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Uterine polyps are growths inside the uterus that can affect the menstrual cycle and cause infertility. They are made up of endometrial cells and can be noncancerous or cancerous. Diagnosis is through ultrasound or hysteroscopy, and treatment can include medication or removal. Symptoms include unusual vaginal bleeding, heavy periods, and infertility. Women between 40 and 60 are most at risk, and those who take tamoxifen, are obese, or have high blood pressure are more likely to develop polyps.
A uterine polyp is a growth inside the uterus. A polyp can be from a fraction of an inch (a few millimeters) to an inch (2.54 cm) or more in size. Most uterine polyps are noncancerous, but some cancers start out as polyps. A uterus polyp might go away on its own, but some need to be removed or treated with medication. A polyp of the uterus can affect the normal menstrual cycle and can even be a cause of infertility.
The uterine lining is made up of cells called endometrial cells. This lining is removed during menstruation. A polyp of the uterus is made up of endometrial cells and grows from this lining, but does not fall off during a period. A polyp grows in the uterus as a round or oval shape and is attached to the lining by a thin stalk or thicker base.
Polyps are most common in women between the ages of 40 and 60, but younger women can also get polyps. Women who take the breast cancer drug tamoxifen, those who are obese, or those who have high blood pressure are more likely to develop uterine polyps. The cause of the polyps is not known, but they appear to be affected by hormone levels.
A woman may have a polyp of the uterus and show no symptoms. Most symptoms of a uterine polyp relate to unusual vaginal bleeding, but infertility is another symptom. If a woman has unusually heavy periods, has an irregular menstrual cycle, bleeds between periods, or bleeds after menopause, she may have a polyp of the uterus.
An unusually heavy period or infertility could also indicate the presence of a uterine fibroid. Uterine polyps are different from uterine fibroids, because a fibroid is an overgrowth of the muscle of the uterus and not of the endometrial lining. Uterine fibroids might also have other symptoms, such as pelvic pain, bowel problems, or bladder problems.
Uterine polyps are diagnosed through an ultrasound procedure or through internal inspection of the uterus using a telescopic instrument called a hysteroscope, which is inserted vaginally. A doctor might also do curettage, which is a scraping of the uterine wall, to collect samples or to remove the polyp. Scrapings can be tested to see if the polyp was precancerous.
Another temporary treatment for uterine polyps is medication to shrink the polyp. Medications do not cure polyps and cannot prevent the condition from returning. If the curettage samples indicate cancer, the uterus may need to be removed. This procedure is known as a hysterectomy. Sometimes, if a doctor thinks a polyp is noncancerous and harmless, he might tell the patient to just wait, because polyps sometimes go away on their own.
