Epidemiology and clinical significance of cervical erosion in women attending a family planning clinic.

Abstract

Summary and conclusionsWomen attending a family planning clinic were studied to determine the relation between cervical erosion and clinical and social characteristics. The appearance of the cervix was recorded without knowledge of the women's symptoms.The prevalence of erosion increased with parity but, when the effects of other factors were controlled, decreased in women aged 35 and over. Erosion was significantly more common in women taking the "pill" and less common in women using barrier methods of contraception than in others. There was considerable variation between doctors in the reporting of erosion. No association was found between erosion and postcoital bleeding, dyspareunia, backache, or dysuria. There was a significant but modest association between erosion and vaginal discharge and a suggestion that erosion may sometimes be associated with nocturia and frequency of micturition. Vaginal flora was similar in women with and without erosion.Cervical erosion should not be regarded as pathological in asymptomatic women, nor should it be assumed necessarily to be the cause of symptoms in women with genitourinary complaints.

Anatomic and Hormonal Changes in the Female Reproductive Tract Immune Environment during the Life Cycle: Implications for HIV/STI Prevention Research

“…The prevalence of ectopy ranges widely from 17 to 50%. 42 Post-mortem studies from female infants suggest that in the neonatal period, the fetus is exposed to maternal hormones, which leads to hyperactivity of columnar epithelium of the cervix leading to ectopy and metaplasia. 43 At the time of puberty, due to a rise in ovarian release of estradiol, an enlarged endocervix is pushed down and out, thereby exposing the endocervical columnar cells on the ectocervix.…”

Evidence for benefits from treating cervical ectopy: literature review

“…Other symptoms are also sometimes attributed to ectopy, like pelvic pain and postcoital bleeding. 14 We believe this is a major issue because of the high prevalence of ectopy. If it were decided to treat all women with ectopy, this would entail the utilization of substantial physical and human resources, even though the treatment is not complex.…”

“…1,3 The prevalence reported for ectopy ranges from 17 to 50%. 13,14 Given that its course is usually time-limited, the prevalence estimates in a population will detect only the women with ectopy at that time. In such populations, some women will already have had this condition and others will develop it.…”

Cryotherapy for cervical lesions: efficacy and patient satisfaction

“…Prevalence of ectropion varies between 14-15% outpatients. 1 With lower cell mediated immunity, glandular epithelium creates facilitatory environment for infections with fertility implications as well as carcinogenic implications and also potentially carcinogenic infections like human papilloma virus. 2,3 Ectropion has been found to be associated with intraepithelial neoplasia in around 17% cases.…”