ABSTRACT
Cervical ectopy is one of the commonest gynecological conditions seen in OPD’s, about 80-85% of women suffer from cervical ectopy during their life time. Many a times, it is an accidental finding in an asymptomatic woman coming for routine gynecological examination. Although it is a benign lesion, but may predispose to complications like infertility, cervical intraepithelial neoplasm, risk of various sexually transmitted infections like C. trachomatis, N. gonorrhoea, human papilloma virus, human immunodeficiency virus, cytomegalovirus and shows malignant changes as it progresses. Ectopy occurs when the columnar epithelium lining the endocervix, extends onto the ectocervix. As the disease takes 10-20 years to progress from pre invasive to invasive disease, preventive measures such as screening and treatment modalities should be adopted. Early diagnosis of cervical ectopy is important for its effective management and for prevention of its long-term sequel. The treatment option available in conventional medicine includes surgical procedure either electro or, cryocautery, but have their own complications. Hence, this treatment is limited due to its complications and contraindications and need for safer alternate therapy. In Unani system of medicine, various formulations are available as treatment of quruhal rahim, which have been recommended to be used locally in the form of humool for immediate healing of wound, exhibiting the properties of anti-inflammatory (muhallile warm), desiccant (mujaffif), wound healing (mundamile qurooh), sedative (musakkin), antiseptic (dafa’e ta’ffun) etc. This review article gives a detailed description of cervical ectopy as mentioned in classical Unani text including its etiopathogenesis, clinical presentation and principles of treatment as well as evidence-based Unani medicine.