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Original poster

Anyone had a Colposcopy and a large cervical polyp removed?

34 replies

TattiePants · 01/02/2021 21:10

I’ve been to the GP today as I’ve been spotting for a few weeks. I have what she thinks is a large polyp and due to its size, it has to be removed at the hospital. I’ve got the hospital appointment already for the middle of next week which has thrown me a bit as everything’s so quick. Don’t get me wrong, I’m pleased that I’ve been booked in so quickly but I can’t help thinking about why it’s so urgent. It’s only a few months since I had a clear smear so it’s gone from nothing to ‘too big’ in a very short space of time. Has anyone had this and can talk me through what’s likely to happen at the appointment?

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 01/02/2021 22:46

I went last week to have a cervical polyp removed but they were unable to do it, although it was only a small one. Like you i was referred quickly. I had some post menopausal spotting and was referred on the 2 week pathway. I had an ultra sound scan and was sent a letter saying my uterine lining was thickened and there was a risk of cancer. i was booked an appointment with a consultant quickly after worrying myself silly all over Christmas. At the Consultants appointment he said my uterine lining was nice and thin and he didn't know why i had been sent the letter. I was pretty cross as had worried all over Xmas.
At the consultants appointment he did a smear and tried to do a hysteroscopy but it was too painful , however he did find a cervical polyp and said that as that would have to be removed anyway he would book me into the Gynae ward to have it removed and they would do the hysteroscopy then as well where gas and air was available for pain relief.
So last week I went for this procedure feeling completely anxious and anxious about catching covid in the hospital as dh is CEV. Rude Nurse told me my weight was off the scale and it's " time to go on a diet ". I ended up in tears, silly I know but I was already feeling so anxious and embarrassed about the procedure.
Once in the room, a different Consultant injected local anesthetic into my cervix and tried to remove the polyp but as I have a retroverted uterus she could not remove it. She managed with difficulty to do the hysteroscopy and take biopsies. Hopefully you may not need this if they don't need to see inside the uterus ? I now have to wait and see if the original consultant wants the polyp removing under general anesthetic or whether it can be left as it's small.
Received a letter today from the cervical smear to say I have HPV which I am baffled about, been with the same partner for 25 years and never had any issues before.
Cervical polyps can sometimes turn cancerous if left which I'm guessing is why you have been called in quickly. To be honest I was very shocked at being called back within 3 weeks of them finding the polyp to going in to have it removed and mine was only small.
I hope it is all straightforward for you.

Babyroobs · 01/02/2021 23:19

I should also add that most cervical polyps are completely harmless, i think they just remove them as a precaution.

bigdecisionaboutwork · 01/02/2021 23:33

I had one removed about 2 yrs ago and it was about 30 mins start to end. No anaesthetic, it was a bit uncomfortable and nippy but once done no residual pain or discomfort. Got to see my cervix on the TV screen! They said I'd have some spotting (I had none) and I was not to have sex for a week after it. They sent the polyp off for analysis and I got a letter after that saying all was clear. This was Ireland - HSE not NHS so slightly different processes.

Original poster
TattiePants · 02/02/2021 09:24

@Babyroobs sounds like you’ve had quite an ordeal. Fingers crossed everything is straight forward from now on. I’m really hoping that mine is straight forward to remove. I can feel it so it’s pretty sizeable, I guess it just depends where it’s actually growing from and how accessible it is as to whether they can remove it on the day.

@bigdecisionaboutwork I can cope with that!

Out of interest, how many people are in the room? Is it just a doctor and nurse?

OP posts:
Babyroobs · 02/02/2021 10:24

[quote TattiePants]@Babyroobs sounds like you’ve had quite an ordeal. Fingers crossed everything is straight forward from now on. I’m really hoping that mine is straight forward to remove. I can feel it so it’s pretty sizeable, I guess it just depends where it’s actually growing from and how accessible it is as to whether they can remove it on the day.

@bigdecisionaboutwork I can cope with that!

Out of interest, how many people are in the room? Is it just a doctor and nurse?[/quote]
I'm sure yours will be fine to remove. I think they just couldn't get mine as my uterus is tilted backwards. As big decision says, it is just a little uncomfortable but soon over with.

bigdecisionaboutwork · 02/02/2021 12:12

I had a doctor and a nurse in the room, it was very private

Jenibluebell · 04/02/2021 19:47

I had this last March it was a very large polyp hanging off my cervix. It was all over and removed in 15 mins. Local anaesthetic in cervix, and polyp cautherised off. Biopsy of polyp and tissue surrounding it all came back ok.
I know the anxiety you will be feeling I wanted to send huge hugs. Im sure it will all be fine. Xxx

Original poster
TattiePants · 05/02/2021 20:47

Thank @Jenibluebell that's really reassuring and I'm hoping this is exactly what happens (it's definitely the least scary / invasive option). I've kept myself busy over the last few days (never thought I'd be so thankful for home schooling).

OP posts:
ExTeacherNowJustMom · 08/02/2021 13:51

Can I ask, could you feel your polyp with your fingers? I’ve had the coil fitted and now have to check my threads, having never touched my cervix before. I can feel a small bump near the hole of the cervix. Every time I touch it, I seem to get spotting later that day. Could this be a cervical polyp? I am still having random spotting from the coil bedding in, so it could be unrelated. My smear was clear last summer and I had the coil fitted in October so I’m guessing it is too quick to be anything serious.....but still.....you worry don’t you!

Jenibluebell · 08/02/2021 17:41

@exteachernowjustmom I could feel mine. It was the size of my small pinky finger hanging down. My gp thought it was part of my prolapse and dismissed it 3 times and her attitude stank over it. I paid private to see a urogynae and she told me straight away it was a polyp. I was extremely stressed and anxious but they are very common esp during peri (im 43) and often hand in hand with fibroids. Polyps can be small too, all diff sizes . I just wanted to reassure anyone who is going through the same xxxx

Jenibluebell · 08/02/2021 17:42

Mine didn't bleed either but caused spotting and very weird periods. But its very common to have bleeding with them

Original poster
TattiePants · 08/02/2021 23:40

@ExTeacherNowJustMom my polyp is really obvious and like a pp said, it’s about the size of my little finger. It’s very soft and movable rather than a solid bump. I do have a small, very firm bump on my cervix which I’ve had for at least 15 years since I was first pregnant which is just part of me.

I dismissed my spotting between October and December as I’d recently started Depo injections and had a clear smear in the summer so if you’re in any way concerned, get it checked out for peace of mind.

OP posts:
RAOK · 09/02/2021 00:02

I had this exact situation a few years ago. They removed the polyp and I’ve been tally fine since then. It’ll be so much better when you’re not feeling rubbish and bleeding anymore.

Drina888 · 22/10/2021 18:05

@TattiePants I'm a bit late to the party but do you know how big yours was? I've been sent urgent and I'm at coloscopy Monday. She has sent it urgent also cos I suffer with anxiety/health anxiety and I wouldn't cope the 4 month wait . But in her hospital note it says because of the size and bled when the spectrum caught it.

Feb 2019 was 33 wk pregnant with twins. Bled when I strained to go to the loo. Went to maternity And the consultant and midwife said it's just a polyp and wernt concerned. 2 yers ago I went for a smear (clear) and she said it's not causing problems so it doesnt have to be removed. Dec 2020 had a heavy bleed she did an internal but nothing there. Had another heavy bleed 2 weeks ago and she looked and it was there. Mainly concerned with size and bled when the speculum caught it. When I asked her she said it's the size of a pea ?! I mean is that big? I've actually been put on antidepressants for this as I'm not coping. I have 5 children and want to watch them grow up. I'm so scared Sad

Original poster
TattiePants · 22/10/2021 18:41

@Drina888 I should have followed up and posted after I had mine removed/got the results as it was very straight forward and everything was fine. Like you, I was really worried when I got the referral. Any growths or vaginal bleeding is worrying but the majority of polyps are completely harmless and once removed, require no follow up treatment.

The doctor showed me the polyp in the specimen bottle afterwards and I would say it was the size of a very large pea on a stalk so probably similar to yours. There are lots of blood vessels in a polyp that are near to the surface so they can bleed very easily. Between my gp appointment and the hospital appointment I bled almost constantly but that stopped within a day or 2 of removal. I was quite spooked by the urgent referral but the 14 day pathway is standard for something like this.

How old are you and did you have vaginal births? The doctor told me they’re more common in women who’ve had 2 or more vaginal births and are in their 40s+.

Happy to answer any other questions you have. It’s natural to immediately think the worst but it is much more likely that everything will be over by Monday night.

OP posts:
Drina888 · 23/10/2021 08:52

@TattiePants thanks for replying. My GP has spooked me by not giving much reassurance. She's had said she's not expecting it too be bad but can't promise 100%. It I spoke to a female out of hours GP last night and she said it's gonna be fine . They bleed really easy and really put my mind at ease. Still woken up full of anxiety though. I'm not scared of the actual procedure.
I'm 39. Had two vaginal births and two c sections. It was first discovered in my twin pregnancy 2.5 years ago. It's not caused any bother really. I'm literally dying inside. I'll be ok for a bit then feel guilty for feeling happy cos I've convinced myself it's serious... although all the posts on this forum are reassuring.

Bluebellfae · 23/10/2021 20:31

Drinna888 sending more hugs (im jeni who posted earlier, name changed )

I just wanted to hand hold, I completely and utterly understand where you are and how you feel, the anxiety consumed me, this was me Jan 2020 with my huge polyp. Im sure it will be ok feel free to pm me im happy to chat about it and listen xxx

Original poster
TattiePants · 26/10/2021 13:48

@Drina888 just wondering how you got on yesterday. I hope everything went well and they've been able to reassure you.

OP posts:
Drina888 · 26/10/2021 15:05

@TattiePants
Hi, I went in in bit of a state, she said straight away this won't be what you think it is, she was the nicest person ever. They all where. So she had a look, put it on the screen and said this is just a harmless but annoying polyp. She was moving it with the cotton bud thing. She didn't even need to biopsy it. It wasn't even very big. It was a broad stem so I had 3 options.

Take it out now but there might be bleeding
Leave it
Do it in day surgery and it will take about 20 mins. She will also do a hysteroscopy just to make sure there's none further up and if there is il be polyp free in her words. So I'll do that. Few weeks wait which is fine.

Wincher · 05/11/2021 17:57

Just found this thread after googling - I had a smear today and the nurse told me I have a polyp. She’s told me to wait for my smear results and then book in to see the Gp for removal. Bit nervous but it’s helpful to read other experiences!

Drina888 · 05/11/2021 20:53

Hi,

Which part is making you the most nervous x @Wincher

Wincher · 18/11/2021 09:59

@Drina888

Hi,

Which part is making you the most nervous x @Wincher

Only just re-found this post, sorry! Only nervous really in that no one likes being fiddled around with down there, do they... I now have my smear results back (all fine) and an appointment at a community gynaecology clinic for just before Christmas.
Drina888 · 18/11/2021 10:21

@Wincher great news about the smear. the coloscopy was no worse than a smear. I felt comfortable and didn't feel a thing. X

Wincher · 18/11/2021 10:23

That's good to hear!

Chynoweth · 24/01/2023 17:48

Hi can anyone tell me if the injection hurts into your cervix as I have a polyp and need to have it removed iam really terrified, please reply