Polyps of the cervical canal: what they are and how to treat them. Effective methods of treating cervical canal polyps in women Cervical canal polyps discussion

A very common gynecological pathology is polyps of the cervical canal of the cervix, which occupy one of the first places among its benign formations. Among patients with gynecological diseases, they make up about 23%, and in 68% of cases they are combined with other pathological conditions of the female genital organs.

Causes

Currently, the causes of cervical canal polyps are not well understood, despite numerous studies. There are various assumptions about the participation in their occurrence of inflammatory processes in the genital organs, hormonal imbalance, or a combination of these two reasons.

A significant number of researchers believe that the main causative and predisposing factors are:

  1. Chronic inflammatory processes of the mucous membrane of the appendages, vagina, cervix (chronic, colpitis), damage to the latter during childbirth, as well as changes resulting from destructive methods of its treatment and frequent abortions.
  2. Sexually transmitted infections, long-term infection of the genital tract with conditionally pathogenic microorganisms (enterococcus, E. coli, staphylococcus, etc.) in combination with a decrease in the number of lactobacilli.
  3. A change in the quality and quantity of lactobacilli, which results in a decrease in their production of hydrogen peroxide and, accordingly, a decrease in the protective (against infection) function of mucus.
  4. Inferiority of local (at the level of the cervical canal) immunoprotective mechanisms, confirmed by their imbalance, which manifests itself in an increase in immunoglobulins G, M, A in combination with a decrease in secretory immunoglobulin.

Types and symptoms

Polyps of the cervical canal of the uterus are a focal tree-like formation located on a broad base or on a thin stalk, covered with columnar epithelium, formed as a result of focal hyperplasia of the mucous membrane of the cervical canal and protruding into its lumen or beyond the external pharynx.

The formations can be multiple or single, and their consistency is soft or somewhat dense, which depends on the amount of fibrous tissue in them, the surface is smooth. Their color is usually pink-red or intense pink, due to the vessels located in the polyp, light purple or dark purple (in case of poor circulation), and in rare cases, whitish if the surface is covered with stratified squamous epithelium.

Their shape is different - round, oval and tongue-shaped, their diameter can range from 0.2 to 1 cm. They can also have the shape of “clusters” hanging from the external pharynx into the vagina. The base of the polyp, and often the whole of it, can be located only in the middle or even in the upper third of the cervical canal and are detected by chance if hysteroscopy is performed for some other reason.

The histological structure is similar to the structure of the mucous membrane of the canal. In the central sections, in the leg or base, there are vessels that can be ordinary, thick-walled and sclerotic. An avascular polyp (avascular formation) is not true and belongs to the group of pseudopolyps.

Depending on the histological structure, the following types of cervical canal polyps are distinguished:

  • glandular

In which glandular structures predominate. They are soft, elastic, and extremely rarely transform into a malignant neoplasm. More common among women of reproductive age.

  • Fibrous

The predominant one is a dense connective tissue structure (stroma), which is covered with only a small number of glandular cells. They most often occur after 40–50 years of age and very rarely at a young age. They have a relatively high risk of malignancy.

  • Glandular fibrous

They consist of glandular and stromal (fibrous) tissue in approximately equal proportions. They can reach significant sizes - up to 25 mm. They often periodically develop circulatory disorders, hemorrhages, necrosis, and inflammatory processes. A glandular fibrous polyp of the cervical canal can transform into an adenomatous one and poses a high risk of malignancy.

  • Adenomatous or atypical

They occur mainly after 40 years and during the postmenopausal period. Their leg consists of smooth muscle and connective tissue fibers, as well as unevenly located (like tangles) blood vessels with thick walls, in the lumen of which stasis phenomena (stopping blood flow) are observed.

Characterized by a bizarre shape, the glands are located densely and tightly to each other and in some areas even displace connective tissue, and their columnar epithelium is characterized by polymorphism, a high degree of pathological division, infiltration, etc.

Atypical cells are prone to independent uncontrolled growth, especially during the postmenopausal period. Therefore, adenomatous polyps are the most dangerous in terms of transformation and are precancerous. In many cases, chemotherapy is necessary after their removal.

  • Decidual

In addition, the so-called decidual polyp, which develops during pregnancy, is isolated separately. It is characterized by foci of decidual reaction in the stroma of an existing neoplasm on the stalk of a connective tissue structure. Its dimensions exceed 10 mm, the surface can be varied, the shape is mainly oval. Histological examination also reveals dilated glands with increased secretion activity.

At the same time, as a result of decidual changes in the stroma of the cervical mucosa during pregnancy, decidual pseudopolyps can also form, which differ from the true ones mainly in their multiplicity, the absence of a vascular connective tissue pedicle and the predominance of decidual structures with low secretory activity of narrow glands.

For the most part, decidual pseudopolyps have the appearance of a plaque with a smooth surface and uneven contours, located on a wide base and protruding above the surface of the mucous membrane. They require differentiation from true formations.

Symptoms

Subjective symptoms of a cervical canal polyp are very often absent. These tumor-like formations are most often discovered during a preventive gynecological examination or examination for some unrelated reason.

In some cases, it can manifest itself with scanty symptoms in the form of:

  1. Mucous or yellowish discharge from the genital tract, the amount of which depends on the size of the formation.
  2. Contact bleeding (after sexual intercourse, long walking or significant physical stress).
  3. Bloody discharge just before the start of menstruation or after it ends.
  4. Intermenstrual bleeding.
  5. Pain above the womb, in the lumbar region (very rare), as well as pain during sexual intercourse, which occurs very rarely and is possible with a significant size of the pathological formation, impaired blood circulation in it, or the development of an inflammatory process.

Polyps of the cervical canal during pregnancy have a peculiarity. On average, only 12% of them do not cause any symptoms. In almost 90% of women they provoke pain in the lower abdomen, in 63% - in the lumbar region, and in almost 78% - scanty spotting.

In some cases, they are accompanied by isthmic-cervical insufficiency and low placental location.

Why is a cervical polyp dangerous?

In most cases, it is a benign pathology. However, its malignancy is possible, which is more common in the postmenopausal period and ranges (according to various authors) from 0.1 to 10%.

In addition, during pregnancy, for example, it can lead to changes in the enzyme composition and consistency of cervical mucus, and an increase in the activity of elastase granulocytes.

Its possible consequences are changes in local immunity, inflammatory phenomena of the endocervix, the development of ascending infection and inflammation of the membranes of the fetus, infection of the amniotic fluid and the fetus itself, the threat of miscarriage in the early stages, especially with large sizes, multiple growths and high localization.

At the same time, during a routine examination by a gynecologist, and sometimes even using, it is often not possible to distinguish a true formation from other polypoid formations that come from the cervical canal. These include a pseudopolyp, which is covered with the epithelium of the mucous membrane of the cervical canal and represents an anomaly of its structure in the form of hyperplasia of the wall stroma. An erroneous attempt to remove it leads to severe bleeding, and subsequently to a narrowing of the cervical canal.

The form of true tumors can also be taken by an endometriotic polyp, various types, protrusion of a section of the decidua (maternal, falling away) membrane in pregnant women with isthmic-cervical insufficiency and the threat of miscarriage.

Such visual similarities in some cases are the reason for the wrong choice of examination and treatment tactics. A final and correct diagnosis is possible only if the tumor is removed and after its histology has been performed.

Is it possible to get pregnant with a cervical canal polyp?

As a rule, it does not interfere with fertilization. Its significant size and multiplicity can become a mechanical obstacle to the migration of sperm into the uterine cavity. This can also be hampered by inflammatory processes in the mucous membrane accompanying pathological elements, disorders of local immunity and the composition of the mucus of the cervical canal.

Treatment options

Can a cervical canal polyp resolve on its own?

This question should be answered in the negative. Only decidual pseudopolyps may disappear spontaneously some time after pregnancy is resolved.

Is it necessary to remove the polyp?

Data from recent studies indicate that histological studies of these distant (against the background of normal cytology results) tumor-like formations did not reveal malignant transformation of their cells. Moreover, 67% of surgical polypectomies are performed in women without clinical manifestations.

Therefore, women with an asymptomatic pathological formation of small size and with normal results of a cytological examination of the cervical canal, but who have a negative attitude towards surgery, are subject only to outpatient monitoring with regular cytological examination, since treatment of a cervical canal polyp without surgery is impossible.

Traditional medicine suggests inserting tampons soaked in infusion of sage, celandine, chamomile, string, calendula or sea buckthorn oil into the vagina for several hours or overnight.

Such treatment with folk remedies can be of an auxiliary nature and used (only after examination) in order to reduce the severity of inflammatory processes. It does not help eliminate the pathology itself and can even cause complications in the form of additional infection or irritation (when using celandine) and even bleeding.

Thus, surgery to remove the polyp is mandatory:

  1. In case of clinical symptoms.
  2. During the postmenopausal period.
  3. If the results of a cytological examination of a smear from the cervical canal are abnormal.
  4. With adenomatous form of the tumor.

Indications for polypectomy during pregnancy are:

  1. Dimensions exceeding 1 cm.
  2. Signs of bleeding.
  3. Changes of a destructive or necrotic nature in combination with severe inflammation.
  4. The phenomena of dyskaryosis are the presence of abnormal (non-cancerous) cells.

How to prepare for the operation?

It is carried out on an empty stomach. All laboratory and instrumental examinations accepted in such cases are carried out in advance. These include smears from the vagina and cervical canal, general and clinical blood and urine tests, tests for sexually transmitted infections, ECG, chest fluorography, ultrasound of the pelvic organs, etc.

In the presence of inflammatory phenomena, anti-inflammatory therapy is carried out as a preparation.

What is the best way to remove this tumor?

The choice of surgical method depends on the size and type of tumor, its location, the presence of concomitant diseases of the reproductive organs, current pregnancy or its likelihood in the future.

There are different opinions and preferences regarding the choice of surgical treatment method. In most cases, if it protrudes from the external os into the vagina, preference is still given to the traditional method. It consists of instrumental (using a clamp) unscrewing the pedicle, followed by curettage of the cervical canal, and often the uterine cavity.

In the absence of pathological changes in the endometrium, the operation is performed on an outpatient basis and without curettage of the uterine cavity. Curettage of a polyp of the cervical canal is performed much less frequently. This method is used mainly in the presence of multiple elements or localization of the pedicle in the upper parts of the canal. In all cases, hysteroscopy is performed before and after surgery for control purposes.

Polypectomy is one of the methods for removing tumors in the cervical canal

In the presence of clinical symptoms and pathological changes in the results of cytological examination, loop or cone-shaped electroexcision is preferable, which is excision of tissue with a thin wire electrode under the control of a colposcope, which makes it possible to remove the formation along with intraepithelial neoplasia and exclude with high accuracy the presence of (previously not identified) cancer cells.

Other methods for removing cervical canal polyps:

  • Diathermocoagulation, which has such disadvantages as the impossibility of subsequent histological examination, prolonged healing (sometimes up to a month or more), repeated bleeding after separation of the scab, the formation of scars, which can negatively affect subsequent conception or lead to cervical rigidity and rupture during childbirth.
  • Cauterization of a cervical polyp with liquid nitrogen. This method is contraindicated in the presence of scar deformation and inflammatory processes. Its main negative properties are also the impossibility of subsequent histological examination and long-term (sometimes about two months) healing.
  • Removal of a cervical polyp with a laser is a low-traumatic and minimally invasive method with rapid healing and a short rehabilitation period (several days), as well as a minimal risk of scar tissue changes. Very suitable for women who have not yet given birth. Its disadvantages include the possibility of use only for mild forms, the lack of guarantees for the development of relapses, the impossibility of influencing multiple formations and the high cost of the procedure.
  • Removal of a polyp using the radio wave method using the Surgitron apparatus using a radio knife or loop electrode. After removal, the bottom is coagulated with a ball-shaped electrode, and if the base is wide or the stem is thick, the latter are pre-tied with surgical thread. The advantages of the method are the accuracy of non-contact exposure, the absence of damage to adjacent tissues and the risks of bleeding and infection, as well as rapid healing without scar tissue changes. Radio wave removal is optimal when performing this operation in pregnant women.

The discharge after polyp removal may be bloody and serous for some time. Their number depends on the size of the formation and the nature of the operation performed.

Device "Surgitron"

How much bleeding after surgery?

After operations involving curettage of the cervix and uterine cavity, relatively heavy discharge of blood from the genital tract persists for about two days, after which it becomes moderate and persists for another 3-7 days. The normal duration of spotting or bloody discharge should be no more than ten days. After this, slight light discharge may persist for several days.

If curettage was not carried out, and removal was carried out by diathermocoagulation or cryodestruction, then on the 4th - 5th day, bloody discharge associated with the separation of the scab may appear. In other cases, they may not exist at all.

No treatment is usually required after removal. It is recommended to abstain from sexual intercourse for half a month, and for one to one and a half months (depending on the type of surgical intervention) to limit physical activity and refuse to play sports. The use of any tampons or hygienic douches is not recommended. In order to prevent the development of inflammatory processes, a 7-10-day course of antibiotics is prescribed, taking into account their individual tolerance.

These are tumor-like formations that arise from the mucous membrane of the tissues of the cervical canal. In medicine, such growths are generally considered benign, but it would be deceiving to think that they are not capable of harming your health. Any of all types of polyps can be the background for the development of cancer. It is because of this that polyps must be treated and removed from the body.

Classification of cervical canal polyps

It is customary to distinguish between several types of polyps; the typology depends on the cellular composition of the body. First of all, it is a fibrous polyp growing in the cervical canal. This is followed by glandular and glandular fibrous polyps. Fibrous polyps consist of dense tissue that connects organs and tissues to each other. Glandular polyps are distinguished by their elasticity and softness, because they consist of glandular epithelium. Glandular fibrous polyps have an equal amount of both glandular and connective tissue. It is the last two types of cervical canal polyps that are considered to be the most unfavorable, because they can transform into cancer cells and cancerous diseases. Therefore, they try to identify polyps of the cervical canal, the treatment of which is necessary, at the very initial stage in order to quickly begin treatment.

Causes of cervical canal polyps

Among the main reasons due to which polyps of the cervical canal occur are the following:

  • significantly increased level of estrogen in a woman’s blood;
  • hormonal disorders of the body;
  • chronic as well as acute infections that may be present in the internal genital organs;
  • immune system disorders.

Due to the increased level of estrogen in a woman’s blood, processes of excessive stimulation of the growth of the glandular epithelium occur. It is what covers the inside of the uterus and cervical canal. If there is a focus of a chronic disease or infection that can provoke it, as well as reduced immunity, hormone imbalance and other problems in the body, then the mucous tissue in the cervical canal begins not only to grow, but to grow into the lumen of the organ, limited to a small but separate area .

Under normal conditions, each menstrual cycle is accompanied by the same effect: the mucous membrane of the cervical canal grows, but to an acceptable, normal scale.

Symptoms of cervical canal polyps

The list of main symptoms of polyp disease includes:

  • the presence of slight bleeding between menstruation;
  • significant and profuse discharge during menstruation;
  • spotting and bleeding during menopause;
  • a sharp and unpleasant smell of discharge, which informs about the infection of the polyp;
  • bleeding that occurs after sexual intercourse or any gynecological procedure;
  • pain that has a cramping or pulling character.

Diagnosis of cervical canal polyps

Polyps of the cervical canal of the cervical tissue are most often diagnosed in women aged 39 to 49 years. They may have several children or one, but childbirth has already occurred. According to statistics, 4% of women are diagnosed with this disease during their reproductive years. Recently, cervical canal polyps are often diagnosed in pregnant women. If this happens, the woman and her doctor must adhere to special pregnancy management tactics.

The occurrence of cervical canal polyps during pregnancy

An important component of the normal mechanism of childbirth is the cervical canal. The ability to get pregnant, or even the entire pregnancy process, directly depends on the location of the polyp in the cervical canal. The actual size, type and appearance of the polyp have a huge impact on a woman’s pregnancy.

The occurrence of polyps in pregnant and healthy women occurs due to changes in the composition of the mucus of the cervical tissue at the time the polyp becomes infected. During pregnancy, a polyp can lead to the loss of the main feature of mucus - the protection of microflora and the safety of the uterus. When trying to conceive a child, a man’s sperm cannot penetrate the uterus precisely because an inflammatory process occurs there - cervicitis.

Infection of a woman during pregnancy can even lead to miscarriage, intrauterine fetal death, spontaneous abortion and other problems. If the inflammation of the cervical canal is significant, then isthmic-cervical insufficiency may develop. To protect themselves from such troubles, doctors prescribe antibacterial and anti-inflammatory therapy to pregnant women as a preventive measure.

Treatment of cervical canal polyps

The main treatment for polyps in the cervix is ​​surgery. Minor gynecological surgery is the name of the procedure for removing a polyp of the cervical canal. This operation is performed in a hospital setting. If we are talking about small polyps that are connected to the mucous tissue with a thin stalk, then they are removed on an outpatient basis. Be that as it may, for treatment and procedures, a mandatory cytological examination of the removed polyp is necessary, which would guarantee the exclusion of relapse and reappearance of the polyp.

To remove a polyp of the cervical canal, it is necessary to apply one of the methods of its treatment, which are quite numerous today. At the beginning of the removal procedure, the polyp is cut out from the tissue using forceps or a special loop. Those types of polyps that are located on a thin stalk can be removed by simply twisting. Then the polyp bed is necessarily treated to prevent relapse. The location of the polyp is cauterized with a laser. You can also use an electrocoagulator or chemical agents.

When the removal of the polyp is completed, to prevent and exclude the recurrence of the polyp, the attending physician prescribes antibacterial drugs, as well as anti-inflammatory therapy procedures. These measures will prevent relapse.

Treatment of polyps of the cervical canal of the cervix

Nowadays, all possible and available methods are used to treat cervical canal polyps. Among them:

  • a diagnostic method, as well as effective treatment, which allows you to detect pathology in the reproductive organs, perform a biopsy, and also remove a polyp using hysteroscopy;
  • a method of electrosurgery, which involves excision of polyps from tissue using high-frequency currents;
  • a method whose main purpose is curettage of the cervical canal, as well as the uterine cavity for the effective treatment of polyps. The procedure is not always possible due to contraindications that exist in acute inflammatory processes. The procedure itself involves removing the upper endometrium. Although physiologically it itself is rejected every month during menstruation;
  • a method of destruction of pathological tissues, which is called cryodestruction. It is carried out by exposing the polyp to low temperatures using liquid nitrogen;
  • a method of taking antibiotics and other anti-inflammatory drugs that constitute antibiotic therapy. Treatment continues for 10 days after removal of the polyps;
  • hormone therapy, which involves the treatment of polyps if the cause of their occurrence was changes in hormonal levels. The recovery of which requires treatment from 3 to 6 months. This is the longest procedure for treating cervical canal polyps;
  • the douching method, which is used as an additional measure and is used in rare cases, only on the recommendation of a doctor.

Procedure process

Before you begin treatment and removal of polyps, it is necessary to conduct a thorough study of the causes of their occurrence and the possible consequences after their removal. This is necessary in order to prevent complications that may arise on the wound surface. It is the surface on which the polyp grew that subsequently poses a danger to the woman’s health.

To prevent pathogens and infections from entering the wound, the doctor grabs the polyp with forceps or a loop and unscrews it. The place where the polyp is attached is carefully scraped out, and the surface to which it was attached is cauterized using liquid nitrogen. For detailed examination and identification of tissues, the removed polyp is sent to the laboratory. Its good quality is also determined there. Depending on the results obtained, the doctor further adjusts therapy and prevention for the patient.

Prevention of cervical canal polyps

Since the causes of cervical canal polyps are hormonal imbalances, the appearance of polyps can be triggered by menstruation, pregnancy, abortion, menopause, and other age-related and hormonal storms. Typically, patients treated for polyps are women over 39-40 years of age.

It is impossible not to say about the premenstrual period. It is at this age that the risk of the appearance and development of various kinds of inflammatory processes that can occur in the female organs increases. The danger of the appearance of polyps is increased by sluggish chronic and newly acquired diseases of the genitals, disruption of their functioning and decreased functionality. The presence of injuries to the cervical canal, as well as the cervix and endocrine disorders is very important.

If during the examination certain symptoms were discovered, then this will in any case indicate a pathology. The sooner treatment is started, the better it will affect the patient’s overall health. Timely diagnosis in most cases will reveal pathologies that are just developing or are in the early stages, and therefore will contribute to maximum restoration and preservation of the functions of the reproductive organs. But it is important to understand that therapy depends on each specific case.

Cervical polyps are neoplasms that form from the growing mucous membranes of the cervical canal. The tumor looks like a spherical growth with a thin stalk. The presence of polyps can negatively affect reproductive functions in young women.

What and why do they appear?

The main reasons for the formation of benign growths include:

  • chronic infectious diseases;
  • trauma to the cervix and vagina;
  • hormonal changes.

Factors that increase the likelihood of polyps include:

  • chronic diseases of internal organs;
  • endocrine disorders (diabetes mellitus, hyperthyroidism);
  • pregnancy and lactation;
  • mature and old age.

Inflammatory processes

The following causes contribute to the appearance of a polyp in the cervix:

The prolonged course of the inflammatory process negatively affects the functioning of the glands and tissue restoration. With accelerated division of epithelial cells, benign neoplasms arise.

Hormonal disorders

When the endocrine glands do not function properly, the body's hormonal balance is disrupted. With ovarian dysfunction, the amount of estrogen increases and progesterone levels decrease.

The reason for the appearance of polyps in the cervical canal is as follows: when the balance of sex hormones is disturbed, the mucous membranes of the cervix thicken, forming a growth. A decrease in the amount of progesterone can also lead to the appearance of cystic formations.

Injuries

Traumatic causes of polyps include:

  • surgical termination of pregnancy;
  • endoscopic examination of the uterine cavity;
  • diagnostic curettage.

If medical procedures are performed incorrectly, the integrity of soft tissues is compromised. When bacterial infections occur, the healing processes slow down, which contributes to the appearance of growths.

Symptoms and signs

With a polyp of the cervical canal, the symptoms appear as follows:

  1. Bleeding. They occur during physical activity and sexual intercourse when the tumor grows in the vagina. Discharge from a polyp of the cervical canal indicates damage to the growth. Minor bleeding may occur a few days before or after your period. The appearance of bloody discharge in elderly women may indicate malignant degeneration of tumors.
  2. Mucous or purulent discharge with an unpleasant odor. Evidence of infection.
  3. Pain. With cervical polyps, the symptom appears when the tumor reaches a large size. Unpleasant sensations are localized in the lumbar region and lower abdomen. During sexual intercourse, the pain intensifies, which is a sign of injury to the growth.
  4. Violation of the menstrual cycle. The presence of benign neoplasms in the cervical canal contributes to an increase in the duration of menstruation. This is due to an increase in estrogen levels, which contributes to the thickening of the endometrium. Frequent heavy bleeding leads to the development of anemia.
  5. Infertility. The inability to conceive is associated both with hormonal imbalance and the presence of a mechanical obstacle that prevents sperm from penetrating into the uterus.

Diagnosis and classification

The following methods are used to identify the disease:

  1. Gynecological examination. Speculums are used to examine the vagina and cervix. Such an examination helps to identify large formations.
  2. Ultrasound of the pelvis. Aimed at identifying signs of inflammation and polyps that cannot be detected during a gynecological examination.
  3. Colposcopy. During the procedure, a device is used to help thoroughly examine the mucous membranes of the cervical area. The procedure allows you to detect signs of malignant degeneration.
  4. Endoscopic examination. A flexible tube equipped with a video camera is inserted through the vagina into the uterine cavity. This helps to identify signs of inflammation, benign and malignant neoplasms.

The classification of polyps includes the following types:

  1. Fibrous. Formed from connective tissue fibers of the endometrium. Often found in mature and elderly women. A cervical polyp of this type is characterized by an increased tendency to malignant degeneration.
  2. Glandular-fibrous. Formed from glandular and connective tissues. The growths are large in size and prone to reappear after surgical removal.
  3. Glandular. The growths are formed from mucous tissue and are small in size. Neoplasms of this type are most often found in young women. The likelihood of a malignant tumor forming is minimal.
  4. Atypical. The polyp consists of modified cells, which makes it similar to a malignant neoplasm. After surgical removal, chemotherapy is prescribed.

How to treat without surgery

It is not always possible to cure the disease with conservative methods. Medicines do not eliminate growths, but only slow down their development. The therapeutic regimen includes the following drugs:

  1. COCs or gestagens. The former normalize hormonal balance, the latter have a positive effect on the functioning of the ovaries and eliminate bleeding. Treatment helps slow the growth of tumors, reduce the risk of malignant degeneration, and reduce the intensity of discharge.
  2. Antibiotics. Prescribed for infectious origin of polyps. The choice of drug depends on the type of disease. For chlamydia, macrolides (Azithromycin) are prescribed, for gonorrhea - fluoroquinolones (Ciprofloxacin), for trichomoniasis - nitroimidazole antibiotics (Metronidazole).
  3. Anti-inflammatory drugs (Diclofenac). The use of such drugs is advisable for inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs. The drugs are prescribed in combination with antibiotics. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs eliminate pain, heat and swelling of the mucous membranes.

You cannot treat a polyp on your own. Antibacterial or hormonal therapy should be prescribed by a doctor.

Treatment with folk remedies

You can treat polyposis at home using the following herbs:

  1. Nettle. The plant has healing, analgesic and hemostatic effects. 20 g of dry leaves are poured with a glass of boiling water and left for half an hour. The finished infusion is filtered, the resulting liquid is soaked in a tampon, which is inserted into the vagina overnight.
  2. Sage. Eliminates bleeding and signs of inflammation, destroys pathogenic microorganisms. 1 tbsp. l. the herbs are poured into 200 ml of water, simmered over low heat for 10 minutes and left for half an hour. The finished product is filtered and used for insertion into the vagina using a gauze swab. The procedure should last 2-3 hours.
  3. Yarrow. It has anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antibacterial properties. 1 tbsp. l. raw materials are poured with 200 ml of boiling water and left for 40 minutes. A tampon is soaked in the liquid and inserted into the vagina before bed.
  4. Chamomile. Has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects. 1 tbsp. l. flowers need to be poured with a glass of boiling water and left for an hour. A tampon is moistened with the infusion and kept in the vagina for 2-3 hours.

Surgical removal

In the presence of atypical polyps in the cervical canal, treatment is carried out surgically.

The following operations are considered the most effective:

  1. Hysteroscopy. Curettage is carried out by inserting an endoscopic instrument into the cervical canal. The polyp is removed using forceps. The operation must be performed at the beginning of the menstrual cycle. For cervical polyps, treatment in this way is contraindicated in the presence of infections, inflammatory processes and cancer.
  2. Diathermocoagulation. It involves treating growths with high-frequency electric current. The main disadvantages of the method include pain, postoperative healing with scar formation, and the possibility of bleeding.
  3. Cryodestruction. New growths are treated with liquid nitrogen, which causes frostbite and tissue death. The wound remaining after cauterization is overgrown with normal epithelium over time. The advantages of this operation are healing without scarring and absence of pain.
  4. Radio wave treatment. The method is characterized by a minimal risk of damage to healthy tissue, no discomfort during the procedure, and healing without scarring.
  5. Classical or laser polypectomy. The tumor is cut off using an electric loop. Laser removal reduces the risk of infection and bleeding. The operation can be used in the presence of small tumors.
  6. Amputation of the cervix. Intervention is prescribed if there is an increased risk of malignant degeneration.

How dangerous it is and prevention

A polyp is dangerous due to the possibility of malignancy and infertility.

Prevention involves timely elimination of infectious diseases and hormonal disorders, avoidance of casual intimate relationships, and regular visits to the gynecologist.

Often, during a gynecological examination or during an ultrasound, the doctor diagnoses a polyp located in the cervical canal of the cervix. Should you leave the cervical canal polyp alone or should you sound the alarm and remove it urgently?

It is worth choosing the “golden mean”: contact a qualified gynecologist, who will prescribe the necessary examination to identify the cause of the pathological process and then choose the optimal treatment option.

Types of cervical polyps

A cervical polyp has the appearance of an outgrowth of the outer layer of the mucosa on a vascular pedicle, protruding into the lumen of the cervical canal. The stalk may be thread-like or quite wide, but the presence of vessels in it (vascularization) distinguishes a true polyp from a pseudopolyp.

This symptom also causes some risk of developing cancer when exposed to provoking factors. Therefore, polyps, although they are benign neoplasms, are considered a precancerous form of damage to the female genital organs.

Most often, polypous growths form at the border of the cervical and cervical epithelium and are often detected during a routine gynecological examination with speculum. Internal cervical polyps are detected by ultrasound.

The polyp externally looks like a mushroom-shaped formation (leg and cap) of a pale pink color. When the leg is pinched, the polypous growth acquires a purplish-bluish color.

Like any polypous formations in the reproductive organs, cervical polyps are a sign of a woman’s poor health.

The reason for this may be:

  • the inflammatory process is a necessary factor in the occurrence of cervical polyps - vaginal dysbiosis (, gardnerellosis), endometriosis, genital infections;
  • hormonal changes - menopause, lack of progesterone/excess estrogen;
  • microtraumatization of the cervical canal - hysteroscopy, abortion, complicated childbirth;
  • external factors - insufficient/improper hygiene, stress;
  • immunodeficiency - general and local against the background of frequent inflammatory diseases of the uterus and vagina;
  • burdened heredity - benign or malignant formations of the genital area in relatives;
  • endocrine disorders - hypo-, hyperthyroidism, obesity.

Signs and symptoms of cervical polyps

The cervical polyps themselves, especially small and isolated ones, do not show any symptoms.

The only sign of the development of pathology can be leucorrhoea - whitish mucous vaginal discharge.

symptoms (photo of polyp)

However, an asymptomatic course is most often an exception to the rule. In most cases, a cervical polyp develops against the background of other diseases that give the following symptoms:

  • discomfort in the lower abdomen, periodic sharp or nagging pain;
  • pathological discharge - mucous or bloody spotting;
  • contact bleeding after sexual intercourse;
  • disrupted menstrual cycle - changes in the volume of blood released and the duration of menstruation, extramenstrual bleeding;
    infertility.

In most cases, cervical polyps are diagnosed in combination with cervical erosion, endometrial polyps, cystic ovarian lesions, and fibroids.

What is colposcopy, which doctor conducts the examination and what are the indications for this procedure:

Polyp of the cervical canal during pregnancy

A neoplasm found in the cervical canal of a pregnant woman is not always a polyp.

Pseudopolyp- growth of the mucous membrane into the lumen of the cervical canal without signs of vascular sprouting - a functional state caused by hormonal changes in the female body and preparation for childbirth. Typically, such pseudopolyps disappear on their own after childbirth.

A true polyp of the cervical canal during pregnancy causes irritation of the cervix and can provoke a miscarriage in the first weeks. Large and multiple growths are especially dangerous in this regard.

Polypous formations can be injured during obstetrics - this increases the risk of malignancy (malignancy).

Should I delete it?

Removal of a cervical polyp in a pregnant woman is indicated if its diameter is more than 1 cm or there are signs of necrotization of polypous tissue.

Diagnostics

Usually, diagnosing a cervical polyp is not difficult. Pathological neoplasms are detected in the following types of studies:

  • gynecological examination - polypous thickenings protruding from the external pharynx;
  • colposcopy and cervicoscopy - help to identify small neoplasms, document the presence of translucent vessels in the leg, identify inflammation and necrosis;
  • Ultrasound (more informative transvaginal) - determination of the structure of the polyp and its density by echogenicity (clear contours, reduced echogenicity of the area), identification of concomitant endometrial polyposis and fibroids;
  • hysteroscopy - an endoscopic technique allows you to accurately establish the diagnosis, makes it possible to simultaneously remove the polyp and take its tissue for histology.

In addition to the instrumental examination, the patient also undergoes bacteriological culture (detection of infection), (detection of papillomavirus), PAP analysis for atypical cells, and a study of hormonal levels.

Treatment: is it necessary to remove a cervical canal polyp?

Conservative therapy with hormonal agents, as the main type of treatment for polyps, is advisable only with a glandular structure of the neoplasm.

In other cases, planned or emergency surgical excision of polypous growths and subsequent adequate therapy are indicated:

  • hormonal drugs;
  • anti-inflammatory drugs;
  • local immunostimulants.

Methods for removing cervical polyps

Before any surgical intervention, anti-inflammatory therapy is first carried out to avoid the spread of infection after radical treatment.

Curettage of the cervical canal

It is advisable for the combined growth of multiple polyps in the cervix and the uterine cavity itself. However, the likelihood of re-growth of polyps with this type of treatment is quite high.

Cauterization of the polyp bed helps reduce the risk of relapse. The cervical curettage procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia. It is obligatory to send a biopsy sample for histology.

Targeted hysteroscopy

A less traumatic technique involves twisting a polyp with a stalk. This reduces the risk of relapse.

Constriction of the polyp leg

A catgut suture is placed on a polyp located close to the external pharynx and visible during a gynecological examination.

Clamping of the vessels feeding the formation leads to its necrosis and rejection.

Cryodestruction

Focused freezing of a cervical polyp with a mixture of liquid nitrogen. Absolutely painless manipulation, takes only a few minutes.

Patients are warned that fluid leaks from the genital tract for several days or weeks. Sexual activity ceases for this period.

Cauterization of a polyp

Modern methods of minimally traumatic removal of a cervical polyp through cauterization involve the use of high-tech equipment.

Depending on the level of technical equipment of the clinic, the attending physician offers the patient laser excision, electrocoagulation, and radiofrequency ablation.

Cervical conization surgery

Conical excision of the cervix is ​​a traumatic method of treating a polyp of the cervical canal.

Cone-shaped excision of cervical tissue along with polyps is advisable in women with recurrent cervical polyposis.

What is cervical conization, indications and recovery after the procedure:

Cervical amputation

Radical intervention is carried out if the result of histological examination is unfavorable or atypical cells are detected.

This extreme measure leads to the impossibility of subsequent natural childbearing and is most often carried out on older women.

Complications of cervical canal polyps

  • Infertility.
  • Bleeding and development of infection.
  • Scars on the cervix. Caesarean section during childbirth.
  • Relapses.
  • Cancerous degeneration.

To avoid the formation of a polyp of the cervical canal and its subsequent removal, women are recommended the following rules:

  1. Regularly, twice a year, undergo a medical examination by a gynecologist.
  2. Treat gynecological diseases and endocrine pathologies in a timely manner.
  3. Avoid trauma to the cervix - avoid abortion through contraception.
  4. Maintain intimate hygiene.
  5. Consult a doctor at the first signs of pain and extramenstrual bleeding.

Polyp of the cervical canal - code according to ICD 10

Pathology code in the international classification of diseases.

Section N84:

  • Female genital polyp

Subsection N84.1:

  • Polyp of the cervical canal (cervix).

Can a cervical polyp disappear on its own? It is very rare, but it happens that the polyp may disappear. The percentage of self-disappearance and resorption of the polyp is 1%. Typical is the fact that the polyp can remain the same size for a long time without growth dynamics.

Services table

Service name Price
Initial consultation with a gynecologist 2,300 rub.
Ultrasound gynecological expert RUB 3,080
Insertion of an intrauterine contraceptive device 4 500 rub.
Hysteroscopy RUB 22,550
Repeated consultation with a gynecologist 1,900 rub.
Taking a smear (scraping) for cytological examination 500 rub.
Laparoscopy (difficulty category 1) 61,000 rub.
Program "Women's Health after 40" RUB 31,770
Treatment of the cervix (medication) in 1 procedure 800 rub.
Diagnostic curettage 12,000 rub.

Typically, these polyps can be small in size, about 3-4 millimeters. These sizes are not dangerous and should not be operated on. But you should always remember that a polyp cannot just disappear without a trace.

In most cases, a small neoplasm of a pathological nature begins to gradually grow. As for polyps less than 4 millimeters, gynecologists did not notice their disappearance. If the polyp of the cervical canal has disappeared, then you should think about traumatizing it and tearing it away from the cavity.

If some sources say that a neoplasm of the cervical canal can disappear thanks to some drug, then this is complete nonsense. This information is provided for those women who are afraid to undergo surgery and remove a tumor.

Can a cervical canal polyp resolve? If you carry out diagnostics several times, as a result of which you are convinced that the polyp has disappeared, then you should draw some conclusions. There are rare cases when polyps can resolve on their own. Usually these neoplasms resolve if they are small in size. Sometimes there is an initial misconception about whether there really was a polyp. Sometimes the ultrasound machine can make mistakes.

Even if it is observed that the polyp gradually begins to resolve, this does not mean that the woman is recovering. It is necessary to further monitor the dynamics of the endometrium of the organ. After all, the risk of a new polyp appearing is quite high; the metabolic mechanism can provoke a new formation of a pathological polyp. After all, subsequent polyps will certainly not be able to simply resolve like the first neoplasms that have arisen.

Polyps of the cervical canal resolve no more than 2 millimeters. But the risk of new polyps appearing is not reduced. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to carry out conservative treatment.

Is it possible that a polyp comes out of the vagina during menstruation? This is most likely a fairy tale that cannot be believed. These rumors are spread by those people who are engaged in traditional methods of treatment. Typically, these methods do not lead to anything good.