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Endometrial polyp
An endometrial polyp (mucous membrane of the uterine cavity) is a localized tumor in the uterine cavity that arises from the endometrium.
It can be described as locally limited thickening of the endometrium.
What are polyps?
Polyps are growths on the inner wall of the uterus, which extend into the uterine cavity. Excessive growth of the cells of the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium) leads to the formation of endometrial polyps, and such polyps are mostly benign. Some, on the other hand, can grow into cancerous formations.
Symptoms of endometrial polyps
Women with endometrial polyps may have increased menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods.
Symptoms include irregular menstrual bleeding such as frequent, unpredictable periods that vary in duration and amount of bleeding, bleeding between cycles, extremely heavy menstrual bleeding, vaginal bleeding after menopause, infertility.
Endometrial polyps occur in about 6-7% of women before menopause and in 12-15% of women in menopause.
Endometrial polyps are often diagnosed in women with infertility.
The exact mechanism of polyp formation is not known.
- risk increases with age;
- use of the drug tamoxifen (commercial name Nolvadex);
- obesity;
- hormone therapy in menopause;
- Lynch and Cowden syndrome (genetic hereditary syndromes).
How is an endometrial polyp diagnosed?
An endometrial polyp is diagnosed by ultrasound examination with a vaginal probe (with or without inserting a saline solution) and hysteroscopy .
Vaginal ultrasound examination when a saline solution is inserted into the uterine cavity is called hydrosonography.
Are uterine polyps (uterine lining-endometrium) dangerous?
In most cases, endometrial polyps are not dangerous.
2-5% of women who have a polyp are diagnosed with cancer after removal.
The risk of cancer is about 5% when the polyp is larger than 15 mm and when menopausal bleeding occurs.
Endometrial hyperplasia is more common when there is a polyp in the uterine cavity.
That is why it is important to remove the polyp using the hysteroscopic method, since the change is removed under the camera control.
Also, long- term irregular and profuse bleeding caused by a benign polyp can lead to anemia and chronic fatigue.
An endometrial polyp can be the cause of a spontaneous abortion.
Treatment of endometrial polyps in Gyn. Fertility Clinic Milenković
Endometrial polyps are treated with surgery.
The polyp is removed by hysteroscopy (hysteroscopic removal of polyps) which lasts from 10-30 minutes.
In the Milenković Clinic, bipolar energy from the ERBE generator and Storz instruments and hysteroscopic equipment are used.
Read more about the procedure, preparation and recovery here.
Expert advice: frequently asked questions
Answers by Milan Milenković MD, PhD
What is the risk of cancer in women with endometrial polyps?
The risk of endometrial cancer in premenopausal women with endometrial polyps is minimal, while it is about 2-5% in menopausal women, depending on whether vaginal menopausal bleeding is present.
Does tamoxifen (Nolvadex) increase the risk of endometrial cancer?
Tamoxifen, which has been used most often for many years as a therapy for breast cancer, carries a slightly increased risk for endometrial cancer.
Does a polyp increase the risk of a spontaneous miscarriage?
Endometrial polyps increase the risk of spontaneous abortions and it is advised to remove them before the planned pregnancy.
Does an endometrial polyp cause infertility?
The endometrial polyp has a negative impact on the occurrence of pregnancy by representing a mechanical obstacle, reducing the chance of implantation and increasing the inflammatory reaction.
Does an endometrial polyp affect the outcome of IVF procedure?
An endometrial polyp reduces the chance of pregnancy after IVF, but pregnancy can also occur in the presence of polyps, with an increased risk of spontaneous abortion.
When can IVF be performed after polyp removal?
IVF can be performed after the second menstrual bleeding after hysteroscopic polyp removal.
