Fertility and childbirth are two of the hot topics which are usually very popular amongst the elderlies of the country. Where both men and women can undergo some or the other fertility issues, it's the women who have been a target of these talks for a long time as this is the gender capable of carrying and giving birth to a child. As there are a lot many different factors that can affect a woman’s pregnancy and cause fertility issues, a low cervix is one of them. Where the cervix is a muscle that separates the uterus from vagina, a low position or variation in depth of this muscle can lead to various fertility issues. With that being said, let us take a deep dive into the article and learn all about the symptoms, causes and treatment of low cervix along with various complications it can cause with Dr. Bharti Kalra, Head, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Bharti Hospital, Karnal.
What is a cervix?
Before getting to know about the condition of the low cervix and getting entangled in its complications, let us first try to understand what a cervix actually is. As we know that there are about 600 muscles present inside the human body, the cervix is one such muscle that plays a crucial role in a woman’s reproductive health. Cervix is a muscle present at the lower and narrow end of the uterus which separates the uterus from vagina and forms a canal between the two. In simpler words a cervix can be understood as a muscle separating the vagina and uterus. It helps in providing a passage between the uterine cavity and the vaginal cavity. A cervix is about 2 inches long tubular structure and is present in the lower portion of the cervix. The changes in a cervix can be observed at the time of childbirth, periods and during a sexual intercourse.
What is a low cervix?
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Cervix is an essential part of a woman’s reproductive system that is not much talked about unless a woman is on their periods, expecting a baby or is facing reproductive issues and other complications. Caused due to the weakening of tissues and the loss of estrogen hormone, this condition can lead to premature birth, maternal and fetal mortality along with an increased risk of infections. Let us take a look at what Dr. Bharti Kalra has to say about this- “Low cervix can be congenital, some have very long cervix, so it is felt low in pelvis. Commonly uterovaginal prolapse occurs because of difficult vaginal childbirth, prolonged labor, constipation, straining at stool, heavy weight lifting, chronic cough, etc. Cervix low in vagina is prone to infection/ excessive discharge and difficult conception, increased risk of miscarriage, pelvic pressure symptoms , urine retention and preterm labor. Pregnancy can be continued with the foot end raised while lying down, ring Pessary to keep the uterus in position. Vaginal delivery is difficult and May worsen the situation so caesarean is better"
Causes of Low Cervix
Where nothing in this world happens without a reason and hence the same applies upon the condition of low cervix. The symptoms of this condition tends to create so much of discomfort that becomes a hindrance in daily life activities, let us have a close look at the various factors that result into the condition of low cervix.-
- Obesity causing additional strain on the pelvic region
- Weakening of tissue due to menopause
- Surgery in pelvic region
- Asthma
- Repetative miscarriages
- Vaginal childbirth
- Uterine Abnormalities
- Smoking
- Family history
- Chronic cough
- Weakening pelvic muscles with increasing age
- Bronchitis
Symptoms of Low Cervix
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As by now we know about what a cervix and the condition of low cervix as well, let us have a look at some of the common symptoms of low cervix-
- Lower back pain
- Painful sexual intercourse
- Discomfort while walking
- Uterine tissue bulging out of the vagina
- Difficulty in urination
- Feeling pressure in the pelvis
Complications caused due to low cervix
When the muscle responsible for separating the vagina and uterus is lower than normal, it can be felt low in vagina either at the opening or in some severe cases even outside the vagina.
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Where this condition involves various pregnancy complications such as cervical infection, preterm labour, fetal mortality and much more. Here are some of the complications that can be caused due to the condition of low cervix such as-
- Increased risk of infection
- Back pain
- Maternal mortality
- Premature birth
- Urinary tract infection
- Painful Sexual Intercourse
- Acute Urinary Retention
- Cervical infection
- Spontaneous abortion
Diagnosis of Low Cervix
Just knowing about an issue is just not enough, one needs to know how to diagnose a problem and get it treated as early as possible in order to avoid any further complications. With low cervix being a severe condition which can give rise to several other issues, let us see the ways in which it can be diagnosed.
- Ultrasound is a medical examination method generally used to rule out pelvic issues. In this method a wand is either inserted into your vagina or is passed over the abdomen to create images with the help of sound imaging technique.
- A medical examination by your physician might need to lie down or stand straight while exerting pressure upon your abdominal region.
- Renal sonography or intravenous pyelogram are the techniques used in very specific conditions like ureteral obstruction. For this diagnosis technique several x-rays are taken after injecting dye into the veins and its progress is observed.
- MRI or the Magnetic resonance technique is another way of diagnosing the issue of low cervix.
Treatment for Low Cervix
As we are in the twenty-first century and medical science has observed tremendous changes in the past few years, there is a treatment option available for almost every condition. The treatment of this condition depends upon its severity and cause of this issue. Some of the treatment options available to cure this condition are-
- Surgery
The kind of surgery one must undergo depends upon a person’s age and their wish to carry a baby. A surgery can be performed through the abdomen or vagina by the means of skin grafting which is said to be a very helpful method in correcting this condition.
- Medication
As said, the treatment option depends upon the severity of the condition, where some people might require corrective surgery, others can opt for medications instead. In case of a low cervix a doctor might recommend you to use a hormonal cream or insert a ring into your vagina in order to help to restore the strength of the vaginal tissues.
- Self Care
When it comes down to conditions like this, self care plays an important role in providing relief and aiding the treatment. Performing activities such as kegel exercise along with several other pelvic strengthening exercises are considered to be very helpful in this condition. As these exercises help in strengthening the pelvic region, it provides support to the diaphragm.
(With input from Dr. Bharti Kalra, Head, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Bharti Hospital, Karnal)