Is there a direct relationship between cervical erosion and cervical cancer?

Cervical erosion is quite common in daily life. Many people are afraid of it and think that cervical erosion means the cervix is ​​"rotten". Some even think that cervical erosion is a precursor to cervical cancer, and they are worried and unable to sleep or eat. In fact, these are all misunderstandings about cervical erosion.

Cervical erosion is not a disease, but a symptom, which can be divided into physiological and pathological. Among them, physiological changes are affected by hormones in the body, and often appear before and after ovulation and menstruation; while pathological changes generally occur when the cervix is ​​inflamed or when cervical cells become malignant. Clinically, pathological changes are usually classified as chronic cervicitis.

Cervical cancer is the third most common malignant tumor among women worldwide, second only to breast cancer and colorectal cancer. Persistent infection with carcinogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main cause of cervical cancer and has no direct relationship with cervical erosion. In cervical cancer, the cervix of women may also appear smooth or have only superficial ulcers. Therefore, it cannot be said that cervical erosion is a precursor to cervical cancer. However, when the area of ​​cervical erosion in women is large, it is relatively easy to be infected with human papillomavirus. Therefore, women with cervical erosion and related symptoms such as increased secretions, odor or contact bleeding should be actively treated. At the same time, women with cervical erosion should also undergo regular gynecological examinations to rule out cervical cancer. If cervical erosion has contact bleeding and increased leucorrhea, and the appearance is difficult to distinguish from cervical cancer, a cervical scraping or biopsy should be performed to confirm the diagnosis.