women s health issues
Cervical Stenosis
Introduction
Cervical stenosis is narrowing or closing of the passageway through the cervix (the lower part of the uterus). Cervical stenosis often causes no symptoms. Cervical stenosis may cause menstrual abnormalities or, rarely in premenopausal women, infertility. Doctors can usually diagnose cervical stenosis during a pelvic examination. The cervix can be widened to relieve symptoms. In cervical stenosis, the passageway through the cervix (from the vagina to the main body of the uterus) is narrow or completely closed. Cervical stenosis usually results from a disorder or another condition, such as the following: Menopause , because the tissues in the cervix thin (atrophy) Cervical Cancer or cancer of the lining of the uterus ( Surgery that involves the cervix—for example, done to treat precancerous changes of the cervix (dysplasia) Procedures that destroy or remove the lining of the uterus (endometrial ablation) in women who have persistent vaginal bleeding Radiation therapy to treat cervical cancer or endometrial cancer In women who are still menstruating, menstrual blood mixed with cells from the uterus may flow backward through the fallopian tubes into the pelvis, possibly causing Endometriosis . Rarely, cervical stenosis results in an accumulation of blood in the uterus (hematometra). Also rarely, pus accumulates in the uterus, particularly if the cause of stenosis is cervical or endometrial cancer. Accumulation of pus in the uterus is called pyometra. 