Cervicitis and cervix pain: Causes, symptoms, & treatment

Understanding what may be causing your cervix pain is the first step toward getting rid of it. In this article, we’ll explore the various potential causes of cervical pain (particularly cervicitis, as it’s one of the most common culprits) as well as the treatment options available to you so that you can take control of your health with a deeper understanding of your body.

What is cervicitis?

One of the most common causes of cervix pain is cervicitis. Cervicitis is a condition where your cervix is swollen or inflamed due to either an infection or irritants in products such as feminine products and condoms [1]. You can think of your cervix as a small, doughnut-shaped doorway between the vaginal canal and the uterus. It usually stays closed, but during certain times, it opens to allow menstrual blood, sperm, or a baby to pass through [2].

Cervicitis is most common among sexually active women aged 15 to 24 years old, and common symptoms include a change to vaginal discharge, pain during sex, and/or cervix pain (or discomfort in that general area). The condition usually isn’t dangerous unless it escalates to a more serious infection, and it can be treated with antibiotics [1].

While it’s treatable and not necessarily a cause for alarm, you’ll still need to see a doctor to avoid further complications from cervicitis. It can be a sign of an underlying sexually transmitted disease that may be more serious, and if the infection spreads, it can lead to complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) or infertility [1].

The good news is that cervicitis is treatable, so recognizing the signs and getting medical attention quickly can help address it right away.

Cervicitis symptoms

One of the most common and telling symptoms of cervicitis is cervix pain or discomfort. You can feel this pain in your lower abdomen and/or the pelvic area between the hips. It may help to keep a log of when you feel the pain as this information may be helpful for diagnosis by a doctor later on.

A few more common symptoms of cervicitis include:

• Pus-like vaginal discharge that may be yellow, white, or gray
• Irregular vaginal bleeding
• Pain during sex
• Painful urination
• Itching

Unfortunately, cervicitis may also have no symptoms at all. This is why it’s incredibly important to follow through with regularly scheduled appointments with your gynecologist or other medical provider for examinations that can detect these conditions even without physical symptoms. [5]

Types of cervicitis and their causes

There are two main types of cervicitis: acute and chronic. We’ll go through the different causes and symptoms of each type below so that you know what to expect if your doctor suspects one type over the other.

Acute: Acute cervicitis usually starts rather abruptly and the symptoms listed above are more noticeable and/or irritating. Sexually transmitted infections or other types of harmful bacteria are usually the cause [1]. Chlamydia is the most common STI that causes cervicitis, but it can also be caused by gonorrhea, genital herpes, and trichomoniasis. It’s important to tell any sexual partners you’ve had about your diagnosis from your doctor so that they can receive treatment as well.

Chronic: Chronic cervicitis takes a bit longer to recognize as it’s characterized by persistent abnormal discharge for at least three months. Causes of chronic cervicitis are usually allergens or irritants to things like certain period products, condoms, douches, toilet paper, or cervical caps [1]. The condition usually clears itself up when you stop using the product causing the irritation. Less commonly, chronic cervicitis has also been associated with bacterial imbalance or bacterial vaginosis (BV) which actually concerns the vagina rather than the cervix. 

Overall, the main ways to tell the difference between acute and chronic cervicitis are the severity/speed of the onset of symptoms and the initial cause of the infection.

How do you treat cervicitis?

No matter which type of cervicitis you have, it’s important to recognize that it’s treatable and the sooner you receive treatment, the better. When you go to your healthcare provider with symptoms, they’ll likely do a few lab tests such as a swab or smear, blood test, and/or a pelvic exam to confirm that it is in fact cervicitis and figure out the probable cause. Once that underlying cause is identified, treatment can begin [4].

For acute cervicitis, treatment usually involves a course of antibiotics especially if it’s caused by chlamydia or gonorrhea (the antibiotic will clear up the STI as well). An antiviral medication may be prescribed if the cervicitis is caused by herpes [5]. Again, any sexual partner who may have been affected should be notified so that they can also receive treatment. 

For chronic cervicitis not caused by an infection, there is usually no need for further treatment beyond stopping the use of the product with the allergen or irritantConsult with your doctor to be sure that no further treatment is needed and that the infection is completely gone once the product has been removed from your routine [6].

What antibiotic treats cervicitis?

If you’re curious to know exactly which antibiotic your doctor might prescribe for acute cervicitis, it depends on the infection that’s causing the condition. Doxycycline is often used to treat chlamydia while ceftriaxone can treat gonorrhea. Azithromycin is also sometimes prescribed to help clear up these types of infections [4].

On the other hand, if you’re experiencing chronic cervicitis over the course of three months or more and your doctor suspects a link to bacterial vaginosis, they may prescribe a course of an antibiotic gel called metronidazole that should rebalance those bacteria levels [1].

How long does it take to heal?

With a typical course of antibiotics for acute cervicitis, it can take just a few days or up to two weeks for the condition to clear up entirely [5]. Be sure to follow the doctor’s prescription instructions exactly to make sure the infection is completely gone and won’t re-emerge.

For chronic cervicitis, it may clear up very fast once the irritant or allergen has been removed from your regimen, but may still take several weeks to clear out entirely [5].

Your healthcare provider may also recommend that you abstain from sexual activity during the course of your treatment and that you get tested again in three months to check for reinfection. We recommend that you discuss the specifics of your case with your doctor and follow their recommendations [4].

How common is cervicitis?

Cervicitis is incredibly common, thought to affect more than half of all adult women at some point in their life [3]. Some risk factors include multiple sexual partners, a personal history of STIs, and sexual partners who have had an STI. 

Is cervicitis contagious?

Yes, acute cervicitis can be passed to your sexual partners if it’s caused by STIs for example, through transmission of the underlying infection. Avoid passing on the condition by waiting until the infection is completely gone and you are symptom-free after completing your antibiotic treatment [4].

Can you get cervicitis without an STI?

Yes, as we discussed earlier, chronic cervicitis can be caused by allergies or irritants in your products, or by an imbalance of the naturally occurring bacteria in the area (BV). This type of cervicitis is not contagious, but should still be treated accordingly.

Other potential causes of cervix pain

With all of this in mind, it’s also important to note that your cervix pain may have nothing to do with cervicitis, and you should consult your doctor either way whenever you feel abnormal pain or discomfort in that area.

Some other common causes of cervix pain include:

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV): Pain in the cervix may be a sign of HPV, which is a common condition that 80% of sexually active adults will get at some point in their lives. Your body may clear it out naturally, but in a few cases, it may also cause changes in cervical cells that can lead to cancer. Your doctor can perform the proper testing needed to manage HPV[6]. 
• Endometriosis: In basic terms, this condition occurs when tissue from the inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. This can cause severe pain in the area, especially during periods and sexual intercourse [6].
• Injury or Trauma: The cervix is a sensitive organ that is susceptible to bruising or inflammation after any sort of rigorous activity in the area such as deep penetrative sexual intercourse, childbirth, or medical procedures [5].
• Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID): PID involves an infection of nearly all parts of the female reproductive system and can come with fever, painful urination, and more unpleasant symptoms [5].

How do you treat cervical pain that’s not caused by cervicitis?

Treatment methods for each of the possible causes mentioned above will vary based on the underlying condition causing the cervical pain. Recommendations may include abstaining from penetrative sex until the area has healed. 

Talk to your doctor about all of your symptoms including the pain so that they can properly diagnose and treat the root cause of what is potentially harming your body [6].

When to see a doctor

If you take nothing else away from this article, remember to make and keep your regularly scheduled gynecological appointments and go to your doctor whenever you notice unusual symptoms. Cervicitis (and other conditions) may be present with no symptoms at all, which means that the infection could spread and cause more serious issues without warning. Consulting with your doctor for regular check-ups and exams can help prevent this.

Otherwise, any time you notice an unusual symptom or pain in and around your cervix or pelvic area, you should make an appointment and talk to your doctor about the symptoms. While it may not necessarily be cervicitis every time, it’s worth discussing to make sure you get proper treatment and that the infection doesn’t escalate.

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