The cervix is the muscular neck of the womb which lies at the top of the vagina. Its surface is covered by a layer of lining cells called epithelium. The cervix has two types of epithelium called squamous and columnar. The squamous cells cover the outer part of the cervix and the columnar line the cervical canal which runs through the cervix to the womb.

Sometimes small patches of the columnar cells can spread down from the cervical canal onto the vaginal surface of the cervix. When this happens they appear as reddish-pink, raw looking areas on the neck of the womb. Because of their raw-looking appearance these patches have been called cervical erosions. In fact there is no 'erosion' or ulceration it is simply that the columnar epithelium is much thinner than the squamous epithelium and so the underlying blood vessels show through more clearly, making the area look red and raw. These days the term cervical ectopy is often used, rather than cervical erosion, to describe this condition.

It used to be thought that cervical ectopy could lead to cervical cancer but this is now known not be true. Cervical ectopy is a completely benign condition and does not lead to cancer.

Usually cervical ectopy causes no symptoms and needs no treatment. Occasionally it can cause a vaginal discharge or lead to slight bleeding after intercourse. If these symptoms are troublesome then a simple treatment either freezing (cryotherapy) or cauterising (diathermy) the 'erosion' will stop the problem. These treatments can be usually be done quite painlessly as an out-patient.