Women's Health
Discover how Main Line Health provides comprehensive and compassionate care for women in all stages of life.
Cervical Polyps
What are cervical polyps?
If you're experiencing changes in your period or some other kind of abnormal vaginal bleeding, you probably have googled plenty of questions or called your doctor to talk about it. But there's no need to worry—sometimes these changes are caused by benign, easy-to-fix growths called polyps.
Cervical polyps are benign growths that can form on the cervix or the lower part of the uterus that connects with the vagina, called the cervical canal. Polyps are generally not cancerous and may not need to be removed unless they're causing symptoms, have become large and inflamed or have an unusual appearance.
Cervical polyp often display no symptoms, but may cause the following:
- Bleeding in between menstrual periods
- Vaginal bleeding after menopause
- Vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse
- Heavy menstrual periods
- White or yellow vaginal discharge
Causes of cervical polyps
The exact cause of cervical polyps is unknown, but it has commonly been linked to:
- Infection
- Inflammation
- Abnormal response to estrogen
Who is at risk for cervical polyps?
People at risk for developing uterine polyps include those who are re over 20 years old or have given birth to multiple children.
Diagnosis and testing for cervical polyps
A healthcare provider will perform tests to confirm a cervical polyp diagnosis. These tests may include:
- Pelvic exam
- Ultrasound
Cervical polyps treatment options
People typically undergo treatment for cervical polyps if the polyps are large or causing irregular vaginal bleeding. Treatment options may include:
- Removal: Treatment can involve manual removal during a pelvic exam. Smaller polyps are removed by using forceps to gently twist until the polyp is freed. Removal may also need to be done in the operating room under sedation.
In rare cases, your health care provider may send the polyps to a laboratory for testing to ensure there are no cancerous or pre-cancerous cells in the polyp.
Treatments
Hysteroscopy
Main Line Health offers hysteroscopy to diagnose and treat conditions of the uterus, including fibroids and abnormal bleeding.
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery
Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery can be used to treat a broad spectrum of gynecological disorders with advanced precision.
Gynecology
Whether you’re seeing us for common gynecological problems or seeking out advanced therapies and the very best surgical expertise, our physicians, board-certified are here for in gynecology, are here for you every stage of your life from adolescence through the childbearing years into menopause and beyond.