Editing Cervix (section)

===Inflammation===
{{Main|Cervicitis}}
Inflammation of the cervix is referred to as [[cervicitis]]. This inflammation may be of the endocervix or ectocervix.<ref name=STAMM2013>{{cite book | vauthors = Stamm W |title=The Practitioner's Handbook for the Management of Sexually Transmitted Diseases |date=2013 |publisher= Seattle STD/HIV Prevention Training Center |pages= Chapter 7: Cervicitis |url= http://depts.washington.edu/handbook/syndromesFemale/ch7_cervicitis.html|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130622033953/http://depts.washington.edu/handbook/syndromesFemale/ch7_cervicitis.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= 2013-06-22  }}</ref> When associated with the endocervix, it is associated with a mucous vaginal discharge and [[sexually transmitted infection]]s such as [[chlamydia infection|chlamydia]] and [[gonorrhoea]].<ref name=HARRISONS2010 /> As many as half of pregnant women having a gonorrheal infection of the cervix are asymptomatic.<ref name=Kenner2014>{{cite book | vauthors = Kenner C |title= Comprehensive neonatal nursing care | publisher= Springer Publishing Company, LLC |place= New York |edition=5th |year= 2014 | isbn= 9780826109750}} Access provided by the University of Pittsburgh.</ref> Other causes include overgrowth of the [[commensal flora]] of the vagina.<ref name=ROBBINS2007>{{cite book | vauthors = Mitchell RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL, Abbas AK, Fausto N |title= Robbins basic pathology |publisher= Saunders/Elsevier |year=2007 |edition=8th | pages=716–21 |isbn=978-1-4160-2973-1 }}</ref> When associated with the ectocervix, inflammation may be caused by the [[herpes simplex]] virus. Inflammation is often investigated through directly visualising the cervix using a [[Speculum (medical)|speculum]], which may appear whiteish due to exudate, and by taking a Pap smear and examining for causal bacteria. Special tests may be used to identify particular bacteria. If the inflammation is due to a bacterium, then antibiotics may be given as treatment.<ref name=HARRISONS2010>{{cite book | veditors = Fauci AS, Braunwald E, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Longo DL, Jameson JL, Loscalzo J  |title= Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine |url= https://archive.org/details/harrisonsprincip00asfa |url-access= limited |date=2008 |publisher= McGraw-Hill Medical |location= New York [etc.] |isbn= 978-0-07-147692-8 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/harrisonsprincip00asfa/page/n866 828]–29 |edition=17th }}</ref>