Cervical polyps are common fingerlike growths of tissue that protrude into the passageway through the cervix. Polyps are almost always benign (noncancerous).
Cervical polyps may be caused by chronic inflammation or infection.
Usually, cervical polyps do not cause any symptoms, but some cause vaginal bleeding or a puslike discharge.
Doctors can usually diagnose cervical polyps during a pelvic examination.
Polyps that cause bleeding or a discharge are removed during the pelvic examination.
About 2 to 5% of women have cervical polyps. They may be caused by chronic inflammation or infection.
Dalili za Polipu za Shingo ya Kizazi
Most cervical polyps do not cause any symptoms. Some polyps cause bleeding between menstrual periods or after sexual activity. Rarely, polyps become infected, causing a puslike discharge from the vagina.
Polyps are usually reddish pink and less than 1/2 inch (about 1 centimeter) in diameter.
DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY
Utambuzi Polipu za Shingo ya Kizazi
A pelvic examination
Doctors can detect polyps when they do a pelvic examination.
Matibabu ya Polipu za Shingo ya Kizazi
Removal of polyps
Polyps that cause bleeding or a discharge are removed during the pelvic examination in the doctor’s office. Usually, the procedure is not painful, and no anesthetic is needed. Bleeding rarely occurs after polyps are removed. If it does, a caustic substance, such as silver nitrate, is applied to the affected area with a swab to stop the bleeding.
Polyps are examined to confirm that they are not cancerous.
If symptoms (bleeding and a discharge) persist after polyps are removed, a sample of tissue from the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is removed and examined under a microscope (endometrial biopsy) to exclude endometrial cancer.
