Correct understanding of cervical erosion

Among women with active sex lives, the incidence of cervical erosion can be as high as 70-80%. Many female friends lack a correct understanding of cervical erosion, thinking that cervical erosion is very serious, and even associating cervical erosion with cervical cancer.

In fact, cervical erosion is a normal physiological phenomenon, not a disease. In the 7th edition of the textbook "Obstetrics and Gynecology", the term "cervical erosion" has been replaced by "cervical columnar epithelium ectopia".

There are two types of epithelium on the surface of the female cervix during the embryogenesis period, namely primitive squamous epithelium and columnar epithelium. The squamous epithelium is multi-layered, some have seven or eight layers, and some have more than ten layers, and it looks very smooth; while the columnar epithelium is single-layered and relatively thin, and the blood vessels under the epithelium can be seen through the epithelium. They are like strawberries squeezed together, which is also a physiological structure. Normally, the columnar epithelium is mostly located in the endocervical canal and cannot be seen by the naked eye. However, under the action of estrogen, such as during puberty, the volume of the cervix grows rapidly, exposing the cervical columnar epithelium to the external cervical os, which appears red and rough, forming cervical columnar epithelium ectopia.

It should be noted that this is not true "erosion", but a normal "stress" reaction that occurs when hormones surge in women. However, the columnar epithelium is thin and easily infected by various microorganisms, which can lead to secondary cervicitis, thus forming true erosion.