Infections and Pregnancy—Cervix Disorders

The cervix is the lower part of the uterus, the place where a baby grows during pregnancy. The cervix has a small opening that expands during childbirth. It also allows menstrual blood to leave a woman’s body.

Your health care provider may perform a Pap test during your health checkup to look for changes to the cells of the cervix, including cervical cancer. Other problems with the cervix include:

• Cervicitis – inflammation of the cervix. This is usually from an infection.
• Cervical incompetence – This can happen during pregnancy. The opening of the cervix widens long before the baby is due.
• Cervical polyps and cysts – abnormal growths on the cervix

• Cervical dysplasia (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Cervical polyps (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Cervicitis (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Cervix treatment – cryosurgery (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Cold knife cone biopsy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Endocervical gram stain (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Insufficient cervix (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Nabothian cyst (Medical Encyclopedia)

If you are pregnant, an infection can be more than just a problem for you. Some infections can be dangerous to your baby. You can help yourself avoid infections:

• Don’t eat raw or undercooked meat
• Don’t share food or drinks with other people
• Wash your hands frequently
• Don’t empty cat litter. Cats can transmit toxoplasmosis.

You may need to take medicines or get a vaccine to prevent an infection in your baby. For example, you may need to take antibiotics if you develop an infection with group B strep, or take medicines if you have genital herpes. Only some medicines and vaccines are safe during pregnancy. Ask your health care provider about how best to protect you and your baby.

• Group B streptococcal septicemia of the newborn (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Group B streptococcus – pregnancy (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Immunization and Pregnancy (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF
• Pregnancy and the flu (Medical Encyclopedia)
• Pregnant Women Need a Flu Shot (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF
• Protect Your Baby for Life: When a Pregnant Woman Has Hepatitis B (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF
• Toxoplasmosis: An Important Message for Women (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) – PDF