Polyps

What are polyps?

Cervical polyps grow on the cervix (where the vagina connects to the uterus). They are common and usually harmless. But they can cause irregular vaginal bleeding and may become cancerous over time.

Cervical polyps vary in size and shape, but they are usually less than 3 cm in diameter.

What are uterine (endometrial) polyps?

Uterine polyps grow in the uterus. They can occur at any age but are most common between the ages of 40 to 49. Uterine polyps vary in size and can be one growth or a group of growths.

Symptoms of polyps

Symptoms of cervical polyps can include:

• bleeding in between periods
• bleeding after sex
• bleeding after menopause
• abnormal vaginal discharge.

Symptoms of uterine polyps can include:

• heavy periods
• periods that vary in length and heaviness
• bleeding in between periods or after sex
• bleeding after menopause
• difficulty getting pregnant (infertility).

Causes of polyps

We don’t know the exact cause of cervical polyps, but it may be associated with:

• blocked blood vessels in the cervix
• cervical infection
• the body’s response to increased levels of oestrogen.

Uterine polyps are caused by an overgrowth of cells in the lining of the uterus. It’s thought that oestrogen plays a role in their growth. The risk of uterine polyps may increase if you are:

• perimenopausal or postmenopausal
• overweight
• taking hormone medicine for breast cancer or menopausal symptoms.

How are polyps diagnosed?

If you think you might have polyps, see your doctor. They will ask about your symptoms and medical history. They may also do a pelvic examination and a cervical screening test.

Most of the time cervical polyps are found during a routine cervical screening test.

If your doctor thinks you might have uterine polyps, they may recommend an ultrasound or hysteroscopy to confirm the diagnosis. A hysteroscopy is a thin telescope that shows the inside of your uterus.

Treatments for polyps

Cervical polyps are often removed during a pelvic examination (polypectomy) in your doctor’s clinic. This is usually a painless procedure. If a polyp is too large, you may have to have it removed in surgery, under general anaesthetic.

Your doctor may recommend hormone medicine for your symptoms. If polyps are making it hard for you to get pregnant, you may need surgery to remove them.

The polyps are usually checked after they have been removed to make sure they were not cancerous.

Can you prevent polyps?

You can’t prevent cervical or uterine polyps, but you can see your doctor for regular sexual health checks to find and treat polyps early.

When to see your doctor about polyps

Talk to your doctor if your symptoms, such as unusual or heavy bleeding, stop you from doing day-to-day activities.