Fun Facts about Your Cervix
How much do you know about the cervix? Don't feel bad if you're scratching your head and thinking, Where's the cervix? Fact. cervix is not recognized by some women. The cervix doesn't get as much attention as the uterus or the ovaries, although it has some very important functions, such as protecting women from STIs and helping them during pregnancy and childbirth.
A study of 236 US college students found that 46% of women were unable to find the cervix on a medical chart. The same study also found that of these US students, 27% of the women did not recognize where the clitoris was. These statistics show that it is very important to know the facts about your cervix, as well as your entire reproductive system.
It seems that some women may be aware that they have a cervix, among the many important factors of the reproductive system, their knowledge of this component is still limited. But no one ever claims that sex in the United States is up and down in any way.
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Cervix Definition
The cervix is a tubular tube at the bottom of the uterus which is connected to the vagina. It's about two inches long, and though it's very narrow, it widens during delivery, allowing a tiny human to pass through it healthily. The cervix is also susceptible to polyps and cancer.
Some women say that they experience cervical orgasm during sex. Here are some weird facts about the cervix that every woman should know.
Cervix Function
Women start menstruating at a very young age, and you are all aware of the effects of shedding of the lining of the uterus, lots of blood, cramps, and suffering. With all that said, you'd assume that women would examine the cause of their pain.
Many women give little thought to the part of their body that carries the flow of life-giving blood out of their body.
Cervix is also wearing another hat. One of these hats is to support the sperm on their journey to the Great Valley. It also builds up the plug that keeps the uterus closed during pregnancy, protecting the baby from infection and from premature delivery.
When a woman is not pregnant, the cervix remains closed (when she is not menstruating), protecting the woman from infection too. The cervix is a multi-talented mopho, if you've heard of it.
Cervix Does Not Contribute to Sexual Pleasure
There is a myth that the cervix is very important for sexual pleasure and orgasms. But that hasn't been proven yet. In fact, when a woman's cervix is removed, there is often no change in sexual function or enjoyment.
One small study of 413 women even found an increase in sexual pleasure after having a general hysterectomy (which removes the uterus and cervix). It's an important structure, but as far as sexual pleasure is concerned it has more to do with the clitoris.
Stretching the Cervical Opening During Birth
Whether it's arousal or labor, there's a lot of expansion and contraction going on in a woman's reproductive system, and it's pretty amazing.
The cervix has a tiny opening, which expands during childbirth.
Without this widening of the pinhole, labor would be more painful. The baby cannot move from the womb to the outside world, except through the cervix.
Menstrual blood runs through the cervix.
The blood that comes out when you have your period comes from the uterus. But if there's no cervix to bridge the uterus and vagina, there's no way blood can leave your body month after month.
The cervix affects menstruation, This prevents the tampon from disappearing inside you. So rest assured that the next time you can't find the string, it's unlikely that your tampon will slide off somewhere else on your body.
The cervix is very vulnerable to infection and disease
Your cervix can be a site of infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea, as well as pre-cancerous or cancerous cells.
Partly because it is home to a site called the squamocolumnar junction, a site that undergoes rapid cell turnover. Here, one type of cells (squamous) is replaced by another (columnar epithelium, common in the uterus).
That's where HPV enters, and because that area is vulnerable, HPV can insert its genes into the cervix, where it can cause pre-cancer or cancer. That's why it's so important to keep up to date with your paps, and make sure to check for STDs.
If left untreated, STDs can spread to the uterus, causing pelvic inflammatory disease.
The Cervix is the Reason Some Women have less Menstrual Pain after Childbirth
If you are a woman who has struggled with period-related pain your whole life, there is a good chance that this will end after giving birth.
Thanks to the enlargement of the cervical opening mentioned above for this.
The lack of pain is usually because the cervix has dilated and allows blood to flow with less of the need for uterine contractions.
The cervix makes pregnancy possible
The clear, slippery mucus produced by the cervix during ovulation helps sperm swim from the vagina into the uterus to join the egg.
If fertilization occurs, the mucus thickens and blocks the cervix, preventing microbes and other harmful agents from harming the developing fetus.
When it's time to give birth, the cervical plug is released, and the cervix itself dilates to about 4 inches, allowing the baby to enter the world.
After giving birth, the cervix returns to its former size.
Even after stretching 10 centimeters to allow the baby to pass, the cervix will usually return to its original size. However, for some women, it takes a little time for the cervix to heal and return to its pre-pregnancy state, up to 6 weeks in some cases.
Cervix Can Move?
Before you assume that you have a "wandering uterus" situation, hold on. While the wandering uterus theory is the belief that the uterus is in motion, consequently allowing medical practitioners in ancient times to misdiagnose women, the cervix is "moving" in a much more plausible way.
Approximately 12 to 14 days after your period starts, your cervix is at its softest and highest. This is a good component to track and watch out for, especially if you are someone who is prone to cervical bruising during penetration.
It's a Big Player in Childbirth
One of the big jobs of the cervix is to dilate about 10 centimeters on the day of delivery, so that the baby can be expelled effectively from the uterus.
If healthy, it will soften and expand gently during delivery. And you can blame the intense contractions on that dilation, and the uterus contracting itself. Thank you very much, cervix.
Women can still deliver babies without a cervix
There is a woman who was diagnosed with cervical cancer at the age of 29 years. She already has a young son, but she fears losing her chance to raise her family, as popular treatment means removing her cervix and uterus.
Then a doctor told her about a new process called a radical trachelectomy, which allows her to hold the uterus temporarily in place, only to expel the cervix itself.
This woman chose this treatment, and her fertility was maintained. If she is pregnant, she only needs cervical stitches which characterize her cervix.
Cervix is Necessary for Fertility
Cervical mucus is required for fertility. During the menstrual cycle, the consistency of the cervical mucus changes to help sperm reach the egg.
Many hormonal contraceptives interact with cervical mucus, so sperm cannot move.
Summary
Why does the cervix matter? Cervix is an amazing part of the women's body. It restrains bacteria from entering your uterus, produces fluid to clean your vagina, and changes its position to help facilitate or protect pregnancy.
Because your cervix is so important to your reproductive and sexual health, make sure you have regular Pap smears.
If you are over 21 years of age or sexually active, check with your obstetrician to see how often you should have them. Whether you have a cervix or not, it's still important to find out.