Benign growths protruding from the inner surface of the cervix

Aetiology

• Commonly occur during the reproductive years, especially after the age of 20
• Exact aetiology unknown - theories include being due to the congestion of blood vessels, or secondary to chronic inflammation/infection of the cervix

Clinical features

Symptoms

• Often asymptomatic, identified only via routine cervical screening
• If symptomatic, the most common clinical feature is that of abnormal vaginal bleeding
  • Menorrhagia, or intermenstrual, post-coital, or post-menopausal bleeding

Signs

• Can present as single or multiple, tear-shaped or lobular, cherry-red, or greyish-white in colour, depending on the vascularity of the lesion
• The size of the cervical polyp is typically less than three cm in diameter

Investigations

• Cervical screening
• Biopsy after removal

Management

• Cervical polyps have a small (less than 0.5%) risk of malignant transformation so it is common practice to remove them whenever they are identified