# Cervical polyp - Category: chronic - Review status: reviewed (every claim checked against a document named on this page) - Sources: Cervical Polyps - StatPearls - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562185/ · ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class GD65.01 - condition scope only, no dose · No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care · Cervical Polyps - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - disease-level clinical article (cervical-polyp-full.txt) - Verified date: 2026-08 ## Verified against - No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care - Cervical Polyps - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - disease-level clinical article (cervical-polyp-full.txt) ## Treatment metadata - No drug therapy in primary care (Referral & Advice) ## Complete treatment card ```text CERVICAL POLYP Sources: Cervical Polyps - StatPearls - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562185/ · ICPC-3 (WONCA International Classification of Primary Care, 3rd edition) class GD65.01 - condition scope only, no dose · No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care · Cervical Polyps - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf - disease-level clinical article (cervical- polyp-full.txt) Review status: REVIEWED against 2 sources listed above (2026-08) IS IT THIS? - reference only, to read alongside your own examination SYMPTOMS - what the patient reports (5) - About two in three affected women notice nothing at all - Bleeding after intercourse when there are symptoms [bleeding] - Abnormal uterine bleeding - heavy periods, bleeding between them, or bleeding after the menopause [abnormal uterine bleeding · bleeding · heavy periods] - Vaginal discharge is reported [vaginal discharge] - Frequently turns up by chance at a routine pelvic check, colposcopy or scan SIGNS - what you find (3) - Speculum inspection usually shows a stalked growth on the cervix - The lesion tends to bleed when touched or handled - Rarely a large one seals the canal off entirely and causes infertility [infertility] TESTS (5) - Only tissue examination under the microscope settles the diagnosis - On scan they look a little brighter than surrounding mucosa and shift when the probe presses on them - Doppler may show a feeding stalk running in from the endocervical lining, supporting that origin - Scan accuracy depends heavily on the operator because most of these lesions are small - Work-up to exclude coexisting disease: triple (VCE) smear, transvaginal scan of the endometrium, and endometrial sampling where indicated IF NOT THIS - what else fits (10) - Uterine fibroids - Endometrial hyperplasia or malignancy - Endometriosis - Adenomyosis - Cervical ectropion - Nabothian cyst - Cervical cancer - Sexually transmitted infection - Ectopic pregnancy - Endometrial polyp Source StatPearls "Cervical Polyps" - disease-level clinical article Status traced to the source above 1. NO DRUG THERAPY IN PRIMARY CARE (REFERRAL & ADVICE) [1st line] Adult Cervical polyp, a common benign growth causing spotting or postcoital bleeding; the GP recognises it on speculum exam and refers for outpatient removal and histology to exclude malignancy. - Refer, with advice Peds Children follow the same pathway: recognise and refer. No primary-care medicine is implied. Source No dose - referral pathway, no medicine given in primary care Why Cervical polyp, a common benign growth causing spotting or postcoital bleeding; the GP recognises it on speculum exam and refers for outpatient removal and histology to exclude malignancy. Caution No medicine is prescribed for this in primary care - this entry is for recognition and referral. Anything given is decided by the service it is referred to. RED FLAG - Do not attempt to remove a polyp you cannot see clearly; blind removal from the cervical canal or uterine cavity risks uterine perforation. Only easily visible polyps belong in an outpatient setting. In a postmenopausal woman, or where polyps recur, the cervical canal and uterine cavity must be examined by hysteroscopy to exclude endometrial polyps or malignancy. Up to a quarter of women with a cervical polyp also have an endometrial polyp, so a cervical polyp is not a reason to stop looking. Among women who are symptomatic, up to 5% of polyps turn out to be precancerous or cancerous. Arrange endometrial sampling where indicated, alongside a triple (vaginal-cervical- endocervical) smear and transvaginal ultrasound. In pregnancy, removal of a cervical polyp is generally deferred unless complications arise, because of the risk of bleeding and infection. In a pregnant woman with recurrent unexplained bleeding, colour Doppler ultrasound is recommended to identify an endocervical polyp and to exclude other causes such as vasa praevia. Bleeding from a polyp can otherwise be mistaken for an inevitable miscarriage. Cervical polyps are vascular, and bleeding in the postpartum period can be a significant complication. A large polyp that blocks the cervical canal can cause infertility. A polyp that becomes inflamed or infected presents with a yellowish vaginal discharge. RED FLAG - Heavy or persistent bleeding, bleeding after the menopause, or a polyp with an atypical or friable appearance: refer. Prices are indicative (dataset snapshot 2026-06); verify with the pharmacy. ``` --- Dawaa Reference is a reference for prescribers, not a medical device, and does not replace clinical judgement. [Privacy policy](/privacy)