Inflammation of the cells found in the cervical area can cause the mucus-secreting cells in the cervix to not work normally. This inflammation may be due to bacterial or viral infections, which can cause cervicitis.
The appearance of inflammation of the cervical area due to bacterial infection is usually accompanied by changes in the color and odor of the discharge, discomfort and pain in the area, and in more advanced stages of infection may cause fever.
Other diseases, such as chlamydia or gonorrhea, are known to be highly contagious through sexual transmission. These diseases can produce alterations that influence the secretion of cervical mucus.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection can cause inflammation and genital warts in the male and female reproductive tract. In some cases, and depending on the viral strain that is causing the infection, the virus may cause cervical cancer.
In any case, if there is any doubt of having any of these infections, or if there are risky sexual encounters, the use of condoms or another barrier contraceptive method is recommended to protect both men and women from highly contagious sexually transmitted diseases.
