Uterine polyps are growths that occur in the endometrium, the inner lining of the uterus (the organ in which a fetus grows). They are attached to the endometrium by a thin stalk or a broad base and extend inward into the uterus. Uterine polyps are usually noncancerous, but they may cause problems with menstruation (periods) or fertility.
Symptoms
The symptoms of uterine polyps include the following:
- Irregular menstrual periods
- Unusually heavy flow during menstrual periods
- Bleeding or spotting between periods
- Vaginal spotting or bleeding after menopause
- Infertility
The most common symptom of uterine polyps is irregular or unpredictable menstrual periods. Most women have periods that last four to seven days. A woman's period usually occurs every 28 days, but normal menstrual cycles can range from 21 days to 35 days. Approximately half of women with uterine polyps have irregular periods.
Other symptoms include prolonged or excessive menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia), bleeding between periods, and bleeding after menopause or sexual intercourse. Uterine polyps are the cause of abnormal bleeding in about 25 percent of these cases. The inability to become pregnant or carry a pregnancy to term may also be signs that uterine polyps are present.
Treatment
Treatment may not be necessary if the polyps do not cause any symptoms. However, polyps should be treated if they cause heavy bleeding during menstrual periods, or if they are suspected to be precancerous or cancerous. They should be removed if they cause problems during pregnancy, such as a miscarriage, or result in infertility in women who want to become pregnant. If a polyp is discovered after menopause, it should be removed.
Methods of treatment include the following:
- Medications: Drugs that help regulate the hormonal balance, such as progestins or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, may be used as a temporary treatment. These medications help to relieve symptoms. However, the symptoms will usually return after the medications are stopped.
- Hysteroscopy: (see above) This may also be used as a treatment method. In treatment, the doctor will insert surgical instruments through the hysteroscope to remove any polyps that are found.
- Curettage: (see above) This may be performed along with hysteroscopy. While using the hysteroscope to look at the interior of the uterus, the doctor uses a curette to scrape the lining and remove any polyps. The polyps may be sent to a laboratory to determine whether they are benign or cancerous. This technique is effective for smaller polyps.
- Additional surgery may be necessary if a polyp cannot be removed using other methods, or if the polyps are cancerous. A hysterectomy, a surgical procedure in which the entire uterus is removed, may be necessary in cases where cancer cells are found in the uterine polyps.
