The uterine polyp, also known as endometrial polyp, consists of an excessive growth of cells on the inner wall of the uterus, forming cysts-like balls that develop into the uterus.
Generally, uterine polyps are more frequent in women who are in menopause, however, they can also appear in younger women, which can cause difficulty in becoming pregnant, which will depend on the size and location of the polyp.
Main causes of polyp
The main cause of the development of uterine polyp is hormonal changes and, therefore, women with hormonal disorders such as those with irregular menstruation, bleeding outside the menstrual period or prolonged menstruation are at greater risk of developing these endometrial polyps.
In addition, there is also an increased risk of developing uterine polyps in women with polycystic ovary syndrome, taking estrogens for a prolonged period, or taking tamoxifen to treat breast cancer.
In most cases, uterine polyps do not need treatment, however, the gynecologist can prescribe hormonal medications or choose to have them removed. The uterine polyp is not cancer, but in some cases it can turn into a malignant lesion, so it is important to have an evaluation every 6 months, to see if the polyp has increased or decreased in size, if new cases have appeared or if it has disappeared.
What are the symptoms
The main symptom of uterine polyp is abnormal bleeding during menstruation, which is often abundant. In addition, other symptoms may appear, such as:
- Irregular menstrual period; Vaginal bleeding between each menstrual period; Vaginal bleeding after intimate contact; Pain during menstruation; Difficulty getting pregnant.
The woman with these symptoms should consult the gynecologist for exams, such as pelvic ultrasound, for example, to diagnose the problem and start the appropriate treatment.
How the treatment is done
The treatment of uterine polyp should be guided by a gynecologist and usually starts only when it causes symptoms or when there is a suspicion of malignancy. Thus, it is common for treatment to be done with hormonal remedies, such as progesterone, to reduce the size of the polyp until it disappears.
However, if the woman wants to become pregnant and the polyp is hampering the process, the doctor can still perform a hysteroscopy that consists of inserting an instrument from the vagina to the uterus, to remove the uterine polyp. See when to have surgery to remove the uterine polyp.
In the most severe cases, in which the polyp does not disappear with mediation, cannot be removed with hysteroscopy or has become malignant, the gynecologist may advise to have surgery to remove the uterus.
