Uterine Polyps Diagnosis and Treatment

A uterine polyp is a type of growth. It protrudes into the uterine cavity after it attaches itself onto the inner uterine wall. They very greatly in size with some being as small as a sesame seed and some being as large as a golf ball and some even larger. You may have one uterine polyp, or many. They typically stay in your uterus, but on occasion they may go down into your vagina. They most commonly affect women between 40 and 50 years of age, but can affect women of all ages. Nearly 25 percent of all women experience uterine polyps at some point.

Testing and Diagnosis

If it is suspected you are suffering from uterine polyps there are a variety of diagnostic tests your doctor may choose to perform to confirm the diagnosis. A transvaginal ultrasound is the least invasive of the diagnostic tests your doctor may choose to perform. This involves carefully passing a thin, wand-like instrument into your vagina to get images of your uterus. It will also get images of the interior of your uterus. Hysterosonography, a related procedure, may also be performed. This involves injecting salt water through a small tube into your uterus through your cervix and vagina. Your doctor is able to get a good look at the interior of your uterus because the salt water expands your uterine cavity.

Curettage involves using a long metal instrument that has a loop at one of its ends. Your doctor will carefully insert this instrument and scrape your uterine walls. This may be done to remove a polyp or collect a sample to be sent to a laboratory for testing. Your doctor may use a hysteroscope when performing curettage so that he or she can look at your uterus before curettage and after performing it.

Hysteroscopy is another procedure that may be done in the diagnosis and treatment of uterine polyps. During this procedure your doctor will insert a hysteroscope through your vagina and cervix. Once it is in your uterus, he or she will carefully examine your inner uterus and remove any polyps that are present.

Treatment Methods

Watchful waiting may be done if you are asymptomatic and your polyps are small. If you have a high risk of uterine cancer, watchful waiting is usually not an option.

Certain hormonal medications may be helpful in reducing symptoms and shrinking polyps, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists and progestins. This is generally a short-term solution.

Surgical removal with a hysteroscopy is an option for some women. This involves using a hysteroscope to remove polyps that have been identified. Once removed, your doctor will usually send off the polyp for further microscopic examination.

Curettage may be performed to remove a polyp or to obtain a sample for further laboratory analysis. Your doctor may choose to use a hysteroscope during this procedure so that he or she can get a better look at the interior of your uterus.

A hysterectomy is the removal of your uterus. In some cases, other organs, such as your cervix, may also be removed along with your uterus depending on what your doctor finds during the surgery. This is generally reserved for times when cancer is either present, highly suspected, or for when the patient is very high risk. The hysterectomy can be performed either abdominally or laparoscopically. This is a major surgery that will require recovery time. Once you have a hysterectomy, you will no longer be able to have children.

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Resources

Mayo Clinic: Uterine Polyps