears on its own.
• True erosion is the most common type of erosion, which causes the development of gynecological diseases. The causes of its occurrence are associated with infectious agents that cause an inflammatory process in female organs (cervicitis or endocervicitis, adnexitis, colpitis, vulvitis), as well as sexually transmitted infections (herpes, ureaplasmosis, chlamydia, etc.).
• Pseudoerosion is a condition in which normal stratified epithelium is replaced by columnar epithelium.

Often, cervical erosions occur due to diseases of the thyroid gland, ovaries, adrenal glands, immunodeficiencies of various genesis (persistent chronic exacerbations, flu, HIV infection). During pregnancy, there is a violation of the hormone formation process, which can also provoke the formation of erosions.

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Cervical erosion is a cause of infertility

Causes of cervical erosion (infections, cervical trauma, hormonal imbalances and disruptions in a woman’s body) can often provoke infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system due to the intensive proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms.

Many women are concerned about whether erosion can cause infertility. In itself - no, but if it is caused by a factor that negatively affects a woman's fertility (for example, a sexually transmitted infection), then this factor can provoke the development of female infertility. Therefore, cervical erosion can only be considered as a symptom of a possible pathological condition that can lead to difficulties in conceiving a child.

Therefore, the statement that cervical erosion is the cause of infertility is not entirely correct. This pathological condition creates ideal conditions for the active development of pathogenic microflora and, as a consequence, the occurrence of an inflammatory process in the pelvis. Thus, pathogenic bacteria can multiply on the affected mucous membrane of the cervix, which can cause unpleasant diseases, in particular, inflammation of the ovaries and appendages. Infertility often occurs due to these diseases. Erosion is a kind of open "gate" for the penetration of Candida, chlamydia, trichomonas and a number of other pathogenic microorganisms into the body. They contribute to the development of chronic inflammation, due to which a woman cannot become pregnant.

In addition, damaged tissues in cervical erosion become a kind of "barrier" to natural fertilization. During pregnancy, cervical erosion can also cause a miscarriage.

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Causes of congenital cervical erosion

The causes of congenital cervical erosion are explained by the anatomical features of the female reproductive system. Usually, at the time of birth, the glandular (internal) epithelium of the cervix is located on the outside of girls and moves inward over time. If this does not happen, congenital cervical erosion develops. In fact, such a process does not lead to any consequences and does not interfere with the onset of pregnancy and bearing a child in the future.

The causes of congenital cervical erosion usually relate to heredity, hormonal disorders or developmental defects. In fact, congenital erosion is not considered a pathology, since it develops naturally. However, there are cases when after childbirth, as a result of infection or tissue damage, congenital erosion develops into a more complex pathology. In this case, inflammations caused by papillomavirus, ureaplasma, mycoplasma, chlamydia or other pathogenic microorganisms may occur. In such cases, erosion should be treated.

For the treatment of congenital erosion of the cervix complicated by an inflammatory process, the following methods are most often used:

• Drug therapy (taking antibacterial drugs, antiseptic substances and wound healing agents).
• Electrocoagulation (cauterization). Recommended only for women who have given birth, since this method of treating erosion can cause scarring. In this case, the cervix loses elasticity, which leads to problems with its opening during childbirth.
• Chemical removal of erosion. Used only for superficial tissue lesions or condylomas.
• Cryotherapy (use of liquid nitrogen). A modern painless method that does not injure the cervix and is suitable for treating superficially affected tissues.
• Laser therapy is the most gentle method of treating erosions, with virtually no contraindications.
• Radio wave surgery is an innovative method for treating erosions.

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Psychological causes of cervical erosion

Causes of cervical erosion may have psychological (emotional, subconscious, deep) prerequisites. Such disorders are dealt with by a special medical branch – psychosomatics, which studies the development of painful conditions as a result of the influence of various psycho-emotional factors.

Diseases of the female reproductive system that arise due to psychosomatic origin include:

• infertility,
• menstrual irregularities,
• ovarian cysts,
• premenstrual syndrome,
• fibroids and uterine myomas,
• sexual dysfunctions (frigidity, anorgasmia, etc.),
• cervical erosion,
• problems with conception.

Psychological causes of cervical erosion are often associated with a woman's state of self-rejection - her appearance, any nuances in her behavior. In such cases, the woman herself (consciously or subconsciously) suppresses her femininity, she does not want or for some reason cannot truly feel loved, beautiful and desirable. Various diseases of the female genital organs, including cervical erosion, are the result of unsatisfactory relationships between women and men, doubts about their attractiveness. Cervical erosion seems to symbolize wounded female pride, the inability to realize herself as a lover, friend, mother. Often, the emergence of problems with women's health is provoked by subconscious aggression towards men. This can be a hidden resentment, deep disappointment, a feeling of hatred and anger, claims, contempt.

The works of doctors V. Sinelnikov, O. Torsunov, S. Konovalov examine issues of psycho-emotional prerequisites for the development of female diseases. Researchers believe that the condition of the uterus ("the temple of female creativity") reflects a woman's thoughts about self-realization. In order for a woman's health to normalize, she needs to forget the grievances and insults inflicted by men that have accumulated over the years. In addition, she should get rid of her own pangs of conscience and reconsider her attitude toward people and the world around her.

To treat cervical erosion, it is necessary to remove the traumatic psycho-emotional factor that contributed to the development of the disease. For example, attitude towards the opposite sex, past grievances, the issue of frequent change of partners, etc. In addition, to strengthen women's health, it is recommended to reduce stress levels, reconsider lifestyle, diet, give up bad habits, work on a positive emotional attitude. It is also important to think about improving the blood supply to the pelvic organs. For this purpose, a woman should pay more attention to her physical condition and keep fit with the help of running, squats, gynecological massage.

It is very important for a woman to change her attitude towards cervical erosion. This is not a separate disease, but a symptom, an alarming "bell" that must be recognized and heard in time. Medical treatment alone is not enough; a woman must help herself in eliminating the psychological factors of this disease.

Causes of recurrent cervical erosion

The causes of cervical erosion in recurrent manifestations are almost identical to those in the primary occurrence of the pathology:

• infectious and inflammatory processes,
• promiscuous sexual relations,
• hormonal disorders,
• immune disorders.

Nowadays, cervical erosion is considered one of the most common pathological processes in gynecology. After the necessary therapy, in the vast majority of cases the disease recedes, but there are cases when its recurrence is observed.

The causes of repeated cervical erosion may be associated with an initially incorrect determination of the true nature of the disease, as well as ineffective treatment or an unfinished course of therapy. Quite often, a relapse of this disease is observed when it is infectious in nature - the development of gonorrhea, ureaplasmosis, chlamydia or trichomoniasis. Treatment of such infections must be carried out immediately in both sexual partners, and under the strict supervision of a bacteriologist. Unfortunately, in real life, simultaneous treatment of partners is extremely rare, so the risk of re-infection with a particular sexually transmitted infection increases.

Causes of cervical erosion can often be associated with the human papillomavirus HPV, since it is this agent that causes irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane of the cervix. Erosion itself is not scary, it is dangerous because it can become a predisposing factor to the development of cervical cancer (naturally, in the presence of additional prerequisites).

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