Content
A bluish or cyanotic cervix in gynecology is considered a likely symptom of an onset pregnancy. The reasons for the change in the color of the mucous membrane of the cervix are the change in the nature of the blood circulation of the pelvic cavity.
The cervix is the part of the uterus visible to the obstetrician, located in the vagina at a depth of 6-8 cm. The main task of the organ is protective. The glands of the canal epithelium produce mucus, which forms a plug that protects the uterine cavity from infection. During pregnancy, the muscular frame of the reproductive organ ensures the retention of the fetus throughout the entire gestation period.
The bluish cervix is considered one of the first signs of pregnancy, and is explained by the influence of the hormone progesterone, which is intensively produced by the corpus luteum of the ovary, and then by the placenta.
Sometimes cyanosis is a sign of pathology, and not evidence of impending motherhood. You can determine the causes of color changes after a thorough diagnosis by a gynecologist, including instrumental and laboratory methods.
Cyanosis of the cervix is not the only sign of pregnancy, so confirmation or exclusion of gestation must be proven by additional examinations.
Possible causes of bluish tint
The shape of the cervical region is like a cylinder with a narrow lumen - the cervical canal. It contains a special mucus that protects the gynecological tract from the spread of germs, such as sexually transmitted ones. But the integrity of the barrier can be broken in concomitant gynecological diseases, both infectious and hormonal. A number of infectious and inflammatory diseases may be asymptomatic, but the color of the mucous membrane will be changed due to venous plethora.
A regular annual examination by a gynecologist will allow timely diagnosis of a change in color, consistency, discharged in the presence of inflammation.
A bluish cervix can be for several reasons:
- pregnancy;
- infectious and inflammatory process;
- uterine prolapse and elongation;
- endometrosis;
- tumors.
The cervix reflects the state of a woman's reproductive system.
According to the color of the mucous membrane, consistency, the presence of secretions, the doctor assumes the presence of a disease, and appoints a series of studies to verify it.
Pregnancy
One of the likely signs of the onset of fertilization and the normal development of the embryo is a change in the pink color of the mucous membrane to cyanotic. As a rule, the neck acquires such a shade at 6-8 obstetric weeks of pregnancy.
The reason for this phenomenon is a change in blood supply under the influence of the hormone progesterone, which is otherwise called the hormone of pregnancy. In addition to cyanosis, the doctor diagnoses an increase in the size of the body of the uterus, its softening and increased mobility.
The most reliable sign of pregnancy is a blood test for hCG, which will show a positive result even before the delay of the next menstruation.
Infectious and inflammatory processes
The causes of the cyanotic cervix may lie in an active infectious process occurring in the tissues of the cervical canal, the integumentary epithelium of the cervix, and the uterine cavity. Infections such as chlamydia, urea- and mycoplasmosis, herpes simplex viruses, diseases caused by opportunistic flora can cause venous plethora of the lower gynecological tract.
The reason for the change in the color of the cervix from pink to cyanotic are pronounced infectious processes - endometritis, cervicitis, as well as inflammation of all departments - the ovaries, tubes and uterine cavity.
The mucous membrane of the vagina also becomes bluish.
Factors contributing to the development of inflammatory processes:
- decrease in resistance;
- genetic predisposition;
- anemia of moderate and severe severity;
- chronic diseases of the genitourinary system;
- sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet;
- hormone therapy with corticosteroids and oral contraceptives;
- intrauterine contraception.
Signs that are alarming in relation to latent diseases of the genital organs are infertility, menstrual irregularities, periodic aching pains, daub and acyclic bleeding, pathological discharge.
Tumors and uterine prolapse
Changes in the hormonal background in a woman's body can cause the growth of fibroids, which are localized both in the body of the uterus and in the cervical region. The growth of a benign tumor leads to a violation of the blood circulation of the neck. Difficulty in the outflow of venous blood leads to a change in the color of the mucous membrane from pink to cyanotic.
The reasons for the bluish tint of the cervical region with growing fibroids are excessive production of estrogen or a violation of the perception of this hormone by the uterine receptors.
Conditions such as elongation (elongation and omission) of the cervix, its prolapse cause a bluish color of the mucous membrane. Signs of the disease are the sensation of a foreign body in the vagina, pain during intercourse, discomfort.
Bluish color of the cervix accompany a condition dangerous to health and life - cancer.
A malignant tumor completely changes the anatomy of the organ, causing a change in shade.
In addition to tumors, the cervical region can acquire a blue color with endometriosis. The cause of the bluish tint in this case is the endometriotic foci.
Diagnostics and prevention
The question of why the cervix is blue can only be answered by a doctor who has performed the entire range of studies related to the reproductive tract.
If pathological changes are detected, the following studies are prescribed:
- Analysis for genital infections by PCR and tank. sowing.
- Doppler ultrasound.
- CT and MRI.
- Pap smears and HPV tests.
- Biopsy if necessary.
- Blood test for hCG.
- Blood test for tumor markers hormones.
Treatment is carried out depending on the identified disease.
To protect yourself from possible diseases and infections, as well as their spread will help:
- regular visits to the doctor;
- passing a full course of treatment of diseases of the genital organs;
- use of contraceptive methods (condoms and spermicides);
- simultaneous examination of the sexual partner;
- changing a sedentary lifestyle to a more active one;
- full nutrition, courses of vitamin therapy.
The most common reason cyanotic shade of the cervical region is pregnancy.
If during a visual examination on a gynecological chair it is found that the cervix is blue, then the doctor prescribes a number of additional studies. For many women, this may be the beginning of a new stage in life - pregnancy and subsequent childbirth. However, if the likelihood of conception is excluded, a number of additional checks must be carried out to identify the true reason that the mucous membrane is cyanotic.
considered established.
Absence of menstruation
You can talk about a delay in menstruation and its absence when a week has passed after the expected date of its start. Changes in the duration of the menstrual cycle during the week are not considered a deviation from the norm. Such changes can be associated with stress, unusual physical activity, climate change, and a strict diet. This is the body's reaction to a too drastic change in living conditions. Stress - long-term or strong short-term - is the cause of a malfunction of the central structures (cerebral cortex, hypothalamus) that regulate the functioning of the ovaries and uterus. An example of such disorders is the so-called wartime amenorrhea, when menstruation stopped in conditions of stress in women.
If menstruation does not come even after a week, the first thing a woman should think about is the onset of pregnancy. However, in some women, various diseases of the female reproductive system can be the cause of a prolonged delay in menstruation.
Delayed menstruation can be caused by various gynecological diseases, such as inflammation of the uterine appendages (salpingoophoritis), uterine fibroids (benign tumor of the uterus), hormonally active ovarian cysts, and others. Periodic delays in menstruation are characteristic of a disease such as polycystic ovaries. At the same time, the production of hormones in the body is disrupted and ovulation does not occur (the release of an egg from the ovary). Polycystic ovaries is observed when the function of various organs is impaired: the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, adrenal glands, thyroid gland and the ovaries themselves.
Also, a delay in menstruation can also occur after an abortion. The reason is a violation of the hormonal balance, as well as the fact that during instrumental curettage of the uterus, an excessive amount of tissue of the inner lining of the uterus, which normally grows during the menstrual cycle and is excreted in the form of menstrual blood, can be removed. After the abolition of hormonal contraceptives and in late reproductive age (over 40 years), violations of the periodicity of menstrual cycles are also possible.
Delayed menstruation does not always mean pregnancy, just as timely menstruation does not always mean the absence of pregnancy. True, menstrual-like bleeding during pregnancy is always unusual: it differs from the usual in color, often scarce, painless, or, on the contrary, unusually painful. Such bleeding is popularly called "washing the fetus." The occurrence of such bleeding is explained by the formation of new blood vessels that actively grow around the embryo implanted in the wall of the uterus. This is why such bleeding is sometimes called implantation bleeding. Naturally, new vessels in the formation stage are still very fragile and easily injured, which leads to a small amount of bloody discharge. As a rule, implantation bleeding, according to many experts, does not pose a threat to either the mother or the future baby. However, sometimes women do not pay attention to the quantitative characteristics of vaginal discharge, considering them to be another menstruation. As a result, not knowing about the onset of pregnancy, a woman may unknowingly put the health or even the life of her child at serious risk (for example, by taking medications for which pregnancy is one of the main contraindications). To avoid this, you must always be attentive to the menstrual cycles and, in doubtful cases, conduct pregnancy tests.
Pregnancy test
To verify the fact of the onset of pregnancy, you can carry out at home pregnancy test. These systems are freely sold in pharmacies. They are based on the definition of chorionic gonadotropin, which is secreted by the chorion of the fetal egg, and makes the very long-awaited second strip appear on the test. It begins to stand out after the implantation of the fetal egg into the wall of the uterus, that is, already in the very early stages of pregnancy. As a result, under the influence of hCG, the corpus luteum does not resolve, but begins the secretion of the hormone progesterone, which is necessary to maintain pregnancy. HCG enters the bloodstream and is excreted from there with urine. The level of hCG during pregnancy can be determined both by examining the urine - this can be done even with the help of express tests intended for home use - and by examining the blood. In order to perform a pregnancy test at home, you need to place a few drops of urine on a special strip soaked in a certain chemical, or place a strip of urine stream. If possible, use the first morning urine sample for the test, or refrain from urinating for 4 hours prior to the test. Read the instructions carefully before testing and follow the instructions.
A blood test for hCG during pregnancy will give more accurate results, since the level of hCG necessary for diagnosis in the urine is reached a few days later than in the blood. A sufficient level of hCG in the blood to determine pregnancy is reached approximately 7-10 days after fertilization (i.e. 3-5 days before the delay in menstruation). Rapid tests for home use become positive around the time of the expected period. By the amount of this hormone in the blood, one can judge how the pregnancy develops: normally, throughout the pregnancy, the level of hCG is not constant: in the early stages of pregnancy, the concentration of hCG in the body constantly increases by about 2 times every 2-3 days. At 10-12 weeks, the level of hCG during pregnancy reaches its maximum and then gradually begins to decline. During the second half of pregnancy, the level of hCG is fairly constant.
Significantly higher than the average for the duration of pregnancy, hCG levels can be with multiple pregnancy, pregnancy toxicosis, diabetes mellitus, taking synthetic progestogens (duphaston, utrozhestan), some tumors, fetal pathology (Down syndrome, other malformations). Low hCG during pregnancy may indicate an ectopic pregnancy, a missed pregnancy, a threat of spontaneous abortion, but more often an incorrect determination of the gestational age.
The deviation of the level of hCG during pregnancy from the norm is not the only basis for making any diagnosis. The deviation indicates the need for dynamic monitoring of hCG and additional examinations in order to figure out exactly what is happening.
Diseases of the organs of the reproductive system can manifest themselves in different ways, including being visible to the doctor during examination. This type of disease, for example, includes a bluish cervix. Although cyanosis, in this case, is more likely a symptom that can occur for various reasons and indicate pathologies of one type or another, both more serious and less. Why does this phenomenon occur, is it necessary to treat the causes. Who caused it, and if so, how to do it? This is discussed in this material.
Collapse
How is it manifested?
Another name for this condition is a cyanotic cervix. This condition should be understood literally - the vaginal part of the organ really takes on a bluish tint. During examination, this is noticeable to the doctor on its vaginal part, in addition, this condition is visualized during colposcopy and some other instrumental studies of the cervix and uterine cavity.
Why does such a change in hue occur from a physiological point of view? A change in shade develops due to the appearance of changes in the blood circulation of the small pelvis in general, the uterus and its cervix, in particular. But such changes can be caused by various reasons.
The reasons
An interesting feature of this condition is that it can be both a sign of a serious pathological process and a normal symptom in certain non-pathological conditions. For example, this is normal during pregnancy. For this reason, all causes that can cause such changes in blood circulation can be divided into pathological and non-pathological. With non-pathological processes, treatment is not required, with pathological ones, in most cases, it is necessary. What reasons can cause cyanosis of this organ?
Pregnancy
Very often, the gynecologist makes the first assumption about the presence of pregnancy just for such a symptom as a cyanotic cervix. This is considered one of the main diagnostic signs of gestation during a standard examination by a gynecologist. Already after the discovery of this phenomenon, the patient is assigned ultrasound and pregnancy tests to confirm this condition.
Why does this symptom appear during pregnancy? It is directly related to the action of the hormone progesterone. Moreover, it is present at all stages of pregnancy, since in the early stages progesterone is produced by the corpus luteum in the ovaries, and in later stages by the placenta.
Infections and inflammation
Pathological processes of this nature cause a sufficiently strong violation of blood circulation in the mucosa, as a result of which it changes its color and cyanosis of the cervix occurs. Diagnosing such a process is quite easy. Firstly, it is accompanied by characteristic symptoms, such as pain, menstrual irregularities, uncharacteristic discharge, etc. Secondly, a swab can be taken from the vagina and / or uterus, which will show the presence of pathology.
The most common causes of cyanosis are:
- endometritis;
- cervicitis;
- Inflammation of the tubes / ovaries / uterine cavity.
If no infectious agents are detected as a result of a smear, then the doctor begins to look for other reasons why a blue cervix could occur.
Tumors
The condition can develop in the presence of any neoplasms. The most pronounced cyanosis accompanies cervical cancer, since the oncological process completely changes the anatomy of the organ, including its circulatory system. For this reason, the doctor often takes tissue for a biopsy with this diagnosis - samples are examined for the presence of atypical cancer cells. 
But not only malignant tumors can cause such changes. For example, fibroids and fibromyomas are sometimes also accompanied by such a symptom as endometriosis. Although these conditions have nothing to do with oncology, they are also associated with the active growth of tissues, and therefore, affect the circulatory system in the body.
Organ prolapse
Another rather serious condition is a significant omission and prolapse of the uterus. It is connected with the fact that the tone of the pelvic floor muscles weakens for one reason or another, the ligaments that fix the organ stretch and lose elasticity, and under the influence of gravity the organ falls down. First, he presses on the vault of the vagina, and then, together with the neck, can completely fall into it. After that, it is possible to completely prolapse of the organ through the genital slit. 
It is clear that in this condition, the blood circulation of the organ is disturbed, and this is precisely what causes cyanosis.
This condition is fairly easy to diagnose, as its symptoms are obvious. But omission in the early stages is more difficult to diagnose, since at first no characteristic symptoms are observed.
Diagnostics
What methods are used to diagnose the condition? At the initial stage, with the help of tests and ultrasound, the absence of pregnancy is established. After that, the doctor begins to look for reasons other than pregnancy. To do this, a smear is taken from the vagina and from the uterine cavity - it is examined for infections in order to confirm or refute the presence of an inflammatory process in the organs. during an ultrasound scan to refute pregnancy, you can also see the presence or absence of tumors, neoplasms, pathological tissue growths.
The cyanosis itself is diagnosed through a visual examination by a gynecologist, using mirrors. 
Treatment
Treatment depends on which process caused the pathology. But in addition to the specific treatment, which is described below, drugs are also used to improve blood circulation.
- In inflammatory processes for a period of five to fifteen days, broad-spectrum antibiotics (Tsiproldet) and anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac) are prescribed;
- For benign pathological tissue growths, hormonal preparations (Dufaston, Utrozhestan) are used for two to six months;
- In the presence of cancer, surgery, radio wave and chemotherapy are used in various combinations or separately;
- In case of prolapse, only surgical intervention can help.
During pregnancy, cyanosis is the norm, therefore it is not required to be treated.
Complications
Cyanosis is a symptom, and in itself is not capable of causing little or no harm. But it is important to treat the diseases that caused it. Inflammatory processes can lead to sepsis, abscesses, peritonitis, cancer - to extensive metastasis, benign tumors sometimes degenerate into malignant ones. Uterine prolapse is fraught with infection, and in addition, it does not allow you to lead a normal life.
Prevention
Prevention are:
- Regular visits to the gynecologist;
- Careful hygiene;
- Use of barrier contraceptives;
- Control of hormonal status.
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is essential.
Conclusion
By itself, the cyanotic cervix does not carry any danger, but it is important to establish the reason why it developed. Since the cause can be very serious, this should not be delayed.