I went to the doctor for a Pap smear examination, and I was told I have a polyp on my cervix. What is a polyp? Does it need treatment?

--A.

A polyp is a small, usually benign growth. Polyps may occur anywhere in the body -- on the cervix, inside the uterus, on vocal cords, within the intestinal tract. Polyps look a little like the uvula, the thing that hangs down in the back of our throats. The tissue that makes up the polyp is vulnerable to injury, so sometimes cervical polyps may cause spotting or bleeding after intercourse or tampon use.

If the polyp is small and is causing no difficulties, your doctor may leave it alone. Many times, however, we remove them by simply twisting them off in the office -- this is painless and quick. Larger polyps, which can bleed heavily, may be removed in an outpatient surgery center or in the office if mechanisms to stop bleeding easily are available. Occasionally a polyp may contain abnormal or even cancerous cells, so if it is removed it is usually sent to a lab for further analysis. The vast majority of polyps are benign.