What should I do if cervical polyps keep recurring?

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on January 14, 2025
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Women with cervical polyps, although benign, have a characteristic of recurring. When this happens, it is important to first identify if there are any factors promoting their recurrence, such as recurrent vaginal inflammation in women. This inflammation can affect the cervix and cause recurrent cervical polyps. At this point, it is advisable to first conduct a vaginal discharge test to determine the type of vaginal inflammation and treat it with medication appropriate for the specific type of vaginal inflammation. Once the vaginal inflammation is treated, the recurrence of cervical polyps can be reduced. Additionally, for unexplained recurrent cervical polyps, it is necessary to regularly follow up and check, trying to ensure early detection and removal of cervical polyps to prevent an increase in size or number of polyps.

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Written by Yan Qiao
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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.

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Can you have sexual intercourse with cervical polyps?

Patients with cervical polyps can easily experience bleeding during sexual intercourse. Therefore, if cervical polyps are present, the first step should be their removal. If bleeding during sexual intercourse persists after the removal, it is essential to undergo precancerous cervical screening. This is because contact bleeding during intercourse can occur if there are precancerous lesions in the cervix, and timely treatment is necessary. Precancerous cervical screening, which includes HPV and TCT tests, is a mandatory examination for women over the age of 30, allowing for the early detection of precancerous cervical changes and cervical cancer.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
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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.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
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Is it okay not to have surgery for cervical polyps?

When women have cervical polyps, surgical treatment is required regardless of the size of the polyps, and not undergoing surgery is not an option. Firstly, the texture of cervical polyps is relatively fragile, which can easily lead to bleeding upon contact, such as bleeding after intercourse. Some women with vaginal inflammation can infect the cervical polyps, leading to inflammatory secretions, such as purulent secretions or secretions containing blood. If cervical polyps are not surgically removed, they may continue to grow, and they have a characteristic of being multiple. For instance, the occurrence of multiple cervical polyps can also affect the normal menstrual cycle of women. Some women with cervical cancer or endometrial cancer can also present polyp-like growths, and from the appearance, it is not possible to distinguish whether the growths are malignant or benign. Therefore, generally, once cervical polyps are found, they should be surgically removed, and a histological examination should be performed after surgery to rule out the possibility of malignant changes.

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Can cervical polyps be treated with medication?

Whether cervical polyps can be treated with medication needs to be determined based on the size of the polyps. Generally, if the cervical polyps are small, anti-inflammatory treatment can be appropriately given to eliminate inflammation and promote the shrinkage of the polyps. However, cervical polyps may not necessarily disappear after anti-inflammatory treatment. Therefore, it is recommended that patients visit the gynecology outpatient department of their local hospital for a gynecological examination to assess the treatment effect of the cervical polyps after the anti-inflammatory treatment. If the cervical polyps persist, surgical removal is still recommended.