Cervix Disorders

Summary

The cervix is the lower part of the uterus, the place where a baby grows during pregnancy. The cervix has a small opening that expands during childbirth. It also allows menstrual blood to leave a woman’s body.

Your health care provider may perform a Pap test during your health checkup to look for changes to the cells of the cervix, including cervical cancer. Other problems with the cervix include:

• Cervicitis – inflammation of the cervix. This is usually from an infection.
• Cervical incompetence – This can happen during pregnancy. The opening of the cervix widens long before the baby is due.
• Cervical polyps and cysts – abnormal growths on the cervix

Patient Handouts

• Cervical dysplasia Medical Encyclopedia
• Cervical polyps Medical Encyclopedia
• Cervicitis Medical Encyclopedia
• Cervix treatment – cryosurgery Medical Encyclopedia
• Cold knife cone biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
• Endocervical gram stain Medical Encyclopedia
• Insufficient cervix Medical Encyclopedia
• Nabothian cyst Medical Encyclopedia

Specifics

• Cervical Dysplasia American Academy of Family Physicians
• Cervical Dysplasia: Is It Cancer? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Cervical Fibroids Merck & Co., Inc.
• Cervical Length: Why Does It Matter during Pregnancy? Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Cervical Polyps Merck & Co., Inc.
• Cervical Stenosis Merck & Co., Inc.
• Cervicitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
• Incompetent Cervix Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Treatments and Therapies

• Cervical dysplasia – series — Normal anatomy Medical Encyclopedia

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Uterine Cervical Diseases National Institutes of Health
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Uterine Cervical Dysplasia National Institutes of Health

Diagnosis and Tests

• Colposcopy National Library of Medicine
• Loop Electrosurgical Excision Procedure (LEEP) Johns Hopkins Medicine

Encyclopedia

• Colposcopy – directed biopsy Medical Encyclopedia

Find an Expert

• Find an Ob-Gyn American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Start Here

• HPV and Pap Test Results: Next Steps after an Abnormal Cervical Cancer Screening Test National Cancer Institute

Journal Articles

• Cervix Disorders