Cervicitis PATIENT EDUCATION SERIES What is cervicitis? How is it diagnosed? Cervicitis is a general term describing inflamma- Your provider may run tests on the cervical or tion of the cervix. The cervix is the neck like part vaginal discharge to determine what organism is of the uterus that opens into the vagina. causing the inflammation. How does it occur? How is it treated? Infections by bacteria or viruses are common Treatment for cervicitis is usually very successful. causes of cervicitis. Often the infections are Treatment usually requires that you take a course transmitted by sexual contact. Examples of of antibiotics. Take all of the medication you are cervical infections include bacterial vaginosis, given, even if the symptoms start to go away before trichomonas, gonorrhea, chlamydia, ureaplasma, the medicine is gone. If you stop taking the medi- mycoplasma and herpes. Frequent douching may cine, you may leave some of the infection in your also be associated with cervicitis. Some of these body. See your medical provider again for a follow- microorganisms, if left untreated, may ascend into up visit to insure that the treatment was effective. the female reproductive tract to infect the uterus and/or fallopian tubes, and result in pelvic inflam- If you are sexually active, and your cervicitis matory disease (PID). PID is a serious condition is due to an STI, it is very important that any which can damage reproductive organs and pos- sexual partner(s) within the past 60 days be treated sibly lead to infertility. as well. If you are treated and a sexual partner is not, you may become reinfected if the partner still What are the symptoms? has the organism. During treatment, it is impor- Cervicitis may produce symptoms in women such tant to abstain from intercourse or any exchange of as: genital fluids. If treatment is a single dose, then you • a vaginal discharge that is not normal should abstain from sex for the seven days follow- for you ing. If given a seven day course of antibiotics, part- • discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen, ners, should abstain for that seven day time period. including after sexual intercourse Untreated male partners can develop infections in • bleeding or spotting from the vagina the urethra, testicles and/or prostate gland. 100% after intercourse or between menstrual use of condoms and dental dams is advised for the periods best STI protection. 1/14 Cervicitis may produce no symptoms at all and may go undetected until your medical provider discovers the inflammation during a routine pelvic exam. BROWN UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICES | www.brown.edu/health | 401.863-3953.