Cervical polyp


Does cervical polyp require surgery?
Cervical polyps require surgery. Patients with cervical polyps may experience contact bleeding during intercourse and irregular bleeding. Therefore, if there are cervical polyps, surgery is needed for treatment. Generally, polyps can be removed during an outpatient procedure called cervical polypectomy. After the surgery, the removed tissue is sent for pathology analysis. Most of these polyps are benign, but there is a high likelihood of recurrence after surgery. Therefore, if you have cervical polyps, it is recommended to have surgery to remove them as soon as possible. It is difficult to achieve treatment goals with medication or other methods; surgery is needed to remove them. Thus, it is advisable to undergo surgery for cervical polyps as early as possible, as the surgery is inevitable.


Can cervical polyps be detected during a gynecological examination?
Cervical polyps are generally detected through a gynecological internal examination or colposcopy, and this diagnosis is not difficult. Once cervical polyps are detected, they are usually removed 3 to 7 days after the menstrual cycle has ended. The removed polyps are then examined pathologically, and postoperative anti-inflammatory symptomatic treatment is sufficient. The vast majority of cervical polyps are benign, with a very low likelihood of becoming malignant, so patients with cervical polyps need not worry. If one wishes to know whether they have cervical polyps, they can undergo a gynecological internal examination and a colposcopic examination at the hospital; both tests can detect cervical polyps.


Will cervical polyps grow back after being removed?
Under normal circumstances, the majority of cervical polyps form due to chronic inflammation of the cervix, with persistent stimulation leading to the development of cervical polyps. Most cervical polyps are benign, with only a rare few possibly becoming malignant. Generally, after removing a cervical polyp, it may regrow; these polyps are prone to recurrence. Therefore, after the removal of a cervical polyp, it is common for them to regrow, and a follow-up examination is typically recommended half a year or a year later. Postoperative treatment generally involves the use of anti-inflammatory medication. Thus, once a cervical polyp has formed, it is crucial to have an annual check-up. Also, patients with cervical polyps should be vigilant about the possibility of endometrial polyps. At this time, it is necessary to visit a hospital for an ultrasound to confirm if the endometrium is normal, as the polyp may regrow after removal.


How to stop bleeding from cervical polyps?
The cervical polyps in women are relatively fragile, and if there is a concurrent infection, bleeding is more likely to occur. When bleeding from a cervical polyp happens, the best way to stop it is to remove the cervical polyp and then treat the inflammation. Some women may not wish to immediately undergo surgery to remove the cervical polyp; in such cases, local application of hemostatic medicines, such as commonly used Yunnan Baiyao or stuffing hemostatic gauze, or simply using ordinary gauze for compression can be employed to stop the bleeding, followed by the surgical removal of the cervical polyp later.


Is surgery necessary for cervical polyps?
Cervical polyps are a clinical manifestation of chronic cervicitis. Polyps can originate from the lips of the cervix or within the cervical canal, and generally vary in size. They are usually connected to the cervix by a small stalk. Cervical polyps rarely become malignant, with a very low chance of malignancy. However, if left untreated, the polyp can gradually increase in size, causing bleeding during intercourse, and even bleeding without contact. Additionally, there is the risk of malignancy, so once detected, it is recommended to remove them and definitely send them for pathological examination to rule out any possibility of malignancy.


Can I eat donkey-hide gelatin with cervical polyps?
Patients with cervical polyps can consume donkey-hide gelatin (Ejiao). The formation of polyps is generally due to chronic inflammation that stimulates the occurrence of cervical polyps, and the treatment usually involves the removal of the cervical polyps. The cause of formation is not related to the consumption of Ejiao. The function of Ejiao is to nourish the blood, stop bleeding, and regulate menstruation. If the condition is due to deficiency of Qi and blood, patients can consume Ejiao. Cervical polyps are generally caused by chronic inflammation, and there is no conflict with consuming Ejiao. If patients with cervical polyps also suffer from deficiency of Qi and blood, and irregular menstruation, they can consume Ejiao, as Ejiao does not affect the polyps.


How is cervical polyp surgery performed?
Cervical polyp removal surgery is a very common minor procedure in gynecology. This surgery involves minimal trauma, short operation time, and quick postoperative recovery. Generally, we conduct this surgery in the minor operation room of the gynecological outpatient clinic, and it does not require hospitalization; patients can go home right after the removal. During the procedure, we can use a biopsy forceps or a small curved forceps to directly clamp the pedicle of the polyp and remove it. Ideally, the procedure should be done under a colposcope. When using a colposcope, applying acetic acid or Lugol's solution helps in observing the appearance of the cervical polyp, facilitating differentiation from other conditions, such as Nabothian cysts which can easily be confused with cervical polyps.


Does cervical polyp cause bleeding during intercourse?
Cervical polyps can cause bleeding during intercourse. Common causes of bleeding during intercourse seen clinically include cervical polyps, cervical erosion, cervical cancer, and precancerous lesions, all of which can cause contact bleeding during intercourse. Therefore, once contact bleeding during intercourse occurs clinically, it is essential to go to the hospital for relevant examinations. If the bleeding is caused by a cervical polyp, a cervical polypectomy must be performed. If the bleeding is due to cervical erosion, tests for cervical cancer and precancerous lesions must be conducted. If cervical cancer and precancerous conditions are ruled out, and the bleeding is caused by erosion, treatments such as laser, electrocoagulation, or cryocoagulation can be used. Furthermore, once contact bleeding during intercourse occurs, cervical cancer screening with TCT and HPV testing is essential. Treatment is generally based on the results of these two tests.


Can cervical polyps affect fertility?
It is generally found that cervical polyps do not affect fertility, only endometrial polyps beneath the mucous membrane affect fertility. If a simple cervical polyp is found, it can be removed through a polypectomy, and treating inflammation symptomatically after the surgery is usually sufficient. Cervical polyps generally do not affect fertility, but those located beneath the mucous membrane do because they can disrupt the implantation of a fertilized egg in the uterine cavity by implanting at the site of the polyp, affecting embryonic blood circulation, which can lead to biochemical pregnancy or threatened miscarriage. Therefore, if endometrial polyps affect fertility, it is clear that cervical polyps do not. The treatment for cervical polyps is also quite simple and can generally be handled in the outpatient department of a hospital.


Can cervical polyp canceration be cured?
Cervical polyp malignancy, which is cervical cancer, can be completely cured if it is detected and treated early, with a cure rate reaching over 90%. Therefore, routine pathological examination must be performed when removing cervical polyps. If the pathology results indicate polyp malignancy, treatment should be carried out as for cervical cancer. The common treatment methods for cervical cancer are surgical treatment and postoperative radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Timely treatment can lead to a cure.