Introduction

Consult your health care provider if you experience the following symptoms:

• A yellow puslike vaginal discharge
• Difficult or painful urination
• Increased frequency in urination
• Pelvic pain
• Bleeding or spotting after sexual intercourse or between periods
• Pain low in the abdominal region, sometimes felt only during sexual intercourse

Seek immediate medical attention if you have excessive vaginal discharge, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, severe abdominal pain, dizziness, or any other symptoms you believe might be an emergency.

Next Steps

Visit your doctor immediately if your male partner has been diagnosed with urethritis (urinary tract infection) or shows symptoms (such as pain or burning during urination, thin discharge from the penis, or stained briefs). Untreated partners may cause reinfection.

Follow-up

Avoid sexual intercourse until your treatment is completed and symptoms have resolved, typically for at least 7 days.

In some cases, a single dose of medication, possibly by injection, can eradicate the infection. Alternatively, your doctor might prescribe a longer course of medication.

If your infection results from a sexually transmitted disease, your partner should also receive treatment. Do not resume sexual activity until your partner has been treated. After treatment, schedule regular check-ups with your doctor for the next 3 months.

In young individuals or children, cervicitis may indicate child sexual abuse.

Prevention

Prevent infectious cervicitis by practicing safe sex and using condoms consistently. Limit your sexual partners and be aware of your partner's sexual history. Spermicides, when used with condoms, likely contribute to cervicitis prevention.

Address vaginal infections promptly before they extend to your cervix. Undergo a comprehensive physical examination, including a Pap test, annually, especially if sexually active.

Encourage regular STI screenings for your partner. Avoid chemical irritants found in deodorized tampons, douches, or sprays.

Outlook

Untreated cervicitis can spread, infecting the uterine lining (endometritis) or fallopian tubes (salpingitis), potentially causing difficulties in conceiving a healthy baby. If pregnant and afflicted with cervicitis, your baby could contract an eye infection during delivery, leading to blindness, or less commonly, pneumonia due to a chlamydial infection.