Health Topic

Cervix Disorders

The cervix is the lower part of a woman's uterus. Read about problems that can affect the cervix, like cervicitis (inflammation) and cervical polyps.

Reviewed Reviewed by a registered pharmacistGeneral information

Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.

About Cervix Disorders

A cervix disorder is a problem with your cervix. The cervix is part of the female reproductive system. It is the lower, narrow end of the uterus (womb), which opens into the vagina (birth canal). The cervix has a small opening that expands during childbirth. It also allows menstrual blood to leave your body.

You may not have any symptoms of a cervix disorder, but routine pelvic exams and a Pap smear test can help determine if you may need treatment.

Cervix disorders can include:

  • Cervical cancer is a cancer that starts in the cells of the cervix.
  • Cervicitis is swelling of the cervix. An infection usually causes it, but it can also be caused by skin irritation. Treatment can help you avoid potential complications like pelvic inflammatory disease (PID).
  • Cervical incompetence (also called cervical insufficiency) can happen during pregnancy. The opening of your cervix widens too early. This may cause you to give birth too soon, or you could lose the fetus.
  • Cervical polyps and cysts are fleshy or fluid-filled growths on your cervix. These growths are usually benign (not cancer). They are more common during your reproductive years, especially after age 20.

You are more likely to develop a cervix disorder if:

  • You've had a previous cervical procedure or surgery.
  • You've had a sexually transmitted infection (STI) such as chlamydia or gonorrhea.
  • You used a latex condom or a feminine product such as a spermicide or douche that irritated the skin of your vagina.
  • You left something in your vagina too long, such as a diaphragm, tampon, or cervical cap, and it caused irritation.
  • You don't consistently use a condom when you have sex, or you have multiple sex partners.

You may not know that something is wrong since cervix disorders may not have any symptoms. If you have symptoms, they may vary based on the cervix disorder.

Symptoms can include:

  • Vaginal bleeding that's not normal for you, such as bleeding between menstrual periods
  • Pain during sex or a pelvic exam
  • Abnormal vaginal discharge

If you are pregnant, a few signs of an incompetent cervix could include light vaginal bleeding, a feeling of pelvic pressure, or mild cramps. But you may not have any signs.

Even if you don't have symptoms, your health care provider may notice changes to the cells of your cervix during a pelvic exam. Your provider may look for:

  • Redness or inflammation (swelling) of your cervix or vaginal walls
  • Vaginal discharge or strong odor

Your provider may perform a Pap test to look for changes in your cervix.

The treatment for cervix disorders depends on the cause. It might include antibiotics or stopping using a product that causes skin irritation.

If you have had an incompetent cervix in the past, you might take medicine or have ultrasound imaging tests to check how your pregnancy is going.

You can take steps to prevent some cervix disorders. This can include to:

  • Use a condom every time you have sex. Correct usage of latex condoms greatly reduces, but does not completely eliminate, the risk of catching or spreading STIs. If you or your partner is allergic to latex, you can use polyurethane condoms.
  • Have regular pelvic exams.
  • Get tested for STIs as needed.
  • Avoid using personal care products that may cause skin irritation to your vagina.

It sits within Female Reproductive System.

When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.

Research on Cervix Disorders

2,626 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.

What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.

Research currently under way

Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.

Where to read more

Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.

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Diagnosis and Tests

Treatments and Therapies

Clinical Trials

Medical subject headings

Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Uterine Cervical Diseases. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.

This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Cervix Disorders, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.