Why is the neck of my womb swollen?

One of my inner vagina lips is larger

Ovarian cyst

Swollen and painful clitoris

White spots around the clitoris

Question

I am a 21 years old and when having a cervical smear test this week the doctor said the neck of the womb was swollen.

What can cause this?

I don't have any pain or bleeding during intercourse but in the last smear I had, they found borderline nuclear changes.

Answer

Don't worry your doctor was referring to the fact that when he looked at the neck of your womb (which is another name for the cervix), there was an area of reddening around the central part.

This reddening is usually called an 'erosion' by doctors, although the proper name is an 'ectropion'. The most common reason for it occuring is as a result of being on the pill and I would think this has nothing to do with your borderline smear last time.

'Borderline' nuclear changes on a cervical smear are relatively common. It means that some of the cells taken from the cervix during a smear test are not quite as regularly shaped as the laboratory analysing the results would like to see.

The laboratory is looking for the very early changes that could mean cancer may develop at a later date - and therefore they are usually very cautious.

Most of the time, these borderline changes will correct themselves. This is why there is often a wait of about six months after an abnormal smear because by this time the problem has usually resolved.

If your latest smear shows there are a still a few cells that are not quite right, then your doctor may suggest a referral to a colposcopy clinic at the hospital. A consultant can then have a more careful look at your cervix and do a double check to make sure that everything is all right.

Just to emphasise, you do not have cancer, you have some very minor changes in your cervix. Nevertheless you still need some monitoring until everything is back to normal. Talk things through with your GP or practice nurse to put your mind at rest.

Yours sincerely

The Medical Team

<<Back



The documents contained in this web site are presented for information purposes only. The material is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. The materials in this web site cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. Conditions for use



© Copyright 1998 - 2004 NetDoctor.co.uk - All rights reserved