Superficial cells with signs of hyperkeratosis. Etiology, symptoms and treatment of cervical hyperkeratosis

Content

Cervical hyperkeratosis is a pathology characterized by compaction and keratinization of squamous epithelial cells. The disease manifests itself as a white coating on the mucous membrane of the cervix.

In medical practice, hyperkeratosis of the squamous epithelium of the cervix is ​​considered a precancerous condition that requires immediate diagnosis and the most effective treatment. There are mild and severe degrees of the disease.

Causes of the disease

There are many factors that can cause the development of hyperkeratosis of the cervix, namely its squamous epithelium. The main ones include:

• human papillomavirus;
• cervical cancer;
• infectious and venereal diseases;
• mechanical damage or trauma to the mucous membranes;
• disruptions in the hormonal system;
• numerous births;
• removal of erosion using cauterization with electric current;
• hypovitaminosis;
• promiscuous sex life.

In addition, the causes of the disease may be dysfunction of the endocrine glands (thyroid, adrenal glands, etc.), or the use of oral contraceptives.

Hyperkeratosis of squamous epithelial cells may be associated with improper use of hygienic tampons, intrauterine devices and vaginal suppositories.

Symptoms

As a rule, the pathology of squamous epithelium is very difficult to identify, especially in the early stages of its occurrence. Most often, hyperkeratosis of cervical cells manifests itself in the form of heavy discharge, accompanied by an unpleasant odor, and minor bleeding during and after sexual intercourse.

Such symptoms can also appear in many other diseases of the genitourinary system. That is why you should not self-medicate; it is important to promptly consult a gynecologist for professional medical help.

In later stages, the disease is characterized by an increase in the focus of pathological cells, uneven compaction of the squamous epithelium, as well as the formation of ulcers, erosions and papillomas on the surface of the mucous membrane of the cervix.

Kinds

Women who have been diagnosed with cervical hyperkeratosis are interested in what it is and how dangerous this pathology is. Much is determined by the type of hyperkeratosis.

1. Parakeratosis. A rather rare form of compaction of squamous epithelium. Most often it occurs due to injury, frequent abortions, rough sexual intercourse, or ruptures during childbirth.
2. True form. This type of disease is also called focal cervical hyperkeratosis. The reason is a lack of steroid hormones in a woman’s body. As a result, characteristic foci with a white coating form on the squamous epithelium; compaction of the cells of the mucous membrane does not occur.
3. Dyskeratosis. It is considered the most dangerous form of the disease, which can subsequently lead to the development of a malignant tumor of the cervix. It is characterized by rapid and random division of squamous epithelial cells and thickening of the stratum corneum.

Establishing the type of pathology is a very important step in clinical practice, since it completely determines further treatment and prevention of the disease.

Diagnostics

Since cervical hyperkeratosis is practically asymptomatic, especially in the initial stages of its development, changes in the squamous epithelium can often be noticed only during a gynecological examination. To obtain more complete information about the patient’s condition, the doctor should ask about diseases, hereditary pathologies, childbirth and the presence or absence of abortions.

To confirm the diagnosis it is necessary:

• take a smear from the genital organs for microflora, as well as for STIs using the PCR method;
• donate blood and urine for general tests;
• perform an extended colposcopy;
• conduct histological and cytological examination of the biomaterial;
• donate blood for hormones, tumor markers and specific antigens to pathogens of infectious diseases.

All these laboratory methods will allow you to obtain information about possible inflammatory processes in the body, the presence of a particular virus, as well as disturbances in the synthesis of hormones in a woman’s body.

Any stages of hyperkeratosis require an examination of the pelvic organs using ultrasound. This will determine the presence of concomitant pathology of the ovaries, endometrium and fallopian tubes.

Treatment

After all diagnostic measures and a gynecological examination have been carried out, the doctor prescribes treatment. The type of therapy depends on the patient’s age, the degree and type of tissue compaction, the physiological characteristics of the body and whether the woman has given birth or not.

Treatment of the initial stages of cervical hyperkeratosis includes taking medications. These can be probiotic preparations, vitamin E, A and C complexes, folic acid, as well as micro- and macroelements. In case of disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland, adrenal glands and ovaries, hormonal drugs are prescribed; if infection and foci of inflammation are detected, anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed.

In moderate and severe stages of hyperkeratosis, in cases where medications do not provide any effect, surgical intervention is necessary. It comes in several types.

1. Cauterization with laser. The affected area of ​​the squamous epithelium is exposed to a laser, which leads to intense heating and cell death.
2. Knife conization. This method is only suitable for patients aged 45-50 years. Removal of an area of ​​compacted squamous epithelium using a surgical scalpel. This method is not suitable for girls planning pregnancy.
3. Cryodestruction. The squamous epithelium of the cervix is ​​treated with liquid nitrogen, which promotes freezing and destruction of the affected cells.
4. Electroconization. Cells are removed using an electrical loop. As a rule, conization is performed in cases of dysplasia and the presence of HPV.

Treatment of hyperkeratosis occurring against the background of human papillomavirus with a high risk of carcinogenesis, includes antiviral drugs and immunomodulatory agents with a duration of use of 6 - 7 months.

This type of treatment for cervical hyperkeratosis, such as electrocoagulation, is extremely undesirable for girls, since the procedure leaves a large scar. And this, in turn, can lead to problems conceiving a child and subsequent pregnancy.

Cervical hyperkeratosis is secretive and asymptomatic, however, its advanced stages can lead to the development of squamous epithelial cancer. It is extremely important to diagnose the disease in a timely manner and undergo a course of treatment prescribed by a highly qualified specialist.

Many doctors consider this pathology to be a precancerous condition of the cervix. Leukoplakia or cervical hyperkeratosis are two names for the same disease, which is a hardening of the epithelium of the organ.

ICD-10 code

In world medicine, there is a so-called register of diseases - “International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision” (ICD code 10). In it, the changes in the physiology of the uterus that interest us have their own coding and can be designated by an individual code - N88.0, which is called cervical leukoplakia.

ICD-10 code

N88.0 Leukoplakia of the cervix

Causes of cervical hyperkeratosis

Today, doctors are ready to identify several sources that can lead to the pathology discussed in this article. The causes of cervical hyperkeratosis may be:

• Neglect of personal hygiene rules.
• Changes in hormonal levels.
• Malfunction of the endocrine system.
• Promiscuity in sexual relations, commitment to rough sex.
• Cervical cancer accounts for almost a third of cases.
• Infectious lesion of the female reproductive system. This could be, for example, papillomavirus.
• Bacterial trace of the lesion. For example, gonorrhea, chlamydia and others.
• Decreased immune status of a woman.
• Injuries. For example, birth trauma, the healing of the consequences of which took place without the control of specialists.
• An inflammatory process occurring in the pelvic organs.
• Chronic fatigue syndrome.
• Incorrect fixation of contraceptives. For example, spirals.
• Abortion, and perhaps more than one. The organ suffers mechanical injury.

But it is worth remembering that the mechanism itself and the direct relationship with the reasons listed above have not been fully established to date. But if a woman has at least one of these factors, she needs to be more attentive to her health, recording the appearance of new symptoms. An appointment with an obstetrician-gynecologist is mandatory.

Pathogenesis

In order to most effectively treat a particular disease, it is necessary to know not only the cause that caused it, but also the pathogenesis of the disease. In this case, the pathology progresses against the background of a mild chronic inflammatory process. Constant irritation of the mucous membrane causes those negative changes that lead to illness. The likelihood of transformation into malignant structures is especially high if there is uneven coloration of the affected area.

Symptoms of cervical hyperkeratosis

At an early stage of the disease, a woman may not even realize that she has this lesion, since the disease does not initially manifest itself in anything. Only a specialist can identify it during this period during the next gynecological examination. Symptoms of cervical hyperkeratosis appear to the doctor as white plaques on the ectocervix.

If these signs are not so obvious, the patient is referred for colposcopy, after which the obstetrician-gynecologist will give an opinion. However, sometimes this examination method alone is not enough and then there is a need for a more extensive examination of the patient.

In some cases, a representative of the weaker half of humanity may experience increased discharge of leucorrhoea from the vagina. Mostly it is a translucent liquid with a not very pleasant odor.

After sexual intercourse, a woman may experience small amounts of blood discharge.

First signs

As noted above, cervical hyperkeratosis does not have pronounced symptoms for its owner. But the first signs that should alert her and force her to visit her gynecologist are an increase in the volume of leucorrhoea that comes out of the vagina and its inherent unpleasant odor.

Minor cervical hyperkeratosis

If pathological changes have covered a small area of ​​the mucous membrane - slight hyperkeratosis of the cervix, then you should not worry too much, such a pathology is not dangerous.

It is especially necessary to be on guard for those women who are in the premenopausal or premenopausal period. Cases of mucosal lesions are more rare in young women.

Focal hyperkeratosis of the cervix

True focal hyperkeratosis of the cervix is ​​a serious deficiency of female and a significant predominance of other, including male, sex hormones. Moreover, the name of this pathology is explained by the clear boundaries of the pathological foci. These lesions are flat whitish spots with a slightly matte tint. This type of disruption of the epithelial layer is also called pseudo erosion.

Parakeratosis - one of the varieties of this disease occurs sporadically. The main reason for its manifestation may be injury; injury to a woman’s genital organs during obstetrics is especially dangerous, especially if further healing took place without specialist monitoring. In this situation, the body reduces the production of keratohyalin, which is responsible for the elasticity of the mucosa. Visually, it is perceived as a hotbed of scorched and cracked desert.

But oncologists consider dyskeratosis to be the most dangerous, in terms of degeneration. With this type of disorder, the cells of the epithelial layer begin to divide chaotically and at an increased rate, which leads to the appearance and growth of neoplasms.

This type of focal hyperkeratosis of the cervix is ​​visually similar to cauliflower growing on the mucosa. When conducting a number of studies (including histology), doctors find a granular internal structure of these growths, covered on top with a somewhat excessive outer layer. Due to the fact that the process of exfoliation of keratinized cells is disrupted, they begin to form layer after layer and in advanced cases, these conglomerates already reach impressive sizes. A final diagnosis can only be made after a comprehensive examination of the patient.

Hyperkeratosis of the cervix during pregnancy

From the moment a woman begins to bear a fetus under her heart until the moment of its birth, any mother is very worried about her health, fearing to harm her baby.

Therefore, if a woman was diagnosed with cervical hyperkeratosis during pregnancy, she naturally panics.

But only a qualified specialist can answer the question of whether this disease is dangerous or not, after conducting a package of all the necessary examinations. In case of minor irregularities, the mother in labor should not worry. This pathology will not affect the course of pregnancy and obstetric care. And only after the baby is born, the attending physician will deal with the female problem.

But if the disease is a more severe form of pathology, then only a doctor can make a decision on further measures to relieve it.

Consequences

If the pathology is recognized in the early stages and adequate measures are taken for such a disease, then the consequences of its manifestation are minimal and will practically not affect the quality of life of a woman and her desire to conceive, bear and give birth to a baby, fulfilling her duty to nature.

Complications

If the disease is recognized at a later date, complications are possible. And one of the most dangerous is the degeneration of healthy epithelial cells into cancerous tumors. In this case, the process of their division is generally accelerated and occurs absolutely chaotically.

Diagnosis of cervical hyperkeratosis

A specialist may become suspicious of the presence of a pathology during a woman’s next visit to a gynecologist. Diagnosis of cervical hyperkeratosis is carried out according to certain rules.

1. This is a visual examination of a woman on a chair using a gynecological speculum. The gynecologist may notice a whitish spot on the cervix.
2. Taking the patient's medical history:
   • Diseases.
   • Childbirth.
   • Abortion.
   • Heredity.
3. Carrying out colposcopy. Taking material in the form of a cytological scraping.
4. Ultrasound examination.
5. Carrying out the necessary laboratory tests.
6. If necessary, the doctor prescribes x-rays (to determine concomitant diseases).

Analyzes

The first thing that is prescribed to a patient suspected of having the disease discussed in this article is tests performed in a laboratory setting.

• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a highly informational and accurate method of molecular genetic diagnostics. Its implementation makes it possible to identify diverse infectious and hereditary pathologies that occur both acutely and chronically.
• PAP test, or as medical professionals call it, Papanicolaou smear. This is a cytological analysis, the material for which is a smear obtained during the next gynecological examination. The sample is sent to the laboratory for examination under a microscope. If atypical cells are detected, the woman is prescribed an additional examination.
• Bacteriological culture of leucorrhoea for flora.
• Testing for human papillomavirus (HPV). The collected material (smear) is sent for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). If HPV is recognized, its type is determined.
• A biopsy is performed. During colposcopy, a small sample of cervical tissue is plucked off with a special instrument. This is what is studied in the laboratory under a high-resolution microscope. The presence of dysplasia and the severity of its development are assessed.

And also, without fail, a woman takes:

• General and biochemical blood tests.
• Blood for the level of hormones of the thyroid gland and adrenal cortex.
• General and biochemical urine tests.
• Blood to determine blood group and Rh factor.
• Determination of the level of sexual hormones in urine and blood.

Instrumental diagnostics

Today it is difficult to imagine modern medicine without the help of diagnostic medical equipment. Instrumental diagnostics has taken a strong place in the matter of correct and quick diagnosis. The disease we are interested in can be recognized by a number of medical techniques. The most popular are:

• Colposcopy.
• Ultrasound examination of the condition of the pelvic organs.
• Hysteroscopy with targeted biopsy of the organ in question to determine atilia.
• X-ray of the pelvic area. It will allow you to assess the condition of the hip bone structures, eliminating or confirming concomitant diseases.

Differential diagnosis

After the patient has passed all the necessary examinations, the attending physician carries out a differential diagnosis. It represents an analysis of all the results of laboratory and instrumental studies, a visual examination and anamnesis of the patient. Based on this, diseases that are similar in symptoms but not confirmed by research are excluded.

This analysis allows you to more correctly diagnose the disease, as well as determine at what stage of destruction it is. Only after receiving the entire clinical picture of the pathology can we talk about prescribing effective treatment, as well as preventive measures that can maintain the condition of the patient’s body in remission.

Treatment of cervical hyperkeratosis

After the examination has been carried out and the diagnosis has been made, treatment of cervical hyperkeratosis depends on determining the severity of the pathology. In most cases, this is surgical treatment of the patient. After such therapy, in most cases, patients subsequently have a favorable prognosis.

The doctor’s choice of the most effective treatment method is based on a number of factors:

• The age of the woman.
• The status of her reproductive system: whether the woman gave birth or not, and whether she plans to do so in the future or not.

If the patient has not yet gone beyond the limits of reproductive abilities, and does not remove the question of having children in the future, then more gentle methods of influence are applied to her:

• This could be laser vaporization. The essence of the technique is the strong heating of pathological cells by a laser beam, which leads to their necrosis, that is, death.
• Cryodestruction is the opposite effect to the previous one. The process of burning out mutated tissues with low temperatures created by liquid nitrogen.
• Radiosurgical treatment.
• It is possible to cauterize pathological areas with solkovagin. The use of this drug will prevent the formation of scars.
• Electrosurgical methods are the most traumatic, but also cheaper type of therapy. It is usually prescribed to women who no longer plan to give birth in the future or are in the premenopausal period.

In addition, such a woman, depending on the cause of the pathology, must undergo immunostimulating, hormonal, antiviral, antifungal or antibacterial therapy.

If the study revealed signs of malignancy, the methods of treating cervical hyperkeratosis change radically. After symptomatic therapy, the patient is prescribed surgical excision of the pathological area.

Medicines

Depending on the source that provoked the disease in question, medications with anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antibacterial, antiviral or immunostimulating effects may be prescribed as part of the patient’s treatment protocol. If a woman has undergone surgery, antibiotics are also prescribed.

For example, if the level of pathology is insignificant, a woman may be prescribed vaginal suppositories, having antibacterial, antiprotozoal and antifungal characteristics - neo-penotran, as well as its analogues: metromikon-neo, metrogil, vagilak, epigen, labilak, mikozhinaks, ketoconazole, nimesin, ichthyol and others.

Metromicon-neo Use twice a day: morning and evening (immediately before bedtime). One vaginal suppository is inserted. The duration of the treatment course is prescribed by the doctor and can range from one to two weeks.

In this case, the candle must be inserted deeply into the vagina while lying down and bending your knees. In order not to introduce an “infection”, before carrying out the procedure, your hands must be sanitized or use a special disposable fingertip.

Contraindications for the administration of Metromicon-Neo include increased individual intolerance to one or more components of the drug, as well as a woman’s history of severe liver dysfunction, hematopoiesis failure, problems with the peripheral nervous system and central nervous system, the first trimester of pregnancy.

In the role anti-inflammatory drugs can be prescribed: melox, oruvel, advil, dexalgin, ncrofen, kntorol, ketonal, brustan, menindole, arkrksian, rapten rapid, naproxen, dolac and many others. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are more acceptable.

Pharmacological drug melox It is recommended to take with food in a daily dosage of 7.5 to 15 mg.

At the same time, the attending physician must not forget that if the patient has kidney problems, then the administered dose should be minimal.

Melox is not approved for use in case of increased individual intolerance to one or more components of the drug, as well as if the woman has a history of ulcerative exacerbation of stomach and duodenal disease, hyperkalemia, bronchial asthma, internal intestinal bleeding, severe liver dysfunction, as well as during pregnancy baby and feeding him breast milk.

Appointment possible antiviral drugs: Provirsan, Videx, Herpesin, Retrovir, Tamiflu, Arviron, Zerit, Viracept, Ribaleg, Liracept, Ciclovir and others.

Ribaleg It is advisable to take with food. In this case, the tolerability of the drug will be high.

The starting dosage is calculated using the formula 15 mg per kilogram of the patient’s weight, which usually falls within the range of 0.8 to 1.2 daily grams, divided into two daily doses. The duration of the drug course can only be determined by the attending doctor based on treatment effectiveness indicators.

Contraindications for the administration of Ribaleg include increased individual intolerance to one or more components of the drug, including high susceptibility to phosphate compounds, as well as a woman’s history of chronic renal and hepatic dysfunction, chronic heart failure, severe anemia, various autoimmune diseases, pregnancy and lactation.

In the role of a antibacterial drugs you can use: loracarbef, cephalosporins, benzylpenicillin, meropenem, imipenem, ampicillin, nafcillin, metronidazole, amoxicillin, rifampicin, ticarcillin, piperacillin and others.

Medicine dosage metronidazole can only be determined by the attending physician depending on the pathogenic flora present. This can be 0.5 g, administered very slowly by drip. The maximum permissible daily dosage is no more than 4 g of the drug.

Contraindications to the drug in question include a tendency to epileptic seizures and other disorders of the central nervous system, the first trimester of pregnancy, liver failure, the period of feeding a newborn and increased individual intolerance to one or more components of the drug.

Patients should not forget that self-medication is not acceptable; the therapy protocol should be prescribed only by a qualified specialist, in accordance with the specific clinical picture.

Traditional treatment of cervical hyperkeratosis

It should immediately be noted that any treatment, whether traditional or non-traditional methods of therapy, should only take place under the monitoring and with the consent of the attending physician. As practice shows, traditional treatment of the disease in question can bring a positive result, but only as an auxiliary method of relieving the problem.

As practice shows, these can be medicinal tampons, douching with medicinal infusions and decoctions, applications to the perineal area.

Herbal treatment

As already noted, herbal treatment can bring quite significant help in solving the problem of getting rid of bacterial, infectious or inflammatory damage to the pelvic organs. Here we can offer several such recipes:

• Dilute one teaspoon of St. John's wort with a quarter cup of boiled water. Keep in a water bath for 15 minutes. Leave to sit for about 45 minutes and douche while warm. This procedure must be done daily. This infusion copes well with the inflammatory process occurring in the pelvic area.
• Relieves inflammation and promotes rapid healing of wounds and eroded areas of caragana medicinal, which is taken orally (inside). The brewing procedure is similar to the previous point, you just need to take two tablespoons of the plant product per two glasses of liquid. Dosage schedule: half a glass three times - four times a day before meals.
• Bergenia decoction also performed well. Grind two tablespoons of the plant's rhizome and brew for half an hour in a glass of boiling water using a water bath. Then cool until warm and use before bed as a syringe.
• An anti-inflammatory agent that increases the tone of the uterine muscles is a decoction of viburnum branches. To prepare the medicine you will need 600 g of buttermilk and about 100 g of fresh plant branches. This composition is placed in a container and placed on a small flame for ten minutes. After this, it is set aside from the stove overnight to infuse. After waking up, strain and douche with the healing liquid. The solution used must be warm.
• For douching, the herb of common yarrow is brewed. Combine 15 g of raw materials with 200 ml of boiling water, put on low heat and leave for 15 minutes from the moment of boiling. Then leave it to brew for an hour. Take warm as a douche liquid.

And there are a great many such medicinal recipes; you should not just prescribe such treatment for yourself. At best, you can only waste time, and at worst, you can wait for complications.

Homeopathy

Today, homeopathy is becoming increasingly popular, especially among those people who monitor their health.

In our case, it is quite difficult to offer specific treatment, because there are too many reasons that can cause this disease. Therefore, the most correct thing would be to seek advice from a homeopathic doctor, who, based on the test results and the identified cause of the pathology, will select the most suitable homeopathic drug in this context.

For example, if the source of the disease is inflammatory, the patient may be prescribed gynecohel, taken mainly in ten drops, previously dissolved in 30 ml of boiled water. This procedure is carried out three times a day. The duration of treatment is from two to three weeks. The appointment is carried out under the supervision of a doctor.

Contraindications for the administration of gynecohel include increased individual intolerance to one or more components of the drug, including high susceptibility to insect bites and bee products, as well as a history of thyroid disease and the patient’s age under 18 years.

Surgical treatment

Modern classical medicine is equipped with a number of techniques that allow surgical treatment of many pathological disorders in the human body. Based on the pathology discussed in this article, doctors are able to offer the following to resolve the problem:

• Laser vaporization, a technique that allows using a directed laser beam to burn out pathological parts of epithelial tissue. At the same time, an experienced surgeon is able to perform jewelry surgery without particularly damaging healthy adjacent tissues. This technique allows you to avoid the formation of colloidal scars at the surgical site, which can subsequently become a problem during pregnancy and obstetrics.
• Cryodestruction - this technique is as effective as laser therapy, but in this case the process of burning out mutated tissues is carried out by using low temperatures created by liquid nitrogen. After cryodestruction, the formation of colloidal scars at the site of surgery is also not observed.
• Radiosurgical treatment is a technique for cauterizing pathological areas using high-frequency radio waves. The consequences of undergoing this treatment method are very impressive. A scar does not form after this procedure.
• Electrosurgical methods are the most traumatic of all cupping methods. Burning is carried out using electricity. The consequences of using this technique are the formation of rough colloidal scars, but this is the cheapest type of therapy. Mostly, it is used by patients who do not plan to become pregnant or give birth in the future or who are in the premenopausal period.

If diagnostics has identified at least a single number of mutated cells, then the concept of treatment changes radically. The woman may be offered a more radical operation.

Prevention

The essence of recommendations for stopping the development, preventing the onset and progression of the disease is to eliminate the causes that can become catalysts for pathology. Prevention of cervical hyperkeratosis cannot be specified. Therefore, you just need to follow those recommendations that will be beneficial for the entire reproductive system of a woman:

• Maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This also applies to sexual cleanliness.
• Casual connections should not be allowed.
• Do not practice hard sex, which can lead to injury to the woman’s genitals.
• It is necessary to promptly contact a specialist with suspicion of any infectious lesion and treat it until complete recovery.
• Daily hygiene procedures.
• Preference should be given to underwear and bed linen made from natural fibers.
• Avoid overheating and hypothermia of the body.
• No strict diets. Significant weight gain, as well as weight loss, adversely affects the health of any person.
• Nutrition should be rational and nutritious.
• The processes of rest and stress must be balanced.
• Stress and emotional overload should be avoided.
• Regularly, at least once a year, undergo a preventive gynecological examination.
• Rejection of bad habits.

All these tips will be effective for any organism: be it a teenage girl, a woman of the reproductive period, or older representatives of the female half.

Forecast

It is worth immediately reassuring those respondents who, upon hearing the diagnosis of cervical hyperkeratosis, fall into stupor and panic at the same time. After all, this pathology is considered precancerous, but is not cancer. Therefore, with timely detection of the disease and adequate treatment, the prognosis in the vast majority of cases is favorable. A woman who has undergone such therapy may well live well into old age.

A woman’s reproductive organs are like belonging to a higher caste. And if something happens to them, it causes the woman not only physical, but also psychological pain. When diagnosing a pathology such as cervical hyperkeratosis, especially impressionable women should remember that this pathology is not an oncological disease and it can and should be fought. But how easy this struggle will be depends directly on the woman herself. Regular visits for examinations with an obstetrician-gynecologist, and the disease will be recognized at an early stage of destruction, and, therefore, less effort is required to solve the problem. Don't ignore annual preventive examinations, and you will always keep your finger on the pulse of your health!

Collapse

Cervical hyperkeratosis is a gynecological disease diagnosed in women, manifested by changes in the structure of the epithelium, the appearance of compactions in the area of ​​the cervical canal.

Carrying out an examination, the gynecologist sees how seals have appeared on the smooth surface of the cervix. Pieces of white fabric, peculiar growths, what are they and what is the main danger of the phenomenon?

What it is?

Cervical hyperkeratosis is a gynecological pathology that is most often diagnosed in women during menopause. The disease is characterized by the appearance of growths of connective and fibrous tissue. Its active growth leads to the appearance of compactions in the epithelial area.

Seals occur for various reasons; they can develop into oncological formations, gradually turning into cervical cancer.

Often the appearance of white spots on the surface of the epithelium is the first sign of oncology. For this reason, leukoplakia is a dangerous disease that can lead to serious consequences and complications.

Causes

Hyperkeratosis has several causes; most often the disease is diagnosed in women during menopause. In this case, the disease develops against the background of hormonal changes in the body (the level of estradiol and progesterone decreases).

So, the main reasons for the appearance of leukoplakia:

1. Chronic inflammatory disease of the reproductive system.
2. Endocrine disorders, including thyroid problems and diabetes.
3. Sexually transmitted infections (chlamydia, gonorrhea, etc.).
4. Traumatic injuries (ruptures) of the cervix resulting from difficult childbirth.
5. Incorrect installation of an ectopic device with extensive damage to epithelial tissue.
6. Hormonal problems in a woman’s body.
7. Surgical operations performed on the organs of the reproductive system in general and on the cervix in particular (less commonly, gynecological manipulations performed during the examination period).
8. Decreased activity of the immune system (including the presence of autoimmune diseases).
9. Abortion (if the cervix was injured by dilators during the procedure).
10. Bacterial diseases of the reproductive system (provided that the process is chronic).

Leukoplakia can be caused by various diseases, infections, inflammations, and unhealed tissue ruptures. Often the disease develops as a consequence of an endocrine disorder and manifests itself against the background of a decrease in the activity of the immune system.

The human papillomavirus can also provoke the appearance of growths in the cervical area. In this case, HPV makes certain changes in the structure of soft tissues, resulting in growths that gradually turn into tumor formations.

Symptoms

Hyperkeratosis of the squamous epithelium of the cervix is ​​asymptomatic for a long period. This is the main feature of the disease. The woman does not feel discomfort or pain, she does not complain about menstrual irregularities or problems with conception.

But there are a number of specific signs that patients rarely pay attention to. The following symptoms may indicate the presence of leukoplakia:

• small amounts of bloody discharge that occurs after sexual intercourse;
• profuse leucorrhoea (mucous discharge) with an unpleasant odor.

What is leucorrhoea? It is a clear or cloudy discharge, mucous in nature, with a thick consistency that occurs in a woman on certain days of the cycle. If the amount of such discharge can be characterized as profuse, then you should consult a gynecologist. The specific smell that comes from leucorrhoea should also alert you.

Some patients also note the appearance of blood or brown discharge after sex. In this case, the discharge is moderate in nature and is not accompanied by unpleasant symptoms.

The first signs of the disease are completely absent; a routine examination by a gynecologist will help to recognize the pathology at an early stage.

If the disease occurs against the background of hormonal problems in the body, then acyclic menstrual bleeding or menstrual irregularities may be observed.

The symptoms are vague; a woman can recognize the presence of leukoplakia only with careful attention to health and regular visits to the gynecologist, with the aim of conducting a routine examination in a chair, using mirrors.

Diagnostics

Hyperkeratosis is diagnosed in several stages; diagnosis consists of:

1. Standard examination of the patient on a chair using mirrors.
2. Survey, collection of symptoms and complaints.
3. Ultrasound examination of the organs of the reproductive system.
4. Laboratory analysis of microflora for the presence of pathogenic cells.
5. Hormone profile (blood test performed on certain days of the cycle).
6. Biopsies take epithelial cells for analysis to determine the presence of cancer.

Gynecological examination

This is where any visit to the gynecologist begins. The patient is seated on a chair, mirrors are inserted and with their help the condition of the cervix is ​​examined.

If the doctor sees white spots, focal or otherwise, on the surface of the epithelium, he may prescribe a colposcopy. This examination will help examine the cervix in detail and identify the presence of pathology.

History taking

If a woman has any complaints, she should tell the doctor about them. If the patient notices the appearance of leucorrhoea, bloody discharge, unpleasant odor or other signs, then it is imperative to notify the gynecologist about this.

The doctor will make the appropriate notes in the card, record all complaints, they will help make a diagnosis and prescribe competent treatment to the patient.

Ultrasonography

Ultrasound is considered one of the most accurate methods of diagnostic research. When performing an ultrasound using the transvaginal method, it is possible to obtain the maximum amount of information necessary to make a diagnosis.

Ultrasound helps determine the presence of lumps in the cervical area; if the examination is carried out using the transvaginal method, its results will be accurate.

When performing an ultrasound through the abdominal wall, making a diagnosis can cause certain difficulties. In such a situation, a set of studies is taken into account: the results of ultrasound, gynecological examination and colposcopy.

Microflora smear

The study is carried out as follows:

• the woman is seated on a chair;
• take a smear from the vagina for microflora.

Afterwards, the resulting material is sent to the laboratory. A smear helps determine the presence of pathogenic microflora in the vagina, which may indicate that a woman has inflammatory, infectious or bacterial diseases.

A smear for microflora is included in the complex of differentiated diagnostics and helps determine the presence of leukoplakia.

Hormone profile

Blood tests for hormones are performed on different days of the cycle. It helps to identify the presence of imbalances in a woman’s body. All patients who have reached menopause need to take a hormone profile once a year.

1. There are problems with conception.
2. Acyclic discharge is a concern.
3. Disruptions in the menstrual cycle occur (on a regular basis).

A hormone profile is taken 2 times a month, on certain days of the cycle. The doctor will tell you exactly when to take the test.

Biopsy

Scraping of the epithelium from the walls of the cervical canal. The examination is carried out under local anesthesia. During the examination, the gynecologist collects biological material using a curette, a special instrument that resembles a loop.

When the material is collected (epithelial cells located in the area of ​​​​the seals and not only are needed), it is sent for histology to the laboratory.

In a few weeks, the result of the analysis will be ready, it will determine whether there are atypical (cancerous) cells in the biological material.

A biopsy is also carried out as a comprehensive examination; the disadvantages of the procedure are the pain of its implementation and the length of time it takes to obtain results.

Otherwise, a biopsy helps determine whether the patient has cancer or other diseases at an early stage of development, which greatly facilitates treatment.

Treatment

Treatment with medications

Treatment with medications involves the use of drugs:

• antifungal;
• antibacterial;
• anti-inflammatory;
• immunostimulating nature.

At an early stage of development, the disease can be successfully treated; in most cases, gynecologists prescribe suppositories. Suppositories are used in courses of 14 days; after therapy, you should contact your gynecologist again. Together with suppositories, vitamins, immunostimulants and local antiseptics (in the form of solutions) are used.

Surgical intervention

There are several methods that will help relieve a woman of the problem. If drug therapy does not help, then resort to help:

1. Complete amputation– if the woman has reached menopause or already has children. They may recommend amputation. As a result of the operation, doctors remove the cervix completely; less often, they perform an operation to remove the body of the uterus.
2. Electroconization– the procedure is carried out using hot electrodes, with the help of which growths are cleared from the cervical canal. This method is considered the most traumatic, but has a relatively affordable cost. Recommended for women of menopausal age.
3. Cryodestruction– exposure to liquid nitrogen. The cervix is ​​cauterized, causing areas of the epithelium with excess tissue to die. The downside of the procedure is considered to be its low effectiveness, which is associated with the inability to determine the degree of impact on the affected areas of the epithelium.
4. Laser therapy– the laser beam cuts off or cauterizes the affected areas of tissue. As a result, the epithelium dies and is then renewed. The surface of the cervix becomes smooth and pink again, and the likelihood of complications, including cancer, decreases.
5. Ultrasound irradiation– used in severe cases, the indication for irradiation is the appearance (detection) of cancer cells in a smear.
6. Knife coanization- the procedure involves the removal of pathogenic tissues, as well as excision of the cervical cone, if necessary.

All these methods are used if conservative therapy does not bring the desired result. In such a situation, surgery will help to cope with the problem.

Traditional methods of treatment

Alternative therapy can normalize a woman’s condition, but only if it is carried out in conjunction with conservative medicine and does not replace it.

So what can you use:

• Douching with herbal decoctions. The procedures are carried out regularly, it is advisable to use decoctions of the following herbs: calendula, celandine, St. John's wort, chamomile.
• Use of oils. You can use various oils, tampons are soaked in them and inserted into the vagina, the procedures are carried out before bed, the tampon is left in the vagina overnight. You can use sea buckthorn, olive or regular sunflower oil.
• Homemade candles. You can make medicinal candles from cocoa butter; it is melted in a water bath. When the oil becomes liquid, various components are added to it: tea tree oil, sea buckthorn oil, vitamin A in liquid form, calendula tincture. Afterwards, the resulting mass is carefully mixed, poured into a mold and sent to the refrigerator. When the candles have hardened, they can be used for their intended purpose.

Consequences and complications

The most terrible consequence and complication is cancer. Oncology develops rapidly and asymptomatically. When the first signs of cancer appear, it is already too late to carry out treatment, so it is worth visiting a gynecologist regularly and taking the necessary tests.

Conclusion

Leukoplakia of the cervix is ​​a dangerous disease; the main danger is that the disease does not have pronounced symptoms, and under unfavorable circumstances it can lead to the development of oncology.

Cervical parakeratosis is a condition that is manifested by pathological keratinization of the integumentary epithelium of the cervix. This phenomenon is not typical for a healthy organ; a relative exception is pseudoparakeratosis, in which keratinized cells can appear as a result of degenerative processes in endocervical smears in the second half of the cycle, as well as in the postmenopausal period.

What is parakeratosis in terms of etiology? This pathology is considered as a consequence of active inflammatory processes, as well as injury to the cervical canal during childbirth, abortion, and surgical interventions. It should be noted that this condition is background, that is, under some circumstances it can provoke dysplastic changes in tissues, which threatens cancer pathologies. Therefore, when parakeratosis is detected, therapeutic measures should be taken immediately.

How does parakeratosis manifest?

Essentially, parakeratosis is a failure in the process of keratinization of the mucous membrane of the cervical canal. The condition is not an independent disease; it is a symptom of some pathology of the cervix.

Parakeratosis manifests itself as incomplete keratinization, but in the absence of adequate therapy it can transform into, that is, increased keratinization. In this case, the upper layer of the mucous lining of the cervix becomes keratinized, and the foci of the pathological process in structure represent several epithelial layers that have not undergone desquamation.

Both parakeratosis and hyperkeratosis are characterized by the following symptoms:

• there is no granular layer;
• the stratum corneum is thickened;
• rod-shaped nuclei are detected in the cells.

The progression of the pathological process provokes a decrease in tissue elasticity, while the lesions have a rough, wrinkled appearance.

Parakeratosis is a characteristic sign of a disease such as cervical leukoplakia. It is defined as precancer, so detection of this disease requires immediate initiation of treatment.

There are two types of parakeratosis: focal and superficial. The superficial version involves the involvement of a small area of ​​the epithelium in the process, while it is not invasive. This type of pathological condition requires observation, but is rarely dangerous.

Read also: What is endometrial hyperplasia during menopause and how to treat it

Focal parakeratosis is a dangerous phenomenon. In this case, the lesions have clear boundaries, the change in cell structure is clearly expressed. The condition requires treatment. It is focal parakeratosis that is a symptom of leukoplakia.

In addition, the focal variant of the condition is also characteristic of dysplastic lesions. In cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN), areas with parakeratosis are identified in the early and late stages.

Visually, pathological lesions are defined as flat white spots with a matte tint. A common location is the mucous membrane of the vaginal portion of the cervix, a rare location is the depth of the cervical canal. Women of childbearing age are most susceptible to progression of the condition.

Reasons for the development of keratosis

The main etiological factor of parakeratosis is the presence in the body of the human papillomavirus, which is a highly oncogenic type. Activation of infection by this virus provokes cellular changes in the form of pathological and excessive keratinization, disrupted structure of the nuclear apparatus of cells (multiple nuclei, koilocytosis).

Some other factors also contribute to the progression of the condition, namely:

• traumatization of the cervix during childbirth, abortion, curettage, installation of an intrauterine device, and other manipulations;
• therapy for cervical erosion;
• inflammatory diseases, including those caused by sexually transmitted infections;
• hormonal imbalance (insufficient production of progesterone);
• ovarian dysfunction;
• the presence of foci of ectopia.

The specific cause is determined during a complete examination of the patient.

The following are considered as additional provocateurs of pathology:

• weakened immune system;
• exhaustion of the nervous system;
• overwork of the body;
• reduced resistance.

Symptoms of keratosis

Parakeratosis and hyperkeratosis are often asymptomatic; as a result, the woman may not be aware of the existence of the problem. Therefore, regular preventive examinations are so important, which help to identify pathologies that occur without symptoms or with a small number of them.

In a number of situations, symptoms can be erased due to the presence of active symptoms of a provoking pathology, most often of an infectious-inflammatory nature.

The following symptoms can help you suspect a problem:

• discomfort during sexual intercourse;
• small amounts of spotting after sex;
• excessive production of vaginal secretions, which may have an unpleasant odor.