Cervical Polyp

What is a cervical polyp?

Cervical polyps are small, irregular growths on the surface of your cervix or in your cervical canal. Your cervix connects your uterus to your vagina. A polyp on your cervix is rarely cancerous; however, some polyps can change into precancers. Your healthcare provider will recommend removing a cervical polyp if it’s causing symptoms.

Types of cervical polyps:

• Ectocervical polyps: Polyps that develop on the outermost layer of your cervix.
• Endocervical polyps: Polyps that grow in your cervical canal. These are more common.

How common are polyps of the cervix?

Approximately 2% to 5% of women develop a cervical polyp. They’re most common shortly after your reproductive years and in people who’ve had more than one child. Cervical polyps are almost always benign (not cancer). Malignant (cancerous) polyps are more common in postmenopausal women but occur in less than 1% of all cases.

What are the symptoms of a cervical polyp?

Most people never have symptoms of a cervical polyp. If you have symptoms, they could include:

• Heavy menstrual periods (menorrhagia).
• Bleeding after sex.
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding, like between periods or after menopause.
• Foul-smelling or pus-like white or yellow vaginal discharge.

What does a cervical polyp look like?

Most polyps are elongated, tear-shaped growths that stick out from your cervix. They’re smooth or slightly spongy in texture and bright red, pinkish to purple or greyish-white. Some polyps have a long, thin stalk (called a pedicle) attached to them. They’re usually less than a half-inch long but can grow larger. They can bleed when you touch them.

What causes cervical polyps?

Cervical polyps are caused by:

• Chronic inflammation of your cervix.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs), yeast infections or bacterial infections.

How are they diagnosed?

A cervical polyp is usually diagnosed during a pelvic exam or Pap test. Your healthcare provider will be able to see a polyp once they insert a speculum into your vagina. A speculum is a device that opens the walls of your vagina to better see your cervix.

What tests are done to diagnose cervical polyps?

Healthcare providers typically diagnose a polyp during a speculum exam. Further tests aren’t usually necessary to diagnose a cervical polyp. Your provider removes the polyp, then sends it to a lab for analysis.

In some cases, your healthcare provider will order an ultrasound to evaluate the area around the cervical polyp. A biopsy of the cervical tissue determines if the polyp is malignant. It’s rare for a cervical polyp to be malignant (cancerous).

Do polyps in the cervix need to be removed?

Yes, removing a polyp is the safest approach most of the time. Your provider will remove any polyps that cause bleeding or other symptoms during a pelvic exam (usually right after diagnosis). If the polyp is large, your healthcare provider may want to remove it in a surgical center in case there are complications.

They’ll send the polyp to a lab for testing to ensure there are no signs of cancer.

How are cervical polyps removed?

The removal of a polyp is called a polypectomy. This typically happens in your provider’s office during a pelvic exam. Your healthcare provider may perform the surgery in a surgical center or operating room with anesthesia (if the polyp is large).