Cervical polyp during pregnancy

[U2020]

Hi all so I am currently 12 weeks pregnant tomorow. At 8 weeks I had some rust spotting. Got scanned all was good. A few days later I went to the toilet and had bright red blood on wiping. It lasted a couple of wipes that turned rust then browny then nothing and seemed to be gone until the next morning when I had a bm (constipated) brought on more red again a few wipes and the same as above. This happened once a week at 9 weeks. Then at 10 weeks and then at 11 weeks. (Defo made worse by constipation) I was checked at 9 and 10 weeks all was fine and the nurse actually found a cervical polyp and said cervix was closed. I rang on the 3rd time and they said its probably from the polyp and not to come in as they were not concerned. My question is if anyone else has experienced this and outcome. I'm just a bit concerned as I didn't think a polyp could cause actual blood I thought it would be more spotting? I'm in with midwife next week and praying everything is ok.

Hi - yes me! I had a polyp removed before ttc. They found it when I had surgery to get coil removed. At 11 weeks pregnant I started bleeding - not heavy but not light either. Went into hospital and was told it was from ruptured blood vessels on the cervix probably remnants of the polyp. Cervix was closed and baby was fine. :) i thought my pregnancy was all over before I heard that but im so lucky that bleed wasn't anything to worry about. Hope this brings you some comfort. :)

Hi, yes I went in for a colposcopy when I was 12 weeks pregnant and they found a cervical polyp. They removed it there and then, so I had a couple of days to recover after the silver nitrate treatment (grey, weird discharge and mild-ish period type pain) but after three days or so everything had healed correctly and I had no further issues. The letter I got afterwards said that everything was benign and they won't need to see me until three months post-delivery, which in my case will be March 2021. Hope everything goes well for you!

@U2020 hi, hope you don’t mind me getting in touch. I’ve found out today I have a polyp after experiencing the exact same as you with spotting bright red/pink. I had a scan today and all is well with baby. Just thought I would get in touch and see how you’re getting on? Not a lot was explained to me about the polyp and am waiting for a referral to colposcopy x

Hi @helenknowsbest only saw this now as I hadn't been logged in but that is a relief! Thank you so much for sharing I found virtually no other similar stories so was freaking out! All is well thank god. Hope you and baby are well

Hi @lietomesweet no way they told me they won't do anything about it until after birth so I will go and get it checked then. Hope pregnancy is going well for you 😀

Hi @MintGreenLife no not at all i searched and searched for information when it first happened to me and really struggled to find anything. Mine eventually calmed down at about 5ish months (midwife had said it might stop once cervix moves higher) and am now currently waiting on baby boy to arrive in 3 weeks. It really frightened me at the time and I would of loved to see some reassuring posts about it to put my mind at ease so hope this helps my hospital told me they won't treat it until baby is born so I will go back then and get it checked out.

@U2020 thanks so much for replying ☺️ Like you say there is little info online, so it’s great to be able to speak to someone who’s had the same. Well that all sounds very reassuring. Were you referred to colposcopy at all? From what I can tell online it is usually left to be treated after pregnancy, so I’m not 100% sure why I’m being referred - maybe just to get it looked at properly. Wow just three weeks to go, you must be very excited 😊

@MintGreenLife totally agree its so scary seeing any type of blood when pregnant it freaked me out everything it happened which was quite a few! I think its just different hospitals have different procedures. My nurse seemed to be very la de da about it and didn't really give me much more than it can be common in pregnancy and that they remove it after birth and that was kind of it . You actually reminded me to go and get it checked as it had completely slipped my mind! I blame baby brain. So excited cant believe finally at this stage hope all is going well with your pregnancy

@U2020 from what you’ve said I’ve had the exact same as you - stop start spotting. I’m 11 weeks and it really freaked me out, definitely had a few panicked moments this week with lots of sobbing! Ah fair enough. The doctor that saw me seemed to think it probably wasn’t too much of a concern but has referred me anyway. She said mine is at the opening of my cervix so maybe that could cause more issues. Not long to go for you now, I guess it could be any day now 💕 other then the polyp everything is going really well. Baby was even measuring 4 day’s ahead yesterday from our last scan so seems to be growing really well ☺️

@MintGreenLife hi just wondering if you mind me asking how you got off and what happened with the colposcopy. I have had some bleeding off and on and had 3 exams. All docs said something different but most recent has referred me for a colposcopy ASAP. I’m terrified currently 22 weeks xx

@Fightingtobepositive hi, course not. Sorry to hear you’ve had some bleeding, it’s so frightening! So I had a colposcopy at 12+4 and confirmed I do have a polyp. Was told it’s benign and small so they are just going to leave it until after I’ve had baby. Was told it shouldn’t cause any complications apart from possibly more spotting, but saying that I haven’t had any since the colposcopy. What is making you worry? Is it having the colposcopy itself? It’s completely safe in pregnancy, otherwise they wouldn’t do it. Or is it why you might need a colposcopy that’s worrying you? What have the docs been saying could be the cause? Xx

Yes I had one a few months ago , I had spotting and soreness. It was removed and found to be benign.

@MintGreenLife at first actually having it during pregnancy, but after research I can see it’s safe so now I’m petrified of it being sinister, I’m 23 weeks today and can’t stop thinking the worst. We had ivf and my doctor at the clinic said she noticed a small ectropion but don’t worry now since I’ve started bleeding I’ve seen 3 different doctors, one said a polyp deal with it after pregnancy and the next said it’s an extensive ectropion again deal with it after the doctor yesterday wasn’t happy to say what she thought it was and just referred me as urgent. I’m freaking because it obviously started small and is now extensive so the worst is just running through my mind and I feel so bad for worrying like this while pregnant x

@Fightingtobepositive I’m so sorry you’re feeling so worried. I was very worried too about having a polyp as initially I was given little info on whether it would impact the pregnancy, but I felt much better after I went colposcopy and was given reassurance that it shouldn’t cause any issues. My understanding is that with either a polyp or ectropion neither should cause an issue to pregnancy, and are just an added annoyance if they continue to cause spotting, so please try not to panic. I even had multiple colposcopies around 5 years ago due to abnormal cells from a smear, I had to have a biopsy and have them removed, and even those procedures themselves are fairly minimal and not painful etc. It’s a worry, but for now try your best to focus on the fact that the colposcopy itself is safe, and the likelihood is that if a polyp or ectropion they are unlikely to cause any problems, and at least you then will know what’s going on and will be able to rest assured that baby is fine and under no threat. I was told the colposcopy was just done as a precautionary measure to get a closer look, even though polyps are common in pregnancy and usually nothing to worry about. Try to look at the facts rather than getting carried away with ‘what ifs’. If you’re worried about when the colposcopy will be, phone the clinic and ask if they have issued the referral yet. I did this about 5 days after I saw EPU as I was moving house and wanted to make sure I was seen before I moved x

@MintGreenLife thank you for taking some time to talk. I am just so beside myself. Dr Google has petrified me and I feel I’m diagnosing myself with the worst and the worst stage 😣. Did you have any other symptoms? I have had bloody discharge and hips aching, lower abdomen dull aches. If just put it down to being pregnant now but now I can’t stop thinking the worst. I feel it’s obviously got worse or bigger to have so many different opinions and now being referred. X

@Fightingtobepositive what is it that you think the problem might be? What’s making you worry so much? From my reading either a polyp or an ectropion shouldn’t cause issues with your pregnancy. There are lots of threads on here where others have had the same which may put your mind at rest. As I said, my polyp was tiny, around 1cm, but I was still referred as a precautionary measure. Plus mine had never caused any bleeding or problems before. I don’t think it’s that it had got ‘worse or bigger’ most likely because the blood flow is greatly increased to your pelvic area during pregnancy. I think some women even get a little cervical bleeding without a polyp etc as everything is just so much more sensitive in there x

@Fightingtobepositive p.s not sure if it’ll help put your mind at rest, but I even asked at my colposcopy after my examination whether the polyp would cause complications with the pregnancy, if I would be at increased risk of infection and if it would cause excessive bleeding during birth and was told no to all questions and that it’s common in pregnancy and doesn’t cause complications x

I'm 38 weeks and had a colposcopy at about 20 weeks after a few episodes of bleeding. I had a polyp and cervical erosion. Treated with silver nitrate. One episode of bleeding since but I also had a low lying placenta which has now moved. I had a smear not long before I was pregnant so they thought it was all hormonal. Polyp still there.

Thank you ladies @MintGreenLife
My worry is because 3 doctors seen and 2 named something and third said she didn’t think it was either. I’m so scared because I’m worried about cancer I’m just at my white end with it. Not even had my apt yet either. I am not worried if they name an ectropion or polyp as such but because the last person I seen said it was neither to her I don’t know what to think. The second doctor who said ectropion said it was extensive so I’m also paranoid that whatever it is, is growing 😕. I’m due my smear in April so it’s been a long time since been checked.

@OkyDoke I also have placenta privea which is why I’ve been back and forth so many times because bleeding can also be dangerous when you have that. That’s how this thing has been spotted. I noticed the most recen doctor put in my notes that she’s referred me for urgent colp and that cervix looks suspicious 😕 I’ll be due my smear in April so that’s made me anxious because it’s been so long. Did they do all that during the colscopy, did they have to biopsy it? Xx

@Fightingtobepositive ah sorry, you didn’t say anything about worrying about cancer before. If you’re up to date with your smears, I.e had the last one three years ago, it’s highly unlikely anything would have developed to the point of cancer. Abnormal cells are not cancer, but of course can develop if left untreated. As I said I had treatment for abnormal cells 5 years ago. While not pleasant the procedure itself isn’t painful and I’ve had two normal smears since. Try not to think the worst. If you do have abnormal cells doesn’t mean you’ll get cervical cancer. In many cases abnormal cells can be found and then are left and monitored rather than even removing as can right themselves on their own. If you’re really distressed maybe book a telephone appointment with your GP to discus the results of your examinations and get some clarification on what the issue could be and what the solutions are? I understand it’s frightening, but try not to panic x

@MintGreenLife thank you so much for taking the time to chat. You have no idea how speaking and hearing others opinions is helping. I think what’s my fear is that I’m due a smear soon so has already been almost 3 years there-for I feel I don’t have a safety blanket. I’ve also been having spotting since before pregnancy but was just kind of blanked because my shears were upto date and I have endometriosis and said it was prob down to that. I’ve just read some horror stories about pregnancy making cancer grow faster I’ve just scared myself into a frenzy. I really hope what your saying sinks in to me and I can focus on that. Thank you so much for taking the time honestly. I know I’m an anxious nightmare but it’s so good to hear experiences xx

@Fightingtobepositive it’s horrible when you get an idea into your head, you just can’t shake feeling like the worst is happening/going to happen, so I do get that. For now try your best to acknowledge the fact that it’s most likely fine, and know that you’re getting checked just in case anything does need extra attention. I believe the smears are done at 3 year intervals as unlikely that abnormal cells could become particularly bad in that time, so take comfort in the fact that you’re up to date with your smears. Also if your last smear was HPV negative, unless you’ve been with a new partner is very unlikely you’ll have developed HPV in the meantime, and it’s HPV that causes abnormal cells x

Yes I hope I’m just being over the top. But I think it’s the fact that when I had ivf in September the doc told me I had a little ectropion and now 5 months on. Someone else said polyp, then another said extensive ectropion which means big and another doc is saying suspicious. So I’m worried that it’s something bad that has just kept getting worse over the last few months. I’m so confused.

Is HPV a recent test in smears (I’m in wales) I’ve never heard my nurse mention it and when I have result just says normal so 🤷🏻‍♀️ I don’t know why I think that the hpv thing has only recently been around? Could I be wrong? X

@Fightingtobepositive I’m not sure if they used to test for HPV as routine, but they certainly have since I’ve been having smears (am 32). You usually get your smear results in a letter which would say whether you were HPV positive or negative, so might be worth checking your records.

I totally get why you’d be stressed, especially after IVF, and the situation sounds very confusing, but hopefully your colposcopy will give you an answer and solution, if a solution is even necessary! Like I said with my polyp they are just going to leave it x

@MintGreenLife I just looked, they didn’t start in Wales until sept 2018 and I had mine in April/may 2018. So I’ve missed that 😕

I just hope the apt is soon. Did you say they took a biopsy of polyp? Sorry if you’ve said my head is a bloody crazy persons mind today xx

@Fightingtobepositive no no biopsy, they said the polyp looked benign and so that was that. I had a biopsy for abnormal cells 5 years ago. I don’t think they would do a biopsy in pregnancy. FYI if it is a polyp the stats are something like 2-15 in every 1,000 turn out not to be benign, so a crazy small chance of a polyp being anything awful x

When you had the biopsy for abnormal cells was the treatment just to remove? Xx