The difference between cervicitis and cervical erosion is actually manifested in these aspects

Cervicitis and cervical erosion are two common gynecological diseases with many differences. Cervicitis occurs after childbirth, miscarriage or surgical injury to the cervix; cervical erosion is caused by mechanical stimulation or injury, such as sexual intercourse, miscarriage and childbirth lacerations.

1. The difference between cervicitis and cervical erosion

Cervicitis: Cervicitis is a common disease among women of childbearing age. It can be acute or chronic. Chronic cervicitis is the most common type in clinical practice.

Cervical erosion: Due to different degrees of inflammatory stimulation, the columnar epithelium of the cervical mucosa grows slowly, and the epithelium is flat and smooth in appearance, which is simple erosion; when the columnar epithelium grows quickly and forms glandular hyperplasia, it is adenoid erosion. If the glands are dilated, it may be a follicular erosion, accompanied by stromal hyperplasia, forming small protrusions, which are unevenly covered with columnar epithelium, forming papillary erosions. The above types can often occur in combination. Cervical erosion is one of the most common gynecological diseases.

Causes of cervicitis: Occurs after childbirth, miscarriage or surgery that damages the cervix. The main pathogens are Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Escherichia coli and anaerobic bacteria, followed by Gonorrhea and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The protozoa include Trichomonas and Ameba. In special cases, it is caused by chemicals and radiation.

Causes of cervical erosion: The causes include mechanical stimulation or injury, such as sexual intercourse, abortion and delivery lacerations and bacterial invasion causing cervicitis; pathogen invasion, commonly general pyogenic bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus aureus, Gonorrhea, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, viruses, actinomycetes, Trichomonas, and Ameba can all cause cervicitis.

2. The difference between cervicitis and cervical erosion

Cervicitis [Clinical manifestations] Increased vaginal discharge. Due to different pathogens, scope and degree of inflammation, the vaginal discharge may be milky white mucous, light yellow purulent, and sometimes bloody or cause bleeding after sexual intercourse. When the inflammation spreads to the pelvic cavity, lower back pain and pain in the lower abdomen may occur. During gynecological examination, it can be seen that the cervix has varying degrees of erosion, hypertrophy, glandular cysts or polyps. Cervical erosion is one of the most common lesions in uterine inflammation. Clinically, it is divided into three degrees according to the size of the cervical erosion area: mild, the erosion area does not exceed 1/3 of the entire cervical area; moderate, the erosion area occupies 1/3-2/3 of the entire cervical area; severe, the erosion area occupies more than 2/3 of the entire cervical area. According to the depth of erosion, it can be divided into three types: simple type, granular type and papillary type. Cervical erosion and early cervical cancer are difficult to distinguish from each other in appearance, and a cervical smear examination and, if necessary, a biopsy are required to confirm the diagnosis.

The main symptom of cervical erosion is increased leucorrhea, which is often purulent. There may be pain in the lower abdomen and lumbosacral area and bladder irritation symptoms; patients with more severe erosion may have varying degrees of light bloody secretions, typically bloody secretions after sexual intercourse and sticky purulent secretions in the cervix, which are not conducive to the passage of sperm and cause infertility.