Your cervix is a small canal that connects your uterus and vagina. It allows fluids to leave and enter your uterus. During childbirth, your cervix widens so that a baby can be born. Your cervix is also vulnerable to HPV infections that can cause cervical cancer. Getting vaccinated for HPV and having regular Pap smears can help prevent disease.
Your cervix is a muscular, tunnel-like organ. It’s the lower part of your uterus, and it connects your uterus and vagina. Sometimes called the “neck of the uterus,” your cervix plays an important role in allowing fluids to pass between your uterus and vagina. It enables a baby to leave your uterus so that it can travel through your vagina (birth canal) during childbirth. The cervix is also a common site for cell changes that may indicate cancer.
Getting regular Pap smears allows your provider to screen for irregularities that may be signs of disease.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
People who are designated female at birth (DFAB) have a cervix. DFAB people include cisgender women — people who are DFAB and identify as women — and some transgender men and nonbinary individuals. Some intersex individuals have cervixes, too.
Your cervix is a passage that allows fluids to flow inside and out of your uterus. It’s also a powerful gatekeeper that can open and close in ways that make pregnancy and childbirth possible.
Your cervix plays important roles in the following:
Advertisement
Your cervix is an important part of your reproductive anatomy. Your cervix is located inside your pelvic cavity, anywhere from 3 to 6 inches inside your vaginal canal. It begins at the base of your uterus and extends downward onto the top part of your vagina. This place where your cervix bulges onto the uppermost part of your vagina is called your ectocervix.
Your vagina, cervix and uterus are located behind your bladder and urethra (organs that allow you to pee) and in front of your rectum and anus (organs that allow you to poop).
The word “cervix” comes from the Latin word meaning “neck.” Like a neck, your cervix is shaped roughly like a cylinder or tube and connects important body parts. While your neck connects your head to the rest of your body, your cervix connects your uterus to your vagina. Your cervix is wider in the middle and narrows at both ends, where it opens into your uterus (top) and vagina (bottom).
Your cervix consists of the following parts:
The place where the endocervical canal overlaps with the ectocervix is called the transformation zone (TZ). The TZ is the part of your cervix where cell changes happen most. It’s the most common site for abnormal cells to grow in your cervix, indicating conditions like cervical dysplasia or cervical cancer.
Advertisement
Your cervix is about an inch long. Cervical sizes vary, though. Generally, your cervix is larger if you’ve given birth. The cervix is larger among people in their reproductive years than those who’ve gone through menopause. Your cervix gets significantly shorter during childbirth to allow a baby to easily exit your uterus and enter your vagina.
Yes, depending on the timing of your menstrual cycle. If you insert your longest finger into your vaginal canal, you should eventually reach a barrier preventing your finger from sliding in further. This barrier is your cervix. It may feel firm and tight, or it may feel soft and spongy. The location and texture of your cervix change depending on whether or not you’re ovulating. It’s the softest and hardest to reach during ovulation.
Take care that you only attempt to touch your cervix when you’ve washed your hands thoroughly with mild soap and warm water. Otherwise, you could expose your cervix to bacteria and cause infection.
Your cervix consists of strong fibromuscular tissue. Two main types of cells line your cervix:
These different cell types meet at the TZ, where cell changes frequently take place. This area is of particular interest to your provider during screenings for cervical cancer.
The most concerning cervical conditions involve the human papillomavirus, or HPV. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that sometimes leads to cervical cancer.
Conditions that affect your cervix include:
Many conditions affecting the cervix don’t cause symptoms. For instance, cervical dysplasia and early-stage cervical cancer often don’t produce noticeable signs. This is why it’s so important to get regular Pap smears to test for any irregular cell growth.
If you do notice signs, they may include:
You may not know. Often, you won’t know that something’s wrong until your provider notices irregularities during a pelvic exam or Pap smear. Don’t wait for symptoms to seek care. Get screened regularly.
Regular pelvic exams and Pap smears are the most common tests to check your cervix. Your provider may order other tests depending on your condition.
Common tests include:
Antibiotics can treat most cases of cervicitis caused by bacteria. Many of the tests used to check for abnormal cells that may be signs of cancer — LEEP and cone biopsy — are also treatments. They involve removing the tissue that contains cancer cells.
Depending on your condition, your provider may destroy abnormal cells in your cervix using extreme cold (cryotherapy), heat (thermal) or electricity. Cervical cancer treatments may include surgery, radiation treatment, chemotherapy treatment, targeted drug therapy and immunotherapy.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Your cervix is a tiny organ that plays a big part in pregnancy and your overall health. Take care of your cervix by getting the HPV vaccine and seeing your provider for regular Pap smears. Usually, your body doesn’t show signs or symptoms to alert you that your cervix has abnormal growths. Getting screened regularly can ensure that your provider catches any abnormalities early.
Last reviewed on 06/15/2022.
Learn more about the Health Library and our editorial process.
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy