The word stenosis

Stenosis

A stenosis is an abnormal narrowing in a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure.It is also sometimes called a stricture ....

 refers to any passage in the body that is more narrow than it should typically be, for example a narrowed blood vessel (aortic stenosis for instance) or a narrowed spinal canal (cervical spinal stenosis

Cervical spinal stenosis

Cervical spinal stenosis is a bone disease involving the narrowing of the spinal canal at the level of the neck. It is frequently due to chronic degeneration, but may also be congenital. Treatment is frequently surgical....

). Cervical stenosis means that the opening in the cervix

Cervix

The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall...

 (the endocervical canal) is more narrow than is typical. In some cases, the endocervical canal may be completely closed.

Symptoms

According to the Nezhat Medical Center,
"symptoms depend on whether the cervical canal

Canal of the cervix

In the anatomy of the female reproductive system, the canal of the cervix is the spindle-shaped, flattened canal of the cervix, the neck of the uterus.It communicates with the uterine cavity via the internal orifice of the uterus, and with the vagina via the...

 is partially or completely obstructed and on the patient's menopausal

Menopause

Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries: the ripening and release of ova and the release of hormones that cause both the creation of the uterine lining and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining...

 status. Pre-menopausal patients will have a build up of blood inside the uterus

Uterus

The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...

 which causes sporadic bleeding and pelvic pain. Patients also have an increased risk of infertility

Infertility

Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...

 and endometriosis

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a gynecological medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus appear and flourish outside the uterine cavity, most commonly on the ovaries. The uterine cavity is lined by endometrial cells, which are under the influence of female hormones...

."

Impact

Cervical stenosis may impact natural fertility

Natural fertility

Natural fertility method of birth control is a concept developed by French historical demographer Louis Henry to refer to the level of fertility that would prevail in a population that makes no conscious effort to limit, regulate, or control fertility, so that fertility depends only on...

 by impeding the passage of semen

Semen

Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...

 into the uterus

Uterus

The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...

. In the context infertility treatments, cervical stenosis may complicate or prevent the use of intrauterine insemination (IUI) or in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.

Causes of cervical stenosis

Cervical stenosis may be present from birth or may be caused by other factors:

• Surgical procedures performed on the cervix
  Cervix
  The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina. It is cylindrical or conical in shape and protrudes through the upper anterior vaginal wall...
  
   such as colposcopy
  Colposcopy
  Colposcopy is a medical diagnostic procedure to examine an illuminated, magnified view of the cervix and the tissues of the vagina and vulva. Many premalignant lesions and malignant lesions in these areas have discernible characteristics which can be detected through the examination...
  
  , cone biopsy, or a cryosurgery
  Cryosurgery
  Cryosurgery is the application of extreme cold to destroy abnormal or diseased tissue. The term comes from the Greek words cryo and surgery meaning "hand work" or "handiwork"....
  
   procedure

• Trauma to the cervix

• Repeated vaginal infections

• Atrophy of the cervix after menopause
  Menopause
  Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries: the ripening and release of ova and the release of hormones that cause both the creation of the uterine lining and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining...
  
  

• Cervical cancer

• Radiation

Treatment

Treatment of cervical stenosis involves opening or widening the cervical canal. The condition may improve on its own following the vaginal delivery of a baby.
Cervical canal widening can be termporarily achieved by the insertion of dilators into the cervix. If the stenosis is caused by scar tissue, a laser treatment can be used to vaporize the scarring.
Finally, the surgical enlargement of the cervical canal can be performed by hysteroscopic

Hysteroscopy

Hysteroscopy is the inspection of the uterine cavity by endoscopy with access through the cervix. It allows for the diagnosis of intrauterine pathology and serves as a method for surgical intervention .-Method:...

shaving of the cervical tissue.