The endometrium is the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus, and its overgrowth can lead to the formation of polyps, benign tumors that are shaped like a finger and that adhere to the walls of the womb. A woman can have more than one polyp, and these can be as small as a sesame seed or as large as a golf ball.
Polyps in the endometrium are benign in most cases, and it is believed that 24% of the world’s women have them. This condition is usually asymptomatic, so many women find out they have polyps when they visit the gynecologist for a routine checkup. Treating polyps early is very important to prevent complications with a woman’s fertility. If you want to know a little about this pathology, we invite you to continue reading this article by FastlyHealabout uterine polyps: symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Table of Contents
Symptoms of uterine polyps
As we mentioned earlier, this pathology is usually asymptomatic, and many of the women who suffer from it do not know of the existence of these tumors inside. However, some signs can alert us to the possible presence of polyps in the endometrium:
- Irregular, unpredictable menstrual bleeding. It usually affects 64% of women with this condition.
- Long-lasting and heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Intermenstrual bleeding. Bleeding is not usually severe and is the most common symptom in women near menopause or postmenopause.
- Vaginal bleeding after having sex.
- Painful rules.
- Problems were getting or staying pregnant.
- Due to constant bleeding, it is common for women to have mild anemia.
Causes of uterine polyps
Although several studies have been dedicated to analyzing why polyps form in the endometrium, the exact cause of the formation of these tumors is unknown. However, some factors increase the risk of uterine polyps and accelerate their growth. Let’s know what they are:
- Estrogens: It has been shown that polyps in the endometrium tend to grow when the production of the hormone estrogen in the woman’s body increases. Estrogens are made in the ovaries and adrenal glands. When the woman is pregnant, the placenta can also synthesize this substance.
- Tamoxifen: This is a medical treatment used for breast cancer. It is believed that between 2% and 36% of postmenopausal women treated with tamoxifen can develop uterine polyps.
- Obesity and hypertension: Although not considered risk factors, women with these conditions often have polyps in the uterus.
- Hormone therapy to treat menopause.
- The woman’s age, the older the woman, the greater the risk of developing polyps in the endometrium.
- Rare diseases such as Lynch syndrome and Cowden syndrome.
Diagnosis of polyps in the endometrium
Uterine polyps are usually diagnosed during gynecological consultation through an abdominal or intravaginal ultrasound. However, when the appearance of these masses is suspected due to the presence of symptoms in the woman or constant spontaneous abortions, the doctor may perform the following tests to obtain a diagnosis:
- Transvaginal echo: the doctor will insert the ultrasound probe into the woman’s vagina to visualize her reproductive organs and determine changes or the presence of removals, tumors, fibroids, or polyps, a widespread test performed by most gynecologists as part of the routine and preventive checkup.
- Hysterosonography: the uterine cavity is distended with physiological saline to perform an ultrasound that allows better visualization of the endometrium and the womb. It is the best test to diagnose uterine polyps.
- Hysteroscopy: it is used to confirm the diagnosis obtained in hysterosonography. It consists of inserting a tiny camera into the vaginal cavity to observe any abnormality in the uterus directly. If necessary, through this test, samples can be taken for biopsies. Hysteroscopy also makes it possible to remove the polyp on an outpatient basis.
Treatment of uterine polyps
Once the diagnosis is obtained, the treatment of uterine polyps to be carried out must be chosen between the woman and her doctor to opt for the least invasive mechanism that compromises the fertility of the woman as little as possible. Options include:
- The scraping of the uterus is also used to treat endometriosis.
- The hysteroscopy test previously explained that it facilitates the extraction of the outpatient polyp and is controlled.
- The hysterectomy involves complete removal of the uterus and is recommended for menopausal women or those who obtained a biopsy result of malignancy.
- The polypectomy, which is the removal of the polyp, is carried out in any symptomatic polyp is to reduce the symptoms of the condition and obtain a sample of the tissue to analyze its composition and exclude the presence of malignant cells.
- In postmenopausal women, removal of the polyp is considered since, at this age, there is a greater risk of the mass being malignant.
- Premenopausal women with symptoms will need to remove the polyp. Those who do not present any discomfort should remove the mass when it is greater than 1 cm or more than one polyp in the endometrium.
- If the woman is being treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer, an annual hysteroscopy is recommended as a preventive method.
This article is merely informative. At FastlyHeal .com, we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any condition or discomfort.
If you want to read more articles similar to Uterine polyps: symptoms, causes, and treatment, we recommend that you enter our category of Female reproductive system.
I am a Surgeon with a diploma in comprehensive ultrasound and surgical care residency, an area I am specializing in. During the exercise of my profession, I have realized the need for patients to know the diseases they suffer, and I can tell you that a large part of their complications is due to a lack of information. Being a health web writer allows me to transmit my experience, without borders, to all those readers eager for knowledge, educate them in the prevention of diseases and promote a healthy lifestyle.