Understanding Cervical Polyps: Causes & Care

Author: Jessica Lloyd
Senior Naturopath | BHSc(N) | ISSVD, ISSWSH, BSSM, ATMS

Last reviewed: November 20, 2025

Cervical polyps have no known cause and are usually benign. Malignant polyps occur in one in a thousand women, and are more common in those who are nearing or past menopause.¹

Symptoms of cervical polyps

Bleeding after sex
Bleeding between periods
Bleeding in menopause
Usually found during a routine examination
No symptoms

A physician will test your polyp to see if it is indeed a polyp by pushing and pulling it around in four directions with a swab. This differentiates it from other polyp-like conditions of the cervix.

Treatment of cervical polyps

If a polyp is less than 5mm in diameter, it doesn’t need to be removed, but it will need monitoring.2 Polyps larger than this should be checked out and, if necessary, removed by a surgeon or gynaecologist, which is straightforward. ²

References

1.
Tanos V, Berry KE, Seikkula J, et al. The management of polyps in female reproductive organs. International Journal of Surgery. Published online July 2017:7-16. doi:10.1016/j.ijsu.2017.05.012
2.
Pegu B, Srinivas BH, Saranya TS, Murugesan R, Priyadarshini Thippeswamy S, Gaur BPS. Cervical polyp: evaluating the need of routine surgical intervention and its correlation with cervical smear cytology and endometrial pathology: a retrospective study. Obstet Gynecol Sci. Published online November 15, 2020:735-742. doi:10.5468/ogs.20177