Cervical polyp (patient information)

Cervical polyp
Overview
What are the symptoms?
What are the causes?
Who is at highest risk?
When to seek urgent medical care?
Diagnosis
Treatment options
Where to find medical care for Cervical polyp?
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Possible complications
Prevention
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Varun Kumar, M.B.B.S.

Overview

Cervical polyps are fingerlike growths on the lower part of the uterus that connects with the vagina (cervix).

What are the symptoms of Cervical polyp?

• Abnormally heavy periods (menorrhagia)
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
  • After douching
  • After intercourse
  • After menopause
  • Between periods
• White or yellow mucus (leukorrhea)

Polyps may not cause symptoms.

What causes Cervical polyp?

The cause of cervical polyps is not completely understood. They may occur with:

• An abnormal response to increased levels of the female hormone, estrogen
• Chronic inflammation
• Clogged blood vessels in the cervix

Who is at highest risk?

Cervical polyps are common, especially in women over age 20 who have had children. Polyps are rare in young women who have not started their period (menstruation).

Most women have only one polyp, but some women have two or three.

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call for an appointment if you have:

• Abnormal bleeding from the vagina
• Abnormal discharge from the vagina
• Abnormally heavy periods

Call your health care appointment to schedule regular gynecological exams and to determine how often you should receive a Pap smear.

Diagnosis

During a pelvic examination, the health care provider will see smooth, red or purple, fingerlike growths on the cervix. A cervical biopsy will most often show cells that are consistent with a benign polyp. Rarely there may be abnormal, precancerous, or cancer cells in a polyp.

Treatment options

The health care provider can remove polyps during a simple, outpatient procedure. Gentle twisting of a cervical polyp may remove it. Larger polyps may require removal with electrocautery.

Although most cervical polyps are not cancerous (benign), the removed tissue should be sent to a laboratory and checked further.

Where to find medical care for Cervical polyp?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Cervical polyp

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Typically, polyps are not cancerous (benign) and are easy to remove. Polyps do not usually grow back. Women who have polyps are at risk of growing more polyps.

Possible complications

Some cervical cancers may first appear as a polyp. There may be bleeding and slight cramping for a few days after removal of a polyp.

Prevention

See your health care provider to treat infections as soon as possible.

Sources

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001494.htm