Will cervical adhesions hurt after radiotherapy?

Cervical adhesions after radiotherapy may cause pain, especially during menstruation or when the doctor performs a gynecological examination. The specific cause of the pain may be related to local inflammation, tissue scarring, and cervical passage blockage caused by radiotherapy. Treatment may include medication improvement, physical therapy, or surgical intervention if necessary.

1. Causes of cervical adhesions after radiotherapy

Radiotherapy is a common method of tumor treatment, but its high-energy rays may have a certain impact on the local cervical tissue and may cause adhesion of cervical tissue. Common causes include:

-Inflammatory response: Radiotherapy causes inflammation of local tissues, which leads to excessive proliferation of fibrous tissue during the repair process and induces cervical adhesions.

-Scar tissue formation: High-energy rays may directly destroy normal tissue structure, causing the tissue to harden and lose elasticity, gradually forming scars.

- Stenosis or occlusion of the cervical canal: Adhesions may cause stenosis of the cervical canal, poor menstrual blood flow, and even blood accumulation, causing abdominal pain or pelvic discomfort.

2. Pain caused by cervical adhesions

Whether cervical adhesions cause pain varies from person to person, but the following situations may be more likely to cause symptoms:

-Abdominal pain during menstruation: Cervical adhesions cause obstruction of menstrual blood discharge, which may cause lower abdominal distension and pain.

- Pain during gynecological examination: Adhesions cause the cervix to lose its normal elasticity, and the patient feels discomfort or even pain when the instrument touches it.

-Chronic pelvic pain: A small number of patients may experience persistent pelvic pain without a clear cause.

3. Relief and treatment options

-Medication:

1) The use of hormonal drugs (such as estrogen or progesterone) can repair weak mucosal tissue and reduce adhesion.

2) Anti-inflammatory or anti-fibrotic drugs help reduce local inflammatory responses and control fibrosis.

3) Analgesics are used to relieve the pain and discomfort caused by adhesions.

-Physical Therapy:

It involves cervical dilatation, which mechanically dilates the cervix to improve the narrowing of the channel caused by adhesions. After the operation, a cervical stent can be placed to prevent re-adhesion.

-Surgery:

For patients with severe adhesions, hysteroscopic surgery can be selected to separate the adhesion tissue and restore the patency of the cervical passage. Antibiotics and hormone therapy can be combined after surgery to promote postoperative recovery.

4. Life care advice

- Maintain personal hygiene: After radiotherapy, you need to pay attention to the cleanliness of your genitals to avoid infection that may aggravate adhesions.

-Regular follow-up: Perform regular gynecological examinations to monitor the degree of adhesion and adjust the treatment plan in a timely manner.

-Pay attention to changes in pain: If the pain becomes significantly worse, consult a professional doctor immediately to avoid delaying treatment.

Cervical adhesions after radiotherapy may indeed cause pain, but most patients can be relieved and improved through medication, physical means, and, if necessary, surgery. If you have related symptoms, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible for a clear diagnosis and treatment to prevent adhesions from further affecting your quality of life.