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Cervical stenosis
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
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Cervical stenosis is a structure of the internal os of the cervix. Cervical stenosis may be congenital or acquired. The most common causes of acquired pathology are menopause, surgical interventions (eg, conization of the cervix, cauterization), infection, cancer of the cervix or uterus, and radiation therapy. Cervical stenosis may be complete or partial. It may lead to hematometra (accumulation of blood in the uterus) or, in premenopausal patients, to retrograde reflux of menstrual blood into the pelvis, causing endometriosis. Pyometra (accumulation of pus in the uterus) may develop, especially in women with cancer of the cervix or uterus.
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Symptoms of Cervical Stenosis
Common symptoms of cervical stenosis in premenopausal women include amenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, abnormal bleeding, and infertility. Postmenopausal patients may have asymptomatic disease for a long time. Hematometra or pyometra may cause uterine distension and enlargement.
Diagnosis of cervical canal stenosis
The diagnosis can be made based on symptoms and signs or failure to obtain endocervical cells or an endometrial sample for diagnostic testing (eg, Pap test). Complete stenosis is diagnosed when the uterine cavity cannot be entered with a 12 mm probe. If cervical stenosis is the cause of uterine abnormalities, cervical cytology and endometrial biopsy should be performed to rule out cancer. In postmenopausal women, no further testing is necessary unless there is a history of a negative Pap test.
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Treatment of cervical canal stenosis
Treatment of cervical stenosis is necessary when there are symptoms or uterine disorders that lead to dilation of the cervix.