Cervical polyps are very common indeed and, as you say, they can interfere with taking a smear test. A polyp is no more than an overgrowth of one small area of the lining of the cervix.

using the keywords polyp, cervical, or endocervical. A total of 6,436 specimen reports from 5,782 unique patients were retrieved. Of these, 266 patients had denied research authorization ...