What are endometrial polyps?
Endometrial or uterine polyps are small growths that occur within the uterine cavity. The number of polyps can vary, with some women having only one while others may have multiple polyps. These growths can vary in size and are typically benign, although there is a possibility for some to be cancerous or develop into precancerous conditions.
What causes the endometrial polyps?
We don’t know exactly why some women have polyps but it may be related to changes in hormone levels. They are more common in women between 40 and 50 years old probably due to the changes in estrogen levels.
Other factors that influence the presence of endometrial polyps are obesity, high blood pressure, and taking tamoxifen for breast cancer.
What are the symptoms?
Most of the women are asymptomatic but the most common symptom is bleeding.
The women with endometrial polyps may experience the following :
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Irregular periods
- Bleeding between periods
- Spotting or bleeding in postmenopausal women
- infertility
How do you diagnose endometrial polyp?
The best and easiest way to diagnose endometrial polyps is with a transvaginal ultrasound. Most of the women find out that they have polyps during a routine check-up.
If there is a doubt then an hysteroscopy should be performed. Hysteroscopy is a procedure where we insert a camera inside the uterine cavity and check if there is any pathology.
Can endometrial polyps affect fertility?
Endometrial polyps can affect fertility depending on their size, the number, and their location inside the uterine cavity. They might interfere with the implantation of the embryos.
How we treat endometrial polyps?
Hysteroscopic removal is considered the optimal therapeutic approach for treating endometrial polyps. This method ensures complete removal of the polyp and is particularly suitable for women who are attempting to conceive. Another treatment option is curettage, although there is a risk of leaving behind residual polyp tissue within the uterus.
To provide you with a visual example, we have included a video showcasing the hysteroscopic removal of multiple polyps in one of our patients.
