The Small YET Mighty Cervix: Cervical Health 101

When you’re thinking about human anatomy and body parts, sometimes, learning about a cervix might not be on your list, even if you have a cervix! And cervical health? It sounds so medical and formal. Many people, even those with a cervix, are not aware of its importance in daily life, reproductive health, and overall wellness. The truth is, discussing reproductive anatomy is still highly stigmatized in many settings. I’m here to change that by educating you on everything you need to know about the cervix!

Hi, I’m Sadia, a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner that will answer pressing questions on cervical health. January is Cervical Health Awareness Month. At Lala’s Bedtime Tales, we want to play our role in honoring that by normalizing the discussion of cervical health and bringing awareness to this reproductive organ! In the age of mass information and mixed messages from social media and people in your life, sometimes, it can be hard to decipher factual information about your body, especially regarding your sexual and reproductive anatomy. If you’re eager to learn all things about the cervix, this blog post is for you!

What is the Cervix & What Purpose Does It Serve?

The cervix is a canal located at the lower end of the womb. The lower end womb is also known as the uterus and sits on top of the vagina. In lamest terms, the vagina is not a bottomless pit. The vagina doesn’t go infinitely up into your lungs or anything like that. Near the end of the vagina lies the cervix. Depending on someone’s anatomy, someone can have their cervix tilted toward one side. The cervix can move further back as the vagina dilates during sexual arousal. If you have a vagina and ever put your finger, tampon, sex toy, or anything else into your vagina, you might feel something stopping you from going further into the vagina. That’s the cervix.

Most people are born with one cervix; however, some are born without a cervix or two cervices, which are considered medical anomalies and often not diagnosed until seeing a health care provider. The cervix is pretty firm and about two inches long. It’s tough to stick something into a cervix without causing pain since it’s naturally closed, so there’s an excellent chance you haven’t stuck a tampon or had your fingers inserted in the cervix. However, the cervix naturally dilates during one’s menstrual cycle to allow blood and menstrual tissue to leave the body, and it also naturally dilates during childbirth. Cervical dilation is the cause of painful menstrual cramps and childbirth labor because the cervix only dilates when it needs to release something from the uterus, which is the sex organ that sits above the cervix!

During one’s menstruation, the cervix dilates for a few days for less than a centimeter, but it can dilate up to ten centimeters during childbirth! Cool, right? Whether it’s menstrual blood, a baby, or an intrauterine device, the cervix is there to work as a connection between the vagina and uterus. The cervix plays a vital role because it works as a passageway. The cervix’s part is to flow things out of the uterus through the vagina and helps the flow of things exiting the body through the female reproductive system. Because the cervix sits towards the end of the vagina, it also is a body part that isn’t easily visible by the naked eye. The best way to view the cervix is with a mirror, speculum, and proper positioning. Therefore, the cervix is often only seen by a health care provider.

Since the cervix isn’t easily seen, like how individuals can see their vulva, labia majora, or clitoris, frequently, it is ignored and not seen as an essential body part. In addition, because of its location inside the vagina, most people do not regularly discuss its importance because society is not comfortable talking about vaginas, uteri, or anything seemingly pertaining or integral to women’s health, especially sexual health.

What Role Does the Cervix Play in Reproduction and Sexual Intercourse?

Now that you know the cervix is the gatekeeper to the uterus, it’s time to discuss how it plays a role in reproduction and sexual intercourse! During vaginal sex with a penis, the penis goes into the vagina. The penis never goes into the cervix or the uterus. If a penis ever went into a cervix or uterus, there would be a lot of bleeding, pelvic pain, organ perforation, and many other physical traumas to the sexual organs that could lead you to an emergency room!

If the penis ejaculates into the vagina, the ejaculatory fluid, also known as semen, contains cells called sperm. Sperm is a reproductive cell that contains billions of genetic data from the penis partner and contains a head and a tail. Sperm cells swim from the vagina into the cervix and make their way through the cervix as a passageway to the uterus. Once in the uterus, sperm swim from the uterus through the fallopian tubes until they reach an egg. It only takes one sperm cell to reach an egg to begin the process of fertilization, which can lead to pregnancy. 

What is Cervical Health & Why Is It Essential to Your Overall Health?

Cervical health includes all things related to the cervix! Since the cervix is positioned between the vagina and uterus, it can be prone to many health concerns, such as chronic cervical inflammation, cervical polyps or small overgrowths on the cervix, and cervical cancer. Since many people do not look at their cervix often and several cervical conditions rarely have signs and symptoms in their early stages, consistent cervical health screening is essential for anyone with a cervix. The gold standard for cervical health screening is a Pap smear, which is discussed later in this post!

What Issues Can Arise from an Unhealthy Cervix?

As mentioned earlier, the cervix is such a crucial part of overall pelvic, reproductive, and sexual health. For instance, let’s say someone with a cervix contracts a sexually transmitted infection (STI) vaginally, such as chlamydia. If this person does not treat chlamydia appropriately, this bacterial infection can spread and cause inflammation of the cervix, known as cervicitis. Long-term consequences of cervicitis are infertility and chronic pelvic pain.

That is why regular STI testing is highly recommended for sexually active individuals and those engaging in vaginal intercourse. Young adults ages 20-24 years of age have the highest rates of chlamydia compared to any other age group. Young women ages 20-24 years of age make up almost half of reported cases of chlamydia in America. However, chlamydia isn’t the only STI that can cause cervical health concerns.

Another concerning STI is the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV is the most common STI in America, and it’s a virus with several different viral strains. Some of these strains can cause cervical cancer, other HPV-related cancers, such as anal or throat cancer. HPV is an STI that is known for causing genital warts. There is no cure for HPV, as it is a virus, and viruses naturally do not have a cure. Once you contract HPV, it can remain dormant in your body for years without ever showing signs and symptoms, if ever showing signs. Like any other virus, your immune system can naturally fight against it, but sometimes, your immune system is not enough to protect you from the health effects of HPV.

What Actions Are Necessary For A Healthy Cervix?

The cervix plays an essential role in a vulva owner’s reproductive and sexual anatomy and can cause health ailments and concerns when cared for improperly. Therefore I am providing you with three easy ways to keep your cervix healthy, listed below:

1. Get your cervix checked with a Pap smear!

 Per the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), HPV screening for people with a cervix, known as a Pap smear or Pap test, begins at 21 years of age, regardless of symptoms or sexual history. Pap smears do not start until 21 years of age because Paps detect abnormal cell growths that are unlikely to be seen in younger women, including immunocompromised women. Although Pap smear testing can include STI testing, STI testing alone does not include a Pap smear. You can get tested for STIs with a swab or urine culture before 21, but it will not include a Pap smear.

A Pap smear works by having a speculum inserted into the vagina to visualize the cervix. It’s almost impossible for someone to get a clear view of the cervix without a speculum. This is because the cervix is at the back of the vagina. Once the health care provider has inserted the speculum into the vagina, you will feel a swab rubbing against your cervix. Some individuals describe the swabbing of the cervix as ticklish, while others find it slightly uncomfortable. The swab is only against your cervix for a few seconds, and it is used to detect any pre-cancerous cells in your cervix. This swab is then sent over to a lab, and the lab will most likely send results back to your health care provider within two weeks. If you are getting a Pap smear done, you can also request your health care provider to run additional STI testing and testing for vaginal infections, such as bacterial vaginosis.

Per ACOG’s guidelines, Pap smears are recommended every three years unless mentioned otherwise by a health care provider. Since guidelines often change due to new emerging evidence, it is essential to ask your provider questions regarding Pap testing results and frequency.

2. Safe(r) sex practices!

Use a condom every time you have vaginal sex, especially if you are unsure of your partners’ STI histories. Since HPV can lay dormant for years, many people do not regularly get screened for HPV. When in doubt, use a condom. If possible, get STI testing done after every sexual partner and before having sex with a new partner. If you are looking for free condoms or STI testing, I recommend checking out your local public health department.

3. Get the HPV vaccine!

Did you know that the HPV vaccine is the only vaccine on the market known to prevent cancer? Growing up, I remember seeing the TV ads and hearing them on the radio for Gardasil, a popular brand name for a type of HPV vaccine. Regardless of brand name, HPV vaccines are highly immunogenic, meaning that over 98% of people receiving the HPV vaccine develop an antibody response approximately one month after completing the entire vaccination series.

The HPV vaccine is a three-dose vaccine series that can start from age 9 to 26. People can get the HPV vaccine series up to age 45, but many insurance companies will not pay for it after age 26. Since HPV affects people with and without cervices, it is highly recommended that everyone eligible for this vaccine obtain it. Since HPV vaccines were first used in America in 2006, HPV infections and cervical precancers have dropped immensely. In particular, among vaccinated women, the percentage of HPV cervical precancers has fallen by 40%.

Knowing that about 85% of people will get an HPV infection in their lifetime, I recommend the HPV vaccine to everyone who meets the eligibility criteria. It can protect your cervix and your partners. Many health care providers and pharmacies offer the HPV vaccine. If you are concerned about cost, I recommend reaching out to your insurance or your local public health department.

Prioritizing Cervical Health Equals A Healthier You!

If you are concerned about your cervical health, I recommend reaching out to your health care provider or local public health department for more information. The cervix is a vital reproductive organ within the sexual anatomy of vulva owners. It’s essential to make sure that you are making your sexual health a priority. According to the National Cervical Cancer Coalition, over 14,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year. But cervical cancer is an easily preventable disease with the help of vaccinations, STI screenings, and Pap Smears or Pap testing. So, be proactive to be your healthiest self! 

Cited Sources:

https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/prevalence-incidence-cost-2020.htm

https://www.cdc.gov/std/statistics/2019/overview.htm#Disparities

https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/vaccinesafety.html https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/hpv/hcp/vaccines.html

https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/practice-advisory/articles/2021/04/updated-cervical-cancer-screening-guidelines

https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/index.html

https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/cervical-cancer/index.html

https://helloclue.com/articles/sex/conception-pregnancy-fertilization-explained

January is Cervical Health Awareness Month! A significant part of Lala’s Bedtime Tales mission is to provide a safe space and judgment-free zone to educate yourself on sexual health & wellness. The Sexual Health & Wellness corner will have monthly articles dedicated to continuous education on living a positive and sexually healthy lifestyle. Subscribe to Lala’s Bedtime Tales Newsletter and follow @LalasBedtimeTales on social media to never miss any sexual education to help you live the healthiest life possible. Also, check out the Lala’s Bedtime Tales Podcast and Lala’s Oh So Exclusive Patreon account for even more content! If you’re browsing for sexy pleasure products or cute giftable items, then check out Lala’s Pleasure Shop.

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