Planning for pregnancy is not only a moment of hope and expectation but also an important stage in checking a woman's health status. One of the key organs that doctors pay attention to is the cervix, specifically its internal passage — cervical canal. Its condition directly affects the ability to conceive, carry, and give birth to a healthy child.
The cervical canal should be free, elastic, and devoid of inflammatory processes or pathological changes. Its examination allows for the detection of infections, erosions, dysplasias, anatomical constrictions, or excessive mucus — all of which can hinder fertilization or increase the risk of complications during pregnancy. In Ukraine, there are sufficient opportunities to undergo comprehensive diagnostics as part of pregnancy preparation, taking into account regional standards and modern laboratory approaches — for example, in the western regions, one can turn to the Eskulab laboratory.
Diagnostic Methods: How the Cervix is Checked
During pregnancy planning, doctors prescribe a series of tests to ensure the anatomical and functional norm of the cervix and cervical canal:
Examination with mirrors. This is a basic method during which the doctor assesses the condition of the mucous membrane, identifies possible erosions, polyps, or other formations. The examination helps determine the need for additional studies.
Cytological examination (Pap test). Taking cells from the cervical canal allows for the detection of atypical changes, precancerous conditions, or the consequences of chronic infections.
Colposcopy. A special microscope is used for a detailed examination of the cervix, including its vascular pattern. It increases the accuracy of detecting pathologies.
Ultrasound of the pelvic organs. It helps assess the structure of the cervix, the length of the cervical canal, the presence of polyps, cysts, or signs of inflammation.
Laboratory tests. These include studies of smears for flora, PCR tests for STIs (chlamydia, HPV, herpes, etc.), as well as bacterial cultures for conditionally pathogenic flora.
Comprehensive examination helps to identify in advance factors that may affect the ability to conceive or the safety of pregnancy.
What Else is Considered When Evaluating the Cervix
In addition to standard instrumental methods, the correct interpretation of the functional state of the cervical canal plays an important role:
changes in the structure of mucus — it should be sufficiently viscous and transparent;
the presence of chronic inflammation;
hormonal background;
detection of HPV (human papillomavirus);
previous surgical interventions.
When planning for pregnancy, a woman can only assess the overall state of her reproductive health but also prevent complications that may arise in the case of undetected pathologies of the cervix.
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