LADIES, HOW MUCH DO YOU REALLY KNOW ABOUT YOUR CERVIX?
TOP NEED-TO-KNOW FACTS AND TIPS ON CBD FOR CERVIX HEALTH
Scary but true, it’s a fact that sex anatomy knowledge is low in college men and women. A recent study found that 62% of women questioned couldn’t locate the vagina properly (so much for sex ed at school) with 46% of women unable to pinpoint the cervix.
Other studies have found similar, mind-bending stats among women in varying demographics. Is it just us, or is it alarming that so many of us are unfamiliar with our own anatomies? This is one of the big reasons why we believe it’s so important to create a safe space for women to share and learn so they can feel empowered with their health choices, and be on BFF terms with their own bodies.
Yeah, you might be thinking of the obvious ones here, like your vagina, but an often-overlooked part of the female reproductive system is the cervix. But here’s the key point – a healthy cervix should be a part of every woman’s sexual health agenda because it holds the key to so much of our wellness. Also worth noting are the promising benefits of CBD for cervix health, and its potential to help you achieve that. So, without further ado, let’s jump into some important tips for optimizing overall wellness and working on disease prevention in the cervix, and how CBD slots into the picture.
What Is the Cervix?
In terms of your anatomy lesson 101, your cervix is a part of the uterus and is located at the end of the vagina. Its most important job is to act as an opening point into the uterus, AKA the passage for sperm to travel through on their way to your eggs for potential fertilization. With a cylinder-shaped neck, your cervix forms a canal between the uterus and vagina and is a diminutive few centimeters in diameter. It’s a bit of a transformative one too, with its appearance varying throughout different stages of womanhood and during the menstrual cycle.
Now we’re on the same page with your cervix being a welcoming door for sperm to reach eggs, let’s see what else it does! It also helps keep babies in place during pregnancy until they’re ready to meet the world. When your cervix isn’t busy doing the pregnancy bit (which might be never – or at least not often) it’s responsible for helping keep certain things out of the body (think tampons or water). Actually, the cervix has a multitude of functions, even if its most important role is on the childbirth lines. It’s required for preventing preterm labor, cueing the body for dilation timing, and helping the vaginal birth process.
Like any reproductive organ, our beautiful cervix can be susceptible to certain problems spanning from the minor to the more serious. Yep, some conditions won’t require treatment, but others will need immediate attention, so you’ll always benefit from getting a feel for what’s right or not right down there. To give you some pointers, here are some of the more common challenges women experience with their cervix:
- STIs: Gonorrhea, chlamydia, genital herpes, trichomonas, and human papillomavirus (HPV) are all examples of sexually transmitted infections that can impact our cervix. HPV is super common, and some types can increase the risk of developing cervical cancer which is why Pap smears are a must-have.
- Bacterial Vaginosis: AKA an overgrowth of bacteria that can throw off the pH in your vaginal flora and impact the cervix. If this happens to you, you might not require treatment, but more severe cases will need antibiotics to get you back on track.
- Cervix Inflammation: Also referred to as cervicitis, inflammation in the cervix can be triggered by an infection or even allergies to sexual products like lube or condoms. It can also be caused by personal and feminine care products that irritate your cervix, and it’s a known side effect of radiotherapy when used for cancer treatment.
- Cervical Endometriosis: Cervical endometriosis is a rare condition where lesions develop outside of the cervix. Strangely, most women have no symptoms, but some may experience unusual discharge, pelvic pain, painful intercourse, bleeding after intercourse, spotting, or menstrual disorders.
- Cysts and Polyps: Cysts and polyps can develop on the surface of the cervix which doesn’t sound great, but they are fairly common and mostly benign, typically not needing any treatment.
- Cervical Cancer: Cancerous tumors can impact the cervix, and this is where certain strains of HPV play a role in its development (note – keep those smears regular!) Also note, some women may not experience symptoms, but others may have pain or irregular bleeding.
So, here’s the thing, most of these conditions can be prevented or detected through regular Pap smears and sexual wellness visits. This is why we always say we need to stay proactive with our cervix health with consistent checks and annual exams through your OBGYN or healthcare provider.
How Do You Take Care of the Cervix?
While our regular appointments and regular Pap smears are a must, there are other things we can do to take control of our cervical health. Luckily, we’ve collated a number of preventative measures to help you care for your cervix.
But first, you’ve guessed it, let’s talk Pap smears. This is the number one for your cervix health because regular Pap smears include HPV testing. This one is simple – always go to your annual sexual wellness exams to help catch any abnormal cell changes in the cervix before they develop into serious problems. Pap smear screenings vary in frequency based on age, with screenings starting at 21 or younger for women who are sexually active. In combo, good cervix care and screenings are critical for preventing cervical cancer. And if you are experiencing any symptoms like painful intercourse, bleeding after intercourse, abnormal menstruation, or abnormal vaginal discharge, don’t hang fire. Speak to your healthcare provider ASAP.
It’s true, safer sex practices can help lower the chances of getting and spreading HPV. That’s along with helping to prevent other STIs that cause infections like cervicitis. Safe sex options include using condoms or internal condoms during vaginal and anal sex, and dental dams during oral sex. If you ever experience any pain or abnormal vaginal discharge when you’re getting jiggy, talk to your doctor straight away. STIs don’t disappear if you ignore them and can cause serious implications when left untreated. So, get tested whether you think you have one or if you’ve had unprotected sexual contact. In fact, it’s smart to get tested once a year during your sexual wellness exam.
Wondering where this one fits in? Well let us tell you, smokers are twice as likely to get cervical cancer than non-smokers. It sounds crazy, but experts believe this is due to the cellular damage that smoking can cause in the cervix, making it easier for cancer to develop. While we’re on the subject, smoking also impacts the immune system and may weaken your body’s ability to fight off HPV infections (the other thing we do not want). We get it, quitting smoking can be hard but it’s the right step for prioritizing your cervix, heart health, and overall wellness.
All cervical conditions require attention from your OBGYN or doctor to ensure proactive treatment. While there are a number of effective pharmaceuticals, screenings, and treatment options, CBD may offer therapeutic promise for symptom management for certain conditions.
- CBD for cervicitis: CBD’s renowned anti-inflammatory potential may help with cervical inflammation. While root cause treatment is crucial for this condition, CBD may offer inflammation relief for better pain management.
- CBD for pain relief: Many cervix conditions share the common symptom of pain. CBD may provide natural pain relief, offering an alternative to NSAIDs which can have adverse, long-term side effects and a negative impact on fertility.
Tip: Pep up your daily CBD by adding Balance Everyday Tincture to our Harmonizing Bloom Tea and indulge in comprehensive pain and sexual wellness support.
- CBD for cervical cancer: Preliminary research supports the need for significantly more scientific investigation into CBD for inhibiting cell proliferation in cervical cancer. Scientists are looking into the role of the endocannabinoid system with gynecological cancers and are trying to see if cannabinoid therapy may be used to target these conditions. CBD may provide relief from certain symptoms of cancer treatment and cancer itself like pain, nausea, insomnia, and more.
As we speak, more clinical trials are underway in these areas, so keep your ears pricked to hear more about the future of cannabinoid science and the promising therapeutic potential it may offer.
How to Use CBD for Cervix Health
Regardless of severity, any condition impacting the cervix is serious and needs help from a healthcare professional as a priority. So don’t hesitate to speak to your doctor or OBGYN if anything is concerning you, and always get their advice before trying CBD, especially if you’re taking any medication. As with any condition, we believe that CBD should never be the only string in your bow for sexual health or cervix conditions. Just as we are complex, it requires a comprehensive plan that covers everything from regular screenings to preventative lifestyle choices to help you feel well.
If you’d like to try cannabinoid therapy, note that it varies from person to person and self-experimentation will help you find the right balance. For symptom management, our smart advice is to start low and slow and work up to the effects you’re looking for. As we noted, for overall sexual wellness benefits use CBD alongside an extensive self-care plan, and to figure out what’s working, try keeping a journal to track your experience, dosage, and frequency.
Press Pause CBD for Cervix Health
You know it, we women are unique in the complicated nuances of our body chemistry. This means that the challenges we face in our complex sexual health are just as personal. Because we know how important our wellness is, our handcrafted premium organic CBD products are made by women, for women like you. Sometimes it’s just a case of finding the right products for supporting your sexual health and soothing symptoms of certain cervix conditions, so if you need us, contact us! We are here with the information you need.
