Patient's question:
How is Stage 2 erosion of the cervix formed? How is it treated?Doctor's answer:
Cervical erosion is a common inflammation of the female reproductive tract, classified into three degrees—mild, moderate, and severe—based on the proportion of the cervix affected by erosion. Treatment methods include non-invasive and invasive treatments. Local treatments using medication applied vaginally are non-invasive, but this method is ineffective for moderate to severe cervical erosion. Invasive treatments involve local cervical treatments using methods such as phototherapy, cryotherapy, laser, and electrocautery. This approach may cause minor damage to the cervix and sometimes affect its ability to dilate during childbirth, but it does not lead to infertility. Conversely, severe cervical erosion or cases with acute infections, if left untreated, can result in infertility. Therefore, for women who have not borne children and suffer from cervical erosion without affecting pregnancy or acute infections, cervical laser treatment can be performed after childbirth.The treatment of cervical erosion primarily involves local therapies, with numerous methods available, such as drug therapy, physical therapy, and surgical treatment. The first two conservative treatments aim to cause the columnar epithelium on the eroded surface to necrose and shed, creating conditions for the regrowth of new squamous epithelium.
(1) Drug therapy: Suitable for patients with smaller erosion areas and superficial inflammatory infiltration. Antibiotics applied locally, such as metronidazole, sulfonamide drugs, and furacillin, can be used. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used in clinical practice for treating cervical erosion, with good efficacy. Many empirical formulas or prescriptions are processed into powders or suppositories, placed on cotton balls, and applied to the eroded surface. Generally, medication is applied twice a week. During treatment, the vagina may produce more yellow discharge, but it should not have an unpleasant odor. Treatment typically begins after the menstrual period has ended.