Is cervical polyp not very serious?

Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on January 02, 2025
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In most cases, cervical polyps in women are benign lesions of the cervix caused by chronic inflammation. If the polyp is small, typically the clinical symptoms are not severe, or there may even be no symptoms at all. Some women might experience a small amount of vaginal bleeding or blood-streaked discharge after intercourse or a gynecological examination. When the size of the cervical polyp increases, the clinical manifestations can be more severe, such as bloody discharge or bleeding after intercourse. In very rare cases, regardless of the size, cervical polyps may be cancerous. In such cases, it is necessary to remove them promptly and perform a histopathological examination to determine whether the lesion is benign or malignant.

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Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Can cervical polyps become cancerous?

Cervical polyps can become cancerous, but the rate of malignancy is very low, around 1%. Cervical polyps are caused by chronic inflammation of the cervix, which leads to the hyperplasia of local connective tissue, forming pink, tongue-shaped growths that sometimes have a stalk and can bleed upon contact. This condition is caused by inflammation, but if there is also an HPV virus infection, there is a potential for cancerous changes. Therefore, the causes of cervical cancer and cervical polyps are different. Cervical cancer is caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV), while cervical polyps are caused by inflammation. If cervical polyps are combined with an HPV infection, cancerous changes might only occur if the infection persists for more than two years.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Why does cervical polyp bleed?

Cervical polyps in women are prone to bleeding, which is somewhat related to the causes of their formation. Most cervical polyps occur due to infection of the cervix, leading to proliferative changes. The tissues in these polyps lack muscle fibers, so when they bleed due to contact, there is no way to constrict and close off the bleeding vessels. Furthermore, cervical polyps are soft and fragile, easily bleeding upon contact. Additionally, the surface of cervical polyps is susceptible to invasion by external pathogens, prompting infections, which can exacerbate the occurrence of vaginal bleeding in women.

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Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Do cervical polyps require hospitalization?

Generally, women with cervical polyps can undergo a minor removal surgery in an outpatient setting, and hospitalization is not necessary. This is because cervical polyps are usually not very large and have a thin, long stalk connected inside the cervical canal. In the outpatient setting, the polyp on the cervix can be clamped with hemostatic forceps, followed by minor excision, or the cervical forceps can be directly rotated to cause ischemia and hypoxia at the base of the stalk, making it fall off on its own. However, some women may have larger cervical polyps, especially those with deeper and broader bases. If polyp removal surgery is performed in an outpatient setting, it may be difficult to locate the base of the polyp to completely remove it, and there could be considerable bleeding during the surgery. Additionally, cervical polyps in some women may be an indication of cervical cancer or endometrial cancer. In such cases, hospitalization and surgical treatment are typically required.

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Written by Zhang Xiu Rong
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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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.

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Written by Wang Jing Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Does cervical polyp removal hurt?

Cervical polyp removal surgery will not cause significant pain; however, some discomfort may arise, typically due to the use of a vaginal speculum, which feels similar to the discomfort experienced during regular examinations. The cervix itself does not have pain receptors, so there is no pain felt during cervical examinations and treatments. If there are cervical polyps, the surgery can be scheduled for three to seven days after menstruation has ended, as this timing allows for a longer interval before the next bleeding occurs, which is relatively safer and minimizes the risk of infection.