Medical expert of the article
New publications
Cervical hypertrophy
Last reviewed: 05.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
Hypertrophy of the cervix is a significant increase in the volume of the cervix caused by the process of prolapse and prolapse of the uterus itself. Often the size of the hypertrophy and the length of the cervix can reach gigantic proportions.
Sometimes, when diagnosing cervical hypertrophy, it turns out that the fundus of the uterus is not lowered, while the cervix is so hypertrophied that it can protrude above the outer labia. Such cervical hypertrophy is treated by surgically removing the protruding part of the cervix.
Often, a patient suffering from cervical hypertrophy complains of an unpleasant sensation similar to sagging of the internal genital organs, a nagging pain in the lower abdomen, sometimes radiating to the lower back. It is characteristic that with minor hypertrophy, only the anterior part of the vagina can lengthen, which in this case will protrude forward and cover the back lip due to the increase in size.
Most often, both cervical hypertrophy and uterine prolapse have more serious causes, which, as a rule, require much more extensive and serious treatment or surgical intervention.
[ Causes of cervical hypertrophy
Causes of cervical hypertrophy can be represented by many negative factors, such as low placement of internal genital organs and frequent inflammation of the endocervix. One of the causes can be a myoma located in the cervix or in front of it. Nabothian cysts and genetic predisposition cause cervical hypertrophy.
Hypertrophy of the cervix can be caused by chronic inflammation that occurs only in the cervix. But, often the inflammatory process in the cervix is characterized by inflammation that occurs in the uterus itself. The inflammation in the cervix itself can look like follicular hypertrophy of the cervix. The glandular tissue in the passages of the inflamed cervical canal grows into the tissue, which leads to the blockage of these passages and their transformation into retention bubbles filled with mucus, the inflamed and growing tissues are covered with small glandular follicles that grow into tiny cysts called nabothian testicles.
Hypertrophy of the cervix may be one of the rarest causes of infertility. This pathology is characterized by an increase in the size of the cervix, developing due to hyperplasia - which means an increase in the quantitative composition of cells, while the cells remain normal and hypertrophy - which means an increase in the volume of cells.
Symptoms of cervical hypertrophy
Symptoms of cervical hypertrophy do not manifest clinically for a long time, and patients often do not even notice visible symptoms. This disease is diagnosed using a very painstaking and thorough visual assessment of the location of the genitals, which helps to notice a prolapsed cervix or expanded dimensions.
One of the most important aspects during examination for cervical hypertrophy is determining the degree of prolapse of the cervix. The degree of prolapse is checked by a specialist visually and by targeted tension of the vaginal muscles of the patient being examined. Prolapse of the cervix is divided into three degrees:
- Stage 1: The external os is located a few centimeters above the outer lips.
- Stage 2: The external os is at the level of the outer lips.
- Stage three: the external os extends beyond the outer lips.
It is very important to determine the stage of cervical prolapse in order to choose further treatment for the patient. For example, during the first stage it is possible to get rid of this disease with the help of special gymnastics, while the third stage requires surgical intervention.
In the case of a long-term chronic course of this disease, patients usually have the following symptoms: discomfort in the groin area, a feeling of prolapse of the genitals, painful discomfort during sexual intercourse, infertility, aching pain in the lower abdomen.
Where does it hurt?
Glandular muscular hypertrophy of the cervix
Glandular muscular hypertrophy of the cervix, usually manifests itself as a result of eversion of the cervical mucosa, most often in women who have given birth due to cervical ruptures.
During childbirth, microcracks and ruptures of the mucous membrane of the cervix and cervix occur. This is why a pharynx appears in the cervix, into which the everted epithelium of the cervix gets. The mucous membrane of the cervix has an alkaline environment, due to eversion it gets into the unfavorable acidic environment of the vagina. In this regard, the epithelium of the cervix undergoes all sorts of metamorphoses, which lead to glandular-muscular hypertrophy of the cervix.
Glandular muscular hypertrophy of the cervix is accompanied by deformation, increase in size, tissue compaction, and swelling of the mucous membrane. The mucous membrane with hypertrophy is compacted and can be slightly rough to the touch, covered with papillary growths and epithelial defects. Discharge can have a variety of consistency and composition, for example, from simple mucus to mucus with the addition of purulent discharge, and there may even be mucous discharge with the presence of blood in it.
Cystic hypertrophy of the cervix
Cystic hypertrophy of the cervix is a common and widespread disease of women. Often this disease is not dangerous to a woman's health, but only if the disease is localized and does not spread to other tissues and organs. This type of hypertrophy of the cervix has no obvious symptoms.
A gynecologist can determine the presence of cystic hypertrophy. For diagnosis, a tissue puncture is taken, which is sent for laboratory cytological examination. This study will help to determine not only the presence of a genital infection, but also the nature of the cystic formations. Based on the analysis, the doctor will be able to prescribe the most effective treatment regimen for this disease.
For a more thorough examination of the patient and confirmation or denial of the presence of cystic hypertrophy, a specialist may perform a colposcopy.
The cause of cystic hypertrophy is considered to be a malfunction of the nabothian glands. As a rule, due to the malfunction of these glands, the ducts of the nabothian glands are overfilled with squamous epithelium, which interferes with the outflow of the gland secretion, which in turn leads to the complete filling of the glands with secretion and the formation of many small cysts, which are called nabothian cysts. This is a benign neoplasm that can form as a single cyst, and sometimes there can be multiple cysts. The cause of cystic hypertrophy is considered to be hormonal disorders or chronic inflammatory processes.
Glandular cystic hypertrophy of the cervix
Glandular cystic hypertrophy of the cervix is the formation of cystic enlarged glands with flat epithelium, dense stroma and edema. Polyposis of the cervical membrane is one of the most common diseases of the cervix.
Glandular cysts appear in the outer part of the cervical orifice, polyps have a stalk with the help of which they can reach the outer part of the cervix and can even protrude beyond it. Sometimes the structure of the polyp does not imply a stalk, but a wide seal in the area of the base of the polyp. By their origin, polyps can have a glandular or fibrous consistency, can be hard or pliable from above, can be light even somewhat whitish in color, and during inflammation they can be red or even purple.
Glandular cysts are divided into glandular-fibrous or adenomatous. This classification is based on the predominance of glands or tissue in the cysts.
Adenomatous cysts have a large number of glands that are very closely adjacent to each other. It is assumed that the occurrence of these polypous cysts is due to changes in the glands responsible for reproduction, which occurred as a result of trauma to the cervix.
Follicular hypertrophy of the cervix
Follicular hypertrophy of the cervix is swelling of the cervix due to an inflammatory process. During inflammation, due to tissue edema, the gland ducts become blocked, which causes follicular hypertrophy. Blockage of the gland ducts leads to the formation of retention vesicles filled with mucus, which, under the growth of stromal tissue, sink deep into the cervix, where they transform into nabothian cysts, making the walls of the cervix denser.
Follicular hypertrophy of the cervix can begin to develop during erosion, when through the affected areas of the mucous membrane, nabothian cysts can penetrate deep enough into the tissues of the cervix, which, as a rule, leads to thickening of the walls of the cervix and an increase in its size. By squeezing and mechanically pinching the layers of tissue of the cervix, nabothian cysts disrupt the nutrition and normal functioning of the tissues of the cervix, which entails stagnant processes in this organ.
In follicular hypertrophy of the cervix or in the long-term course of chronic endocervicitis, the amount of mucus increases due to the polyphenation of glandular cells. After endocervicitis begins to heal and is overgrown with squamous epithelium. The squamous epithelium is located over the entire surface of the vaginal part of the cervix and clogs the ducts of the glands, the glands accumulate mucus and become clogged, after which they degenerate into nabothian cysts. A large number of such cysts provoke follicular hypertrophy of the cervix. These follicles, filled with purulent secretion, disrupt circulation and blood flow to the cervix, which gradually leads to hyperemia and as a result of which the vaginal part of the cervix in this case acquires a bluish color.
Diagnosis of cervical hypertrophy
Diagnosis of cervical hypertrophy is carried out after the announcement of a preliminary diagnosis, which is usually established as a result of examination of the genitals using mirrors and palpation. In addition, such research methods as ultrasound and X-ray with the use of a radiopaque substance are used in the diagnosis of cervical hypertrophy. Colposcopy and cytological laboratory examination of tissue are also considered to be a very effective research method in the diagnosis of hypertrophy.
These diagnostic methods make it possible to determine not only the exact size of the cervix, but also help to determine its location in relation to other nearby pelvic organs.
When diagnosing cervical hypertrophy, it is necessary to differentiate the diagnosis from cervical pregnancy. This is one of the cases of ectopic pregnancy, in which the fetus descends into the cervix, causing it to swell and increase in size. But, a distinctive feature of cervical pregnancy is the barrel-shaped expansion of the cervix, and its color balances between shades of blue.
What do need to examine?
Who to contact?
Treatment of cervical hypertrophy
Treatment of cervical hypertrophy is based on the nature of the underlying disease that caused the hypertrophy. Treatment methods are mainly divided into conservative treatment methods, surgical intervention or minimally invasive, such as diathermocoagulation or cryodestruction, etc. Most often, before using any of the methods of treating hypertrophy, diagnostics are prescribed using colposcopy. A gynecologist prescribes conservative treatment methods in cases where cervical hypertrophy is caused by inflammatory processes in the cervical canal or uterine fibroids.
In cases of first-degree prolapse of the genitals, special therapeutic exercise can be useful, which can strengthen the pelvic muscles with a set of exercises. Lifting weights over 5 kg is contraindicated. Antibacterial therapy and intensive immunostimulation are recommended to eliminate inflammatory processes in the cervix. Hormonal drugs are used to treat uterine fibroids.
A surgical method for eliminating cervical hypertrophy is plastic correction. With the help of plastic correction, the size and volume of the organ are reduced, and the possibility of restoring reproductive function and resuming sexual activity is reduced. In mild, not neglected cases, such treatment methods as diathermocoagulation of nabothian cysts, removal of excess tissue with electric current and cauterization using cryodestruction can be used to combat cervical hypertrophy. In more complex cases, plastic surgery can be used to restore the anatomical relationship of the genitals, amputation of the cervix or removal of the uterus and cervix, if the patient does not plan to become pregnant and give birth again.
More information of the treatment
Prevention of cervical hypertrophy
Prevention of cervical hypertrophy includes prevention of risk factors for precancerous diseases, which include cervical hypertrophy. One of the important key ways to prevent hypertrophy is to avoid sexual intercourse in adolescence and very young age.
Limiting the number of sexual partners as much as possible will help to avoid the risk of contracting the human papilloma virus, this virus often lives in the human body asymptomatically and is easily transmitted through contact through the skin. This infection can exist in the human body for many years without giving symptoms.
Prevention of cervical hypertrophy involves identifying precancerous conditions. To identify such conditions, it is necessary to undergo examination by a gynecologist at least once every six months, take blood tests and smears from the cervix for examination. Such examinations will be useful not only for the prevention of cervical hypertrophy, but also as a prevention and the earliest possible detection of more serious diseases of the female reproductive system.
Prognosis of cervical hypertrophy
If this disease is not treated in time, the prognosis for cervical hypertrophy may be negative. An advanced form of cervical hypertrophy may lead to infertility, which will be mechanical in nature - it will be almost impossible for sperm to get into the enlarged and swollen cervix and further into the uterus and fallopian tube, where the sperm must meet and fertilize the egg.
Against the background of pathology, there is also a violation of the biochemical state of the epithelium of the cervical canal, which can lead to a hormonal mechanism of infertility. In this case, if pathological processes become chronic, the onset of pregnancy becomes impossible.
Hypertrophy of the cervix contributes to an increase in the volume of the cervix, which in turn manifests itself in the following negative consequences, such as, for example, bleeding against the background of uterine myoma, the occurrence of a myomatous node, the appearance of leukoplakia and other pathologies up to precancerous conditions. All these negative processes entail exacerbations of various types of inflammation and cicatricial changes in tissues and mucous membranes. Spontaneous ruptures of nabothian cysts and, against this background, the development of dystrophic processes may also occur.