Cervical polyps

Cervical polyps are growths in the uterus or cervix, which is the lowest part of the uterus. They are usually found during a routine pelvic exam and can often be removed at the same time. Most polyps are not cancerous.

Causes of cervical polyps

No one really knows what causes polyps, but several factors may affect their development:

• Being overweight
• Chronic inflammation
• Infection
• Abnormal response to an increase in estrogen
• Congestion of blood vessels

Symptoms of cervical polyps

Polyps often don’t have any symptoms, but the most common symptom is abnormal vaginal bleeding:

• Between periods
• After menopause
• After intercourse

Treating cervical polyps

The most common treatment for cervical polyps is to remove them during a pelvic exam. If polyps are higher in the uterus and difficult to reach, they can be removed during an outpatient procedure called a hysteroscopy. In this procedure, a lighted viewing instrument is inserted into the uterus to locate and remove the polyps.