What are uterine polyps?
Uterine polyps, also called endometrial polyps, are small, soft growths on the inside of a woman’s uterus, or womb. They come from the tissue that lines the uterus, called the endometrium.
Most uterine polyps aren’t cancer. Many women don’t have symptoms, and some don’t need treatment. You may have just one polyp or many of them at once. But doctors have several ways to find and remove them.
What are the causes of uterine polyps?
Experts don’t know exactly why women get uterine polyps. It may be linked to changes in hormone levels. Each month, your estrogen levels raise and fall, causing the lining of your uterus to thicken and then shed during your period. Polyps form when too much of that lining grows.
Some things might make you more likely to have polyps. One is age; they’re more common in your 40s or 50s. That may be due to the changes in estrogen levels that happen just before and during menopause.
You might also be at higher risk because of:
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Breast cancer medicine
What are the symptoms of uterine polyps?
You may not have any symptoms, especially if you have small polyps or only one.
Symptoms of fibroids may include:
- Irregular periods, when you can’t predict their timing, length, or heaviness
- Heavy periods
- Bleeding or spotting between periods
- Vaginal bleeding after menopause
- Trouble getting pregnant
How are uterine polyps diagnosed?
For a proper diagnosis, you’ll need to see a gynecologist to get a pelvic exam for looking inside your uterus to check for polyps. Before the exam, you may need to take antibiotics, pain relievers, or medicines to dilate your cervix.
Tests include:
- Transvaginal ultrasound
- Hysterosonography or sonohysterography
- Hysteroscopy
- Endometrial biopsy
- Curettage
How are uterine polyps treated?
Your doctor will develop a treatment plan based on your age, the size of your polyp, and your overall health.
1. Operation
2. Ring Pessary