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Cervicitis

Last reviewed: 13 Sep 2025
Last updated: 29 Apr 2025

Summary

Definição

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • risk factors for sexually transmitted infection (STI)
  • purulent vaginal or cervical discharge
  • intermenstrual/postcoital bleeding
  • dysuria and urinary frequency
  • easily induced cervical bleeding
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • dyspareunia
  • vulval and/or vaginal inflammation
  • strawberry cervix
Full details

Risk factors

  • age 15 to 24 years
  • inconsistent condom use
  • multiple sexual relationships
  • previous STIs
  • bacterial vaginosis (BV)
  • sex worker
  • absence of hydrogen peroxide-producing lactobacilli
  • infertility
  • education <12 years
Full details

Diagnostic tests

1st tests to order

  • pregnancy test
  • wet mount examination of cervical discharge
  • nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT)
  • rapid tests (OSOM Trichomonas, AFFIRM VPIII)
  • Thayer-Martin agar cervical culture
  • Gram stain of cervical discharge
Full details

Tests to consider

  • cervical cytology
  • herpes simplex virus (HSV) serology
  • HIV serology
  • hepatitis B and C serologies
  • rapid plasma reagin testing
Full details

Treatment algorithm

INITIAL

high-risk nonpregnant women

ACUTE

nonpregnant women

pregnant women

ONGOING

recurrent/resistant infections

Contributors

Authors

M. Jonathon Solnik, MD, FACOG, FACS
M. Jonathon Solnik

Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Head of Gynaecology & Minimally Invasive Surgery

University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine

Mount Sinai Hospital

Toronto

Canada

Disclosures

MJS serves as a consultant for Medtronic, Olympus, and Hologic, and on the advisory board for Abbvie. He holds stocks in Felix and Field Trip Inc.

Acknowledgements

Dr M. Jonathon Solnik would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Sharon Jakus, a previous contributor to this topic.

Declarações

SJ declares that she has no competing interests.

Revisores

Sandra R. Valaitis, MD

Associate Professor and Chief

Gynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery

University of Chicago

Chicago

IL

Declarações

SRV declares that she has no competing interests.

Justin C. Chura, MD

Associate Division Director

Gynecologic Oncology

Crozer Chester Medical Center

Upland

PA

Declarações

JCC declares that he has no competing interests.

Eva Jungmann, FRCP, MSc

Consultant Physician

GUM/HIV Camden Primary Care Trust

Archway Sexual Health Clinic

London

UK

Declarações

EJ declares that she has no competing interests.

Peer reviewer acknowledgements

BMJ Best Practice topics are updated on a rolling basis in line with developments in evidence and guidance. The peer reviewers listed here have reviewed the content at least once during the history of the topic.

Disclosures

Peer reviewer affiliations and disclosures pertain to the time of the review.

Referências

Nossas equipes internas de editoria e de evidências trabalham em conjunto com colaboradores internacionais especializados e pares revisores para garantir que forneçamos acesso às informações o mais clinicamente relevantes possível.

Principais artigos

Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, et al. Sexually transmitted infections treatment guidelines, 2021. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021 Jul 23;70(4):1-187.Texto completo  Resumo

Boyer CB, Shafer MB, Pollack LM, et al. Sociodemographic markers and behavioral correlates of STIs in a nonclinical sample of adolescent and young adult women. J Infect Dis. 2006 Aug 1;194(3):307-15.Texto completo  Resumo

Marrazzo JM, Weisenfeld HC, Murray PJ, et al. Risk factors for cervicitis among women with bacterial vaginosis. J Infect Dis. 2006 Mar 1;193(5):617-24.Texto completo  Resumo

Scholes D, Grothaus L, McClure J, et al. A randomized trial of strategies to increase Chlamydia screening in young women. Prev Med. 2006 Oct;43(4):343-50. Resumo

Artigos de referência

Uma lista completa das fontes referenciadas neste tópico está disponível para os usuários com acesso total ao BMJ Best Practice.
  • Cervicitis images
  • Diagnósticos diferenciais

    • Cervical ectropion
    • Cervical dysplasia
    • Cervical cancer
    Mais Diagnósticos diferenciais
  • Diretrizes

    • European guideline on the management of Mycoplasma genitalium infections
    • British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) United Kingdom national guideline on the management of Trichomonas vaginalis 2021
    Mais Diretrizes
  • Folhetos informativos para os pacientes

    Chlamydia

    Genital herpes

    Mais Folhetos informativos para os pacientes
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