What Is an Endocervical Polyp?

Cervical polyp is a manifestation of chronic cervicitis and is more common in married women. Due to long-term stimulation of chronic inflammation, cervical mucosal hyperplasia is caused, and the factor palace has the tendency to exclude foreign bodies, which can gradually proliferate the proliferated mucosa from the basal part to the outer mouth of the cervix to form polyps. There are two types of cervical polyps, one from the cervical mucosa and another from the cervical vagina. Polyps can be single or multiple, ranging in size and more than 1 cm in diameter. Larger polyps may show certain clinical symptoms. Smaller polyps may be asymptomatic but only found during a gynecological examination. Cervical polyps are likely to be malignant (less than 1%). Polypectomy should be performed once the diagnosis is made, and the specimens should be sent for pathological examination.

Basic Information

Visiting department

Gynecology

Common locations

cervix

Common causes

Inflammation, high estrogen levels, pathogen infection

Common symptoms

Hemorrhage, abnormal leucorrhea, vaginal prolapse

Causes of cervical polyps

Inflammatory factors

It is generally thought to be caused by long-term stimulation of chronic inflammation. Long-term inflammation stimulates cervical hyperplasia, and the uterus has the tendency to exclude foreign bodies, which gradually proliferates from the base to the outer cervix to form polyps.

2. Endocrine disorders

Related to high estrogen levels.

3. Pathogen infection

It is usually caused by childbirth, miscarriage, puerperal infection, surgical operation or mechanical stimulation, sexual intercourse damage to the cervix, and infection caused by pathogen invasion.

Clinical manifestations of cervical polyps

Cervical polyps are easily overlooked. Because more than a third of the patients lack obvious symptoms, or have only mild symptoms, they are ignored by the patients.

Bleeding

Mainly a small amount of bleeding, bright red, or a small amount of bleeding after sexual life, a small amount of bleeding can be similar to menstruation. It can also manifest as vaginal bleeding after menopause.

2. Abnormal leucorrhea

Some patients usually have yellow leucorrhea, most of them have a strange smell, or bloodshot with leucorrhea.

3. Other

Unmarried patients, because of late detection, mostly show a vaginal prolapse.

Cervical Polyp Examination

Gynecological examination

Most cervical polyps are discovered during a gynecological examination. Examination shows a prominent mass at the external mouth of the cervix, which can be tongue-shaped or spherical, generally soft, with hyperemia on the surface, may be accompanied by increased secretions, and may have contact bleeding. The roots of polyps are mostly attached to the cervical canal or the outer mouth of the cervix, with a diameter of less than 1 cm, single or multiple. There are also larger ones, up to a few centimeters in diameter, with pedicles that protrude outside the cervix as they grow. Polyps that are small still remain in the cervical canal, only slightly present at the cervix.

2. Pathological examination

It can be seen that the center of the polyp is a longitudinal axis formed by fibrous connective tissue, in which there are many and dense blood vessels, and there are inherent tissues of the cervix, including glands and stroma, the surface is covered by cervical mucosa, and the tissue composition and structure are basically the same as normal cervical tissue , Is a typical polyp tissue phase. Congestion, edema, and inflammatory cell infiltration were seen at the same time.

3. Colposcopy

There are two types of images under colposcopy depending on the epithelium covered by the surface of the cervical polyps.

(1) It is formed by the accumulation of cervical mucosa with excessive hyperplasia. The polyps under the colposcope are bright red and have a certain luster. Single hair has a thin pedicle, and multiple hairs have clusters. The base is wide and the pedicle is short. Soft and brittle, easy to bleed.

(2) Polyps originating from the surface of the cervical and vaginal area covered with squamous epithelium. Because the interstitial tissue is mainly fibrous connective tissue, the polyp is pink, protruding from the cervical squamous epithelial area, and the base is wider. There are also a few thinner ones. The pedicle is tough and hard to bleed.

4. Other

Cervical scraping showed Pap grade II. In severe cases, cervical biopsy can be done to confirm the diagnosis.

Cervical polyp treatment

Cervical polyps are mainly surgically removed to prevent recurrence due to incomplete treatment. Medications are just adjuvant treatments.

Surgical method

Polypectomy or resection is feasible. Clamp the polyp pedicle with vascular forceps, rotate in one direction, and remove it. The small polyps can be removed with vascular forceps, slightly pressured to stop bleeding, or a piece of gauze is stuffed at the neck and removed for 24 hours. Those with large polyps and thick pedicles can be burned to stop bleeding after removal of the basal stump. If it is multiple, you can slightly dilate the neck canal, and then scrape it thoroughly, and make a diagnostic curettage at the same time.

2. Postoperative precautions

Since polyps are prone to recurrence and can grow again after removal, they should be reviewed regularly and vaginitis should be actively treated. What should not be ignored is that cervical smears should be performed regularly to exclude malignant changes.

Cervical polyp prevention

Cervical polyps can block the cervix and cause infertility; cause intercourse bleeding and affect sexual life; easy to relapse after treatment; a small number of cervical polyps can be malignant and easily confused with some cervical cancers, so you should pay attention to cervical polyps and take precautions jobs.

1. Do good health care during menstruation, postpartum or abortion; pay attention to clean the vulva, but do not use harsh detergents when cleaning the vulva.

2. Pay attention to sexual hygiene. Before sex, both men and women should clean the vulva, and the male penis foreskin should be washed thoroughly to prevent "quiet" invasion of bacteria, mycoplasma and chlamydia.

3. Actively treat gynecological inflammation such as cervicitis and vaginitis. Gynecological examinations are also important.