Inflammation of the cervix is often the result of sexually transmitted diseases, allergic reactions, or bacteria inside the vagina. Doctors generally have to run a few different tests to find out what is causing the inflammation. If the cause is a sexually transmitted disease, the inflammation will likely persist until the disease is treated. Bacteria inside the vagina are often treated with vaginal suppositories that contain antibiotics to kill the infection. In the event that the swelling of the cervix is caused by an allergic reaction, a woman will generally have to think about what products she has been using that may have caused the reaction and then stop using the suspected products to see if the swelling goes away.
Sexually transmitted diseases are a common cause of cervical inflammation. Almost any sexually transmitted disease can cause the cervix to swell, but some of the more common diseases that cause it include gonorrhea, genital herpes, and chlamydia. There is no cure for genital herpes, but the disease can be managed effectively, so it rarely causes problems. Gonorrhea and chlamydia can be cured with antibiotics. A woman who has cervical inflammation as a result of an STD will likely need to abstain from unprotected sexual activity.
Allergic reactions are a less serious reason for inflammation of the cervix. Many women experience this after using spermicide, diaphragms, and other items designed to be inserted into the vagina. If any of these items are made or contain a substance to which a woman is allergic, she may experience a reaction. Finding out which element caused the reaction could be tricky. Some women may have to go through a trial and error process and remove certain things that they regularly wear one by one until they can determine which item is causing the problems.
Bacteria inside the vagina, also commonly known as bacterial vaginosis, are another problem that can cause inflammation of the cervix. Women who have bacterial vaginosis may experience problems that include itching and a foul-smelling discharge. Initially, the symptoms of bacterial vaginosis tend to mimic the symptoms of yeast infection. Many women do not see their doctors with bacterial vaginosis until their attempts to treat it with over-the-counter yeast cream have failed. Cervical inflammation with bacterial vaginosis usually goes away once the infection is gone, and this usually occurs with the use of antibiotics prescribed by the doctor.