WHAT IS CERVICAL POLYPS?

Cervical polyps are growths on the cervical canal, the passage that connects the uterus to the vagina. They’re often reddish,  purplish, or grayish in color. They may be shaped like a finger, bulb, or thin stem. They can range in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters long.

These bumps inside your cervix are pretty common. They’re most common in women over age 20 who’ve given birth to more than one child. They’re rare in girls who haven’t started their period.

Most cervical polyps are benign (not cancer).

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF CERVICAL POLYPS

About two out of three women who have cervical polyps don’t have symptoms. Doctors normally find these growths during a Pap test or other procedure. If you do have symptoms, they may include:

• Periods that are heavier than usual
• Bleeding after sex
• Bleeding after menopause
• Bleeding between periods
• Vaginal discharge, which may stink due to infection

WHAT CAUSES CERVICAL POLYPS?

Doctors aren’t sure, but think they may be linked to:

• Cervical infections
• Chronic inflammation
• An abnormal response to the hormone estrogen
• Clogged blood vessels near the cervix

CAN I PREVENT CERVICAL POLYPS?

No, but routine pelvic exams and Pap tests can help detect and require quick treatment before they cause symptoms.

CERVICAL POLYPS CAN SCREW WITH VAGINAL BLEEDING IN A FEW DIFFERENT WAYS

You can have a single polyp, or you can have more than one. And although they’re not usually dangerous, when they make themselves known, they can be a nuisance. “Vaginas have an acidic pH, which can irritate the polyps and cause spotting,” Rogers explains. Although White says sometimes polyps cause such light spotting you barely even need a pad, they can also cause heavier flows, especially if they get too big. “If they’re really large, like more than 3 centimeters, the worry is that they could lead to more severe bleeding,” White says. This can also happen if polyps grow a bit higher up than the cervix, in the endometrial cavity, the lowest part of the uterus where a fetus grows during pregnancy, Rogers explains. Like uterine fibroids, cervical polyps in that area can cause heavy periods.

Another common symptom is bleeding during or after sex. “If you can imagine a little skin tag hanging out at the top of the vagina on the cervix, during intercourse, penetration will traumatize it a bit.

Cervical polyps can also cause increased discharge. It may be a white or yellow mucus, known as leucorrhea. But it can seem like just amped up amounts of your normal discharge,  so it’s not necessarily a conspicuous (or particularly troublesome) symptom.

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