Get a vaginal swab test done now!

Get a vaginal swab test done now!

                                                    By Melody Gwenyambira

The cervix is a very delicate part of the woman’s body, so I realised over the past weeks.

My friend was complaining of severe abdominal pains but took them for granted thinking that it was merely a period pain.

It was during the long holiday that the pain really got to her and kept her awake all night that she decided to consult her general practitioner.

She asked me to accompany her and being the loyal friend I did.

The doctor whom I shall not name because of professional reasons was very helpful and told my friend to go for an immediate scan.

We were ferried to the medical centre where the scan was going to be conducted in an Emras ambulance.

When we got to the medical centre, my friend’s bladder was already full because she was drinking water on the way.

The scan was quickly done and we went back to the hospital.

There, the worst awaited us.

Waiting for the results proved difficult as we both were impatient, so we went and looked for the doctor.

When my friend was handed the results, I cast a glance on them and when I read the following, I was not perturbed,

“The urinary bladder has a normal mucosal outline. The uterus is normal in size measuring 8.0 with a normal midline echo. There are no fibroids or adnexal solid cystic masses seen. Both ovaries were seen and they appear normal. No fluid collections seen in the pouch of Douglas.

Comment:

No uterine or tubo-ovarian pathology seen. However PID which has not yet caused sonographic changes cannot be excluded.”

My biology knowledge is not very good and so is the medical jargon but after reading this I gave out a sigh of relief.

My friend was out of the danger zone but still the frown on the doctor’s face did not waiver the results.

“You have a serious cervical infection and you have to start treatment now,” the doctor said.

“Cervix infection? What caused it,” my friend asked.

“Well it is bacteria so we have to get you a high vaginal swab so that we know where the bacteria came from. It could be a sexually transmitted infection, pads or tampons that you use or hygienic practices,” the doctor added.

My friend decided to get the test done and surely it proved that it was the pads she was using.

“I switched the type of pads that I was using last month because of my flow. The new ones seemed to work and I was happy. Two weeks after my July menstrual flow I started bleeding but it was very light. The bleeding didn’t stop but it was very little so I started putting toilet paper. I would get some period pain but would ignore it. The bleeding lasted for a week,” my friend told me.

After taking antibiotics and painkillers for ten days, my friend went back to the hospital for a review.

Her cervix is now healthy and she is as fit as a fiddle.

Sisters if you have serious abdomen pains that are not period pains, please visit your gynecologist or general practitioner.

The doctor was more than happy to enlighten us and he sat us down for a “biology lesson”

“Cervix infection has serious implications for women. A cervix infection can be caused by bacteria or by virus and is usually manifested as an inflammation of the cervix. A colposcopy examination is considered the best way to diagnose a cervix infection,” the doctor said

 The cervix refers to the lower, narrow part of the uterus in the female anatomy which is just above the upper part of the vagina. An infection in the cervical area may become apparent through a range of symptoms such as vaginal itching, pain, burning sensation during urination or intercourse and in some cases severe cramping.

My friend and I looked at each other as we realised the seriousness of cervix infection.

“There may also be increased vaginal discharge and bleeding between periods. If the infection spreads into the system, a patient may also experience fever, nausea and severe abdominal pain. There are several probable causes for onset of cervical infection and the treatments prescribed by doctors will very much depend on what has caused the original infection,” the doctor also added.

A valuable source that we felt more comfortable talking to was the lab technician, who was a female,

“The proximity of the vagina to the cervix means that a vaginal infection can potentially easily become a cervical infection. Sexually transmitted diseases such as gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and trichomoniasis can lead to cervicitis, which is an inflammation of the cervix. Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Genital herpes, Chlamydia are among likely triggers of a cervix infection as also Candida or yeast infection. Those who indulge in high-risk sexual behavior or with multiple partners are considered vulnerable to the infection,” she said 

Sometimes a tampon left inside for too long or a chemical douche may irritate the area and leave it prone to infection. Some contraceptive have also been known to cause this problem. Some women are allergic to the latex in condoms or to spermicides and this leaves their cervix susceptible to infection. Some women find that their bodies cannot handle intra-uterine birth control devices. Their bodies reject the presence of an alien object and this can again leave them vulnerable for infections in the area. 

“I am one person who douches. I really have a psychological problem and I always think that I smell down there,” my friend added.

“I think it all contributed to the infection.”

“You should not use toilet paper for what ever reason except for wiping off in the toilet. Toilet paper has been linked to cervix cancer and I would advise you not to use it. Use panty liners and pads that you can trust,” the lab technician added.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW!

Given the wide range of probable causes for cervix infection, it is recommended that a patient should seek medical help promptly. An untreated cervix infection can lead to major complications such as infertility, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, chronic pelvic pain, spontaneous abortion, complications during child delivery and even cervical cancer. So it is important to take your symptoms seriously. The doctor will perform a physical examination of the cervix while looking for external indicators of infection like swelling or reddishness of skin. The cervical examination may be painful because of the infection. The doctor will also conduct a pap smear by swabbing the cervix to rule out cervical cancer. The doctor may conduct a colposcopy, using a binocular like instrument to get a magnified view of the cervix. The patient may be advised to get a biopsy if the cervix seems abnormal.  The doctor is likely to prescribe antibiotics if the infection is bacterial, as in the case of gonorrhea and Chlamydia, and an anti-viral agent for an infection like genital herpes, which is caused by a virus. If the woman experiencing the cervix infection, the doctors may have to work around some factors in finding a treatment option and an infectious diseases specialist may be involved in deciding a course of treatment.

If the antibiotics or early rounds of treatment prove ineffectual surgery may be needed. If your cervix continues to stay swollen and red that area may be cauterized using heat as in electrocoagulation or be frozen as in cryotherapy (freezing). Laser treatment of the infected area is also a possible course of action. Usually these are not necessary as most cervix infection can be controlled by oral medication.

If we are to protect ourselves then we have to start from somewhere lets go and get a high vaginal swab.

Till next week remember you are wonderfully and fearfully made!