Cervical polyps are benign growths on the cervix that can be identified during a pelvic exam. While usually harmless, they can become cancerous and require biopsy. Causes are unknown, but they are more common in menstruating women and those who have had children. Symptoms include abnormal bleeding and painful intercourse. Treatment involves removal and examination under a microscope. Patients with a history of cervical changes should inform their doctor.
Cervical polyps are benign growths that look like little fingers or blood cells on stems located on the cervix. While polyps themselves aren’t harmful, because cancerous growths can look like polyps, it is necessary to remove the growths for biopsy to confirm a diagnosis. These growths are usually identified by a gynecologist and can be removed during a routine pelvic exam.
The causes of polyps are not fully understood. They are more likely to develop in women who menstruate, and women with at least one child are at higher risk. Inflammation or infection of the cervix has been cited as a possible cause, and it’s also possible for polyps to form in reaction to exposure to estrogen and other sex hormones. A woman may have a single polyp or multiple growths and they can range in color from white to bright red.
Sometimes there are no symptoms associated with cervical polyps, and a patient may not be aware of the growths until they receive an exam for unrelated reasons. In other patients, the growths can lead to foul-smelling discharge, abnormal bleeding, and painful intercourse. The growths will be easily seen on a pelvic exam and a surgical instrument can be used to carefully remove them. Pain management can be provided to make the patient feel more comfortable while the growths are removed from the cervix.
After removal, the growths can be examined under a microscope to determine which cell types are involved. True cervical polyps will contain benign cells and no further treatment or follow-up is needed. The cancerous growths will have different types of cells, and treatment may be recommended to remove the rest of the cancer, if any is left. Patients should also be aware that in approximately 100% of cases, cervical polyps can become cancerous, even if they are benign at first.
When an ob-gyn identifies tissue changes in or around the cervix and recommends a biopsy, patients may ask for more details about what types of growths are involved and the possible outcomes of a biopsy. Doctors would rather be safe than sorry, and although the growths are likely cervical polyps, a biopsy will be recommended just in case. Patients with a history of cervical changes, including abnormal Pap smear results or previous incidences of cervical polyps, should ensure that their doctors are aware of this history, as this information may be relevant to diagnosis and treatment.
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