What is cervical inflammation? What causes it?

Cervical inflammation is fairly common. It can be caused by a variety of things, such as a cervical ectropion, cervical
eversion, or cervical erosion, which are benign. Having the root cause assessed by a medical provider is always the best
action plan. These kinds of inflammation are often the result of a migration of cells from inside the cervix, where the
pH is relatively neutral, toward the opening of the cervix that faces the acidic environment. This migration results in an
irritation that leads to the production of an exudate, which appears as a continuous discharge. Treatment is sometimes
offered as a way to alleviate cervical inflammation. This can resolve challenging charting patterns to help you become
more confident in your cycles biomarkers. Treatment does not always dry up all of the discharge, but it should make it
easier to differentiate between everyday discharge and fertile mucus. There are many other sources of irritation to
the cervix, including infection, and a medical provider would be best equipped to diagnose and treat, if needed.

What indicates a possible cervical inflammation on my chart?

Cervical inflammation can result in the presence of a particular pattern of sticky, tacky, or gummy discharge in the early
pre-peak phase and/or a sticky, tacky, stretch or gummy discharge after the fourth day post-peak. Heres an example:

What should I do about it?

While some kinds of cervical Inflammation may require treatment, others may not. Your physician is the best person to
help you determine how to proceed. They will likely want to perform a physical exam as well as review the various
biomarkers you have charted. It is important to mention that the presence of continuous mucus on your chart can be
confidently managed with or without (and during!) treatment. Your FCP is trained to provide advanced case
management assistance to you when these situations arise and can work with you and your NaPro Technology Medical
Consultant or other medical provider however needed. The procedures listed on the next page of this resource
document are commonly suggested for the treatment of cervical inflammation and they are especially helpful if
identifying days of fertility and infertility has proved challenging for you, whether you are trying to achieve pregnancy,
avoid pregnancy, or you are simply monitoring health/fertility. Those who are breastfeeding are not often recommended
to utilize these treatment options, but your doctor can assess the most appropriate course of action for your situation.

What are my next steps?

Call your NaPro MC to
see which options are
available to you that are
performed in their office.

Give your FCP ten days

to send the referral info
that your MC needs
before your treatment.

Be prepared to adjust
your follow-up schedule
with your FCP because of
charting changes.

What are my treatments options?

Silver Nitrate Application- Silver nitrate is applied to the outside of the inflamed cervix. Single treatment or multiple
follow-up applications depend on individual need. This is performed in the physicians office in 10 minutes or less.
Spotting or grey discharge and mild cramping are common after a single application and subsequent applications.
Hyfrecation- The outside of the cervix is cauterized gently once a month for 1-2 months. You may experience mild cramping
and/or mild bleeding and watery discharge for more than a week after the procedure.
Cryosurgery- The outside of the cervix is treated with a freezing probe that eliminates abnormal tissue and allows
normal tissue to grow. You may experience mild cramping and/or colored discharge after this procedure for a few days.

Normal cervix, viewed through speculum

Silver nitrate treatment of severe eversion

Hyfrecation of severe ectropion

How can this change my charting pattern?

Reference: Reproductive Anatomy & Physiology: A Primer for FertilityCare Professionals (T. Hilgers), Book II: Advanced Teaching Skills (T. Hilgers, Daly, S. Hilgers, Prebil), The Medical and
Surgical Practice of NaPro Technology (T. Hilgers), American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org) for medical drawings, edited for presentation of cervical procedures. This
resource contains creative and intellectual property of Michelle Ui Cheallaigh and any/all copyright owners retain their own respective copyrights and trademarks. Permission to use the
creative and intellectual information in this resource document can be obtained directly by emailing Michelle Ui Cheallaigh at this address: Shelly.Kelly.CrMS@gmail.com. This resource
document was created for informational purpose and is not intended to diagnose or treat any condition. Consult your medical provider for diagnoses and treatment of any medical condition.