Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDefinitionSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentComplicationsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Definition
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Complications
Frequently Asked Questions
Endometriosis, a condition in which the uterine tissue lining grows outside theuterus, is a fairly well-known condition. Cervical endometriosis, or endometriosis located on the cervix, is much less common and has fewer symptoms. However, diagnosis has been increasing slowly in recent years, possibly due to a rise in gynecological procedures that can catch it early.
Read on to learn about cervical endometriosis, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, possible complications, and treatments.
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What Is Cervical Endometriosis?
Cervical endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrial tissue that lines the uterus grows on thecervix. Lesions (injuries or wounds) can develop in the tissue.
Cervical endometriosis is considered a benign (noncancerous) condition and is quite rare.It can be asymptomatic, so it’s possible that incidence is higher but isn’t diagnosed.
Cramping From Bruised Cervix: How to Manage Pain
Symptoms of Cervical Endometriosis
While uterine endometriosis is more likely to cause bleeding and pain, cervical endometriosis frequently doesn’t have symptoms. The most common symptom isspotting(light vaginal bleeding).
Less commonly, symptoms can include:
These symptoms can result from several gynecological conditions, including uterine endometriosis. If other conditions have been ruled out, cervical endometriosis is a possibility.
What Causes Cervical Endometriosis?
The cause of endometriosis, including cervical endometriosis, is not known.
Cervical endometriosis seems to occur more frequently in those who have had gynecological procedures, such asbiopsiesor laser treatments.
It’s still unknown whether uterine endometriosis can lead to cervical endometriosis.
How Cervical Endometriosis Is Diagnosed
Since cervical endometriosis often doesn’t cause symptoms, it’s often diagnosed during routine gynecological examinations like a pelvic exam, or when your healthcare provider is diagnosing or treating you for other conditions.An abnormalPap smear(a routine test for cervical cancer that examines cells collected from the cervix) can be an indication of cervical endometriosis.
To formally diagnose cervical endometriosis, you may have acolposcopy. In this procedure, a small tube with a camera is inserted vaginally, allowing the provider to examine your cervix more closely for lesions.
A biopsy, in which a small sample of cells is removed and sent to a lab, can also confirm the diagnosis.
How Is Cervical Endometriosis Treated?
If you don’t have symptoms, you may not need treatment for cervical endometriosis. Instead, your healthcare provider will monitor you for any changes.
Sometimes cervical endometrial lesions come back, but if they do, they can be removed.
Complications of Cervical Endometriosis
There are few complications of cervical endometriosis, and it can recur after the tissue has been removed.
Studies differ on whether there is a link between cervical endometriosis and cancer.Some show few or no links, while others indicate there may be an increased risk.
Cervical Endometriosis in Pregnancy
Cervical endometriosis is unlikely to affect your chance of gettingpregnant. There is a low risk that scar tissue from lesions could block semen from entering the uterus.
Conditions Associated With Cervical Endometriosis
There are several conditions that have been linked to cervical endometriosis, including:
Summary
Cervical endometriosis is a rare, noncancerous condition in which cells from the uterine lining grow outside the uterus and onto the cervix. It typically causes no symptoms and is often diagnosed during routine pelvic exams. If it does cause symptoms, like bleeding or pain, healthcare providers can remove the tissue, though it does sometimes grow back.
A Word From Verywell
Cervical endometriosis is a rare condition that usually doesn’t produce symptoms. If you do experience symptoms such as spotting, don’t hesitate to reach out to a healthcare provider. They can share treatment options to alleviate pain and bleeding.
Frequently Asked QuestionsEndometriosis, including cervical endometriosis, generally is not linked to gynecological cancers, including cervical cancer. Some rareovarian cancersare diagnosed more often in people with endometriosis, but the risk is less than 2%.Endometriosis is the growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus. It can develop anywhere, including the cervix.The four stages of endometriosis are: minimal, mild, moderate, and severe. Providers assign the stage according to the extent and location of the endometrial tissue.
Endometriosis, including cervical endometriosis, generally is not linked to gynecological cancers, including cervical cancer. Some rareovarian cancersare diagnosed more often in people with endometriosis, but the risk is less than 2%.
Endometriosis is the growth of uterine tissue outside the uterus. It can develop anywhere, including the cervix.
The four stages of endometriosis are: minimal, mild, moderate, and severe. Providers assign the stage according to the extent and location of the endometrial tissue.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wang S, Li XC, Lang JH.Cervical endometriosis: clinical character and management experience in a 27-year span.American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;205(5):452.e1-452.e5. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2011.06.070Ata B, Ates U, Usta T, Attar E.Cervical endometriosis, a case presenting with intractable spotting.MedGenMed. 2005;7(2):64.Seval MM, Cavkaytar S, Atak Z, Guresci S.Postcoital bleeding due to cervical endometriosis.BMJ Case Reports. 2013;2013:bcr2012008209. doi:10.1136/bcr-2012-008209Phadnis SV, Doshi JS, Ogunnaike O, Coady A, Padwick M, Sanusi FA.Cervical endometriosis: a diagnostic and management dilemma.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2005;272(4):289-293. doi:10.1007/s00404-005-0006-1Matalliotakis M, Matalliotaki C, et al.Coexistence of cervical endometriosis with premalignant and malignant gynecological pathologies.Women Health. 2021;61(9):896-901. doi:10.1080/03630242.2021.1991073Beth Israel.Stenosis of cervix.Kvaskoff M, Horne AW, Missmer SA.Informing women with endometriosis about ovarian cancer risk.The Lancet. 2017;390(10111):2433-2434. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33049-0
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Wang S, Li XC, Lang JH.Cervical endometriosis: clinical character and management experience in a 27-year span.American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;205(5):452.e1-452.e5. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2011.06.070Ata B, Ates U, Usta T, Attar E.Cervical endometriosis, a case presenting with intractable spotting.MedGenMed. 2005;7(2):64.Seval MM, Cavkaytar S, Atak Z, Guresci S.Postcoital bleeding due to cervical endometriosis.BMJ Case Reports. 2013;2013:bcr2012008209. doi:10.1136/bcr-2012-008209Phadnis SV, Doshi JS, Ogunnaike O, Coady A, Padwick M, Sanusi FA.Cervical endometriosis: a diagnostic and management dilemma.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2005;272(4):289-293. doi:10.1007/s00404-005-0006-1Matalliotakis M, Matalliotaki C, et al.Coexistence of cervical endometriosis with premalignant and malignant gynecological pathologies.Women Health. 2021;61(9):896-901. doi:10.1080/03630242.2021.1991073Beth Israel.Stenosis of cervix.Kvaskoff M, Horne AW, Missmer SA.Informing women with endometriosis about ovarian cancer risk.The Lancet. 2017;390(10111):2433-2434. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33049-0
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Wang S, Li XC, Lang JH.Cervical endometriosis: clinical character and management experience in a 27-year span.American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;205(5):452.e1-452.e5. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2011.06.070Ata B, Ates U, Usta T, Attar E.Cervical endometriosis, a case presenting with intractable spotting.MedGenMed. 2005;7(2):64.Seval MM, Cavkaytar S, Atak Z, Guresci S.Postcoital bleeding due to cervical endometriosis.BMJ Case Reports. 2013;2013:bcr2012008209. doi:10.1136/bcr-2012-008209Phadnis SV, Doshi JS, Ogunnaike O, Coady A, Padwick M, Sanusi FA.Cervical endometriosis: a diagnostic and management dilemma.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2005;272(4):289-293. doi:10.1007/s00404-005-0006-1Matalliotakis M, Matalliotaki C, et al.Coexistence of cervical endometriosis with premalignant and malignant gynecological pathologies.Women Health. 2021;61(9):896-901. doi:10.1080/03630242.2021.1991073Beth Israel.Stenosis of cervix.Kvaskoff M, Horne AW, Missmer SA.Informing women with endometriosis about ovarian cancer risk.The Lancet. 2017;390(10111):2433-2434. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33049-0
Wang S, Li XC, Lang JH.Cervical endometriosis: clinical character and management experience in a 27-year span.American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;205(5):452.e1-452.e5. doi:10.1016/j.ajog.2011.06.070
Ata B, Ates U, Usta T, Attar E.Cervical endometriosis, a case presenting with intractable spotting.MedGenMed. 2005;7(2):64.
Seval MM, Cavkaytar S, Atak Z, Guresci S.Postcoital bleeding due to cervical endometriosis.BMJ Case Reports. 2013;2013:bcr2012008209. doi:10.1136/bcr-2012-008209
Phadnis SV, Doshi JS, Ogunnaike O, Coady A, Padwick M, Sanusi FA.Cervical endometriosis: a diagnostic and management dilemma.Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2005;272(4):289-293. doi:10.1007/s00404-005-0006-1
Matalliotakis M, Matalliotaki C, et al.Coexistence of cervical endometriosis with premalignant and malignant gynecological pathologies.Women Health. 2021;61(9):896-901. doi:10.1080/03630242.2021.1991073
Beth Israel.Stenosis of cervix.
Kvaskoff M, Horne AW, Missmer SA.Informing women with endometriosis about ovarian cancer risk.The Lancet. 2017;390(10111):2433-2434. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(17)33049-0
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