Cervicitis
Cervicitis is an inflammation of the cervix, most often caused by infection. Symptoms of cervicitis include an unusual vaginal discharge or bleeding, redness or swelling of the cervix, and vaginal pain.
How can you care for yourself when you have cervicitis?
- Take your antibiotics as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
- If your doctor prescribed antifungal medicine, use it as directed.
- While you are being treated, do not have sex. If your treatment is one dose of antibiotics, wait at least 7 days after you take your medicine before you have any kind of sexual contact. Even if you use a condom, you could get infected again.
- It's important to tell any sex partners that you have cervicitis. It may be related to an STI. Sex partners should get tested and then treated if they have an STI. This is true even if they don't have symptoms.
- Do not douche. It can change the normal balance of substances in your vagina.
- Do not use tampons while you are being treated.
To prevent STIs
- Use condoms every time you have sex. Use them from the start to the end of sexual contact.
- Talk to any partners before you have sex. Find out if they have or are at risk for any sexually transmitted infection (STI). Keep in mind that a person may be able to spread an STI even if they don't have symptoms.
- Do not have sex with anyone who has symptoms of an STI. These include sores on the genitals or mouth.
- Having one sex partner (who does not have STIs and does not have sex with anyone else) can reduce your risk of getting STIs.
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