What it is
A polyp is a soft overgrowth of lining tissue on a stalk. Think of a skin tag, on the inside.
Endometrial polyps sit inside the uterus. Cervical polyps sit at the opening of the cervix.
Most are benign. A small number hold abnormal cells, so everything removed goes to the lab.
What you might notice
- Spotting between periods
- Bleeding after sex
- Periods heavier than they used to be
- Any bleeding at all after menopause
- Watery or blood-tinged discharge
- Spotting that comes and goes for months
- Trouble getting pregnant, or repeat miscarriage
- Nothing, until a scan done for another reason finds one
How Dr. Mueller finds the cause
- 1
Your bleeding history
Dr. Mueller asks where the spotting falls in your cycle.
- 2
Speculum exam
A cervical polyp is usually visible right away.
- 3
Pelvic ultrasound
It shows a thickened or uneven lining inside the uterus.
- 4
Saline sonogram
Fluid in the cavity outlines a polyp a plain scan can miss.
- 5
Look and remove
A thin camera confirms it and takes it out in the same sitting.
- 6
Pathology check
Every polyp that comes out is sent to the lab.
Questions people ask
- Are uterine polyps cancer?
- Most are not. The tissue goes to the lab, so the answer is not a guess.
- Does having a polyp removed hurt?
- A cervical polyp comes off in seconds. Expect cramping like a period for a minute or two.
- Can I drive myself home?
- After an office removal, yes. Sedation in the operating room means you need a driver.
- Do polyps grow back?
- They can. New ones form in some women, so spotting that returns should be looked at again.
- Do polyps cause infertility?
- One in the cavity can get in the way. Removing it is often done before fertility treatment.
- Is bleeding after menopause serious?
- It always gets looked at. Most causes turn out to be benign, but it is not something to wait on.