How complications of the cervix can affect your fertility and what you can do to safeguard yourself.

When people think of cervical problems which affect fertility, they usually think of things like cervical incompetence or cervical cancer which then leads a woman to be sterile, if she chooses the conventional route of chemotherapy.

However, if someone were to mention cervicitis as a cause of infertility, they'd most likely get a blank look. Most women have never heard of it.

What Is Cervicitis?

Cervicitis is an inflammation of the cervix, caused by a bacterial infection. Depending on the trigger of the infection, cervicitis may spread to other parts of the reproductive system. The cervical mucus which occurs with this disease can make it impossible for sperm to pass through and fertilize the egg.

What Causes A Cervicitis Infection?

There are a number of causes. The most common one is through sexual intercourse with a person affected by gonorrhoea, chlamydia or genital warts. This type of cervicitis can be serious as it can develop into pelvic inflammatory disease which can scar the fallopian tubes and permanently damage the ovaries.

It is not only a sexually transmitted disease, though, and can be contracted by having a vaginal infection which is not treated (for instance, bacterial vaginosis which then progresses into cervicitis).

It can be caused by allergies to chemicals, household soaps, condoms, spermicides and other contraceptive devices such as the vaginal ring or IUD.

If you already suffer from recurrent thrush or cystitis or other vaginal infections, you may be at increased risk of having cervicitis.

How Do I Know I've Got It?

Symptoms are: Increased vaginal discharge, burning pain when urinating, painful sexual intercourse, itching of the vulva and/or labia (the external female genitalia), bleeding inbetween your periods and lower back pain. Some women also feel sick.

What Treatments Are There?

Prevention is obviously better than cure, so if you have a new partner, get tested for STI's first. Don't use soap or abrasive chemicals on your vulva. Remember, this skin is like the skin on the inside of your mouth and you wouldn't put a bar of soap there. Regularly washing in warm water is enough. If you think you have symptoms of infection, add a few drops of tea tree oil to your bath, or a tea tree or neem ointment to your vulva/labia. This can also be done as a preventative.

Get any unusual symptoms checked out with your doctor or family planning clinic, as prolonged or untreated infection can lead to infertility.

Antibiotics can be administered, or anti-viral medications.

I Had Cervicitis And Want A Baby

It's important to treat the initial infection as women who manage to concieve with cervicitis are at higher risk of having a miscarriage or premature birth and the baby is at risk of contracting the infection via the birth canal which can lead to pneumonia and even blindness.

If your tubes are blocked or scarred, you may be able to have surgery to remove the blockages and scar tissue in order for fertilization to occur. If your cervix has been blocked by mucus, a course of medications is usually enough to treat the problem, although if it still persists, the doctor may be able to inject sperm directly into the womb or egg to enhance your chance of getting pregnant.

If your ovaries have been damaged, you may need to consider egg donation.