Normal cervix

The cervical opening is the opening of a woman's uterus, which involves women's fertility, reproductive health, and women's health care. The cervical opening, like other parts of the body, is also prone to abnormalities. If you want to determine whether there is a problem with your cervix, you need to know the normal condition of the cervical opening so that you can make a better judgment. So, what does a normal cervical opening look like? Let’s take a closer look.

The position of the external cervical os in the vagina determines the type of uterine displacement. Generally, the normal position of the uterus in an adult woman is slightly anteverted and flexed. "Inclination" refers to the angle between the long axis of the uterine body and the long axis of the vagina; "flexion" refers to the angle between the long axis of the uterine body and the long axis of the cervix. Normal anteversion means that the uterine body and the vagina form an inclination angle that is open forward and approximately right angles; normal anteflexion means that the uterine body and the cervix form a flexion angle of about 170° that is open forward. The external os and lips of the cervix are in contact with the posterior wall of the vagina. Various physiological or pathological factors may lead to changes in the angle of uterine "tip" and "flexion", resulting in different types of uterine displacement: anterior displacement (anteversion, anteflexion, anteversion-anteflexion), posterior displacement (retroversion, retroflexion, retroversion-retroflexion and horizontal position) and lateral displacement (lateral tilt, lateral flexion, lateral tilt and lateral flexion), etc.

The cervix protrudes into the vagina and contains glands that secrete a kind of mucus, namely cervical mucus. The properties and amount of this mucus, like the endometrium, are affected by ovarian function and show obvious cyclical changes. During ovulation, under the action of estrogen, the cervical mucus becomes thinner, which is conducive to the passage of sperm. At the same time, sperm can also absorb nutrients from the cervical mucus, increase its vitality, and promote the combination of sperm and egg. After ovulation, under the action of progesterone, the cervical mucus decreases and becomes thicker, and a mucus plug may form in the cervical canal, separating the cervix from the outside world and producing a protective effect. At the same time, it is not conducive to the passage of sperm through the cervix.

(1) The cervix is ​​the first barrier for sperm to pass through. It secretes mucus. As the menstrual cycle changes, under the action of estrogen, the cervical mucus becomes very thin, which is conducive to the passage of sperm.

(2) The cervical canal is where sperm is stored. Its inner wall has many recesses and fissures, where sperm can be temporarily stored for 1 to 2 weeks, waiting to gain energy before entering the uterus.

(3) After pregnancy, the uterus continues to grow to accommodate the growth of the fetus. But the cervix remains closed, ensuring that the fetus grows safely inside it until the pregnancy is full term.

(4) At full term, during the delivery period, the cervix gradually softens and begins to dilate, and the cervical opening widens from 0.5 cm to 10 cm, opening the first door for the smooth delivery of the fetus. Therefore, the cervix is ​​the only way for the fetus to be delivered.

(5) Some people believe that the cervix is ​​also a sexually sensitive organ and has a certain relationship with sexual life.