CMV infection during pregnancy and impact on fetal health

 What is a uterine ulcer?

Cervical ectropion is a condition in which the cells lining the inner part of the cervix grow outside, and it can also be defined as the inversion of the glandular epithelium into the outer part of the cervix. These cells become more sensitive and red than the cells on the outside normally and thus cause symptoms, such as bleeding and discharge.

Uterine ectropion, also called cervical inversion or ectropion, is a natural condition that occurs most often during reproductive age due to increased exposure of the cervical epithelium to estrogen.

It is uncommon for postmenopausal or menopausal women to experience this condition, due to decreased estrogen levels, contraction of the cervix, and pulling of squamous cell epithelium from the cervix into the endocervical canal.

Causes of uterine ulcers

There are no clear causes for uterine ulcers, as some women are born with them! According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the reason behind it being a congenital condition is the exposure of the fetus during its development and the first month of life to maternal hormones, which stimulate hyperactivity of the columnar epithelium in the endocervix and produce uterine ulcers.

If women of childbearing age, teenagers, pregnant women, or women who use birth control pills or patches containing estrogen are affected, the cause is hormonal fluctuations.

In cases of taking contraceptives and the cause of your uterine ulcer, you can consult your doctor about changing your birth control method

Treating uterine ulcers

In most cases, the patient may not need any treatment for a uterine ulcer. If she has symptoms that began during pregnancy, they should disappear 3 to 6 months after giving birth. If birth control pills are the cause of the uterine ulcer, all it will take is It is replaced by another type of birth control.

Medical treatments

Heat therapy: Uterine ulcers are treated with heat and destroy abnormal cells by holding the cautery probe for 30 seconds against the ulcer area.

Cryotherapy: Cryotherapy is used before the main treatment in order to facilitate it. The probe is held for two minutes against the ulcer so that the area becomes frozen. This technique has been shown to be effective in improving the quality of cervical mucus. Cryotherapy is considered safe for pregnant women.

Laser therapy: Carbon dioxide lasers are used to destroy abnormal cervical epithelium. It is an outpatient procedure that is not performed under anesthesia.

Polydeoxyribonucleotide vaginal suppositories: These suppositories stimulate the formation of epithelial tissue in the uterine ulcer area, thus reducing the size of the ulcer and inflammation.

Among all the treatments mentioned, cauterization is considered the most effective, with a cure rate of 92%, while the cure rate with laser therapy is 79%.

  Preventing uterine ulcers

It is not possible to prevent uterine ulcers, but if one occurs, there is no need to worry. It is a harmless condition and is not associated with or caused by other serious conditions such as cancers.