Uterine polyps: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc. & bull; hello healthy

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Definition

What are uterine polyps?

Uterine polyps or endometry polyps are lumps that occur when the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows too much or too much.

Because they are lumpy, polyps are also sometimes called growths of flesh. Generally, uterine polyps are red, soft, round or oval in shape, and stick to the uterine walls.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, polyp sizes also vary, ranging from a few millimeters (the size of a sesame seed) to several centimeters (the size of a golf ball).

You may have only one polyp or several at a time. Polyps usually remain in your uterus, but sometimes, they appear through the opening of the uterus (cervix) into the vagina.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Polyps that appear in the uterus are benign and will not develop into cancer. However, their growth can sometimes affect fertility and a woman's menstrual cycle.

In most cases, polyps in the uterus will not show any symptoms and do not require immediate treatment. However, there are some exceptions that require polyps to be treated by a doctor immediately.

How common is this condition?

Uterine polyps can affect any woman of any age group. However, cases of polyps in the uterus are more common in women aged 40 years and over. Cases in women under the age of 20 are less common.

This type of polyp will usually appear before or after menopause. In addition, women who are overweight, suffer from high blood pressure, and are undergoing breast cancer treatment are more prone to developing this condition.

Uterine polyps can be treated by reducing the existing risk factors. You can discuss with your doctor to find out more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of uterine polyps?

If the polyps appearing in the uterus are small, you probably won't feel any signs or symptoms. However, polyps with a larger size can cause certain symptoms to appear. Common symptoms of uterine polyps include:

• Irregular menstrual periods, whether they are getting longer, more frequent, or unpredictable
• Abnormal bleeding between menstrual periods
• Menstrual blood is very much
• Blood spots or bleeding after sexual intercourse
• Unusual vaginal discharge appears
• Vaginal bleeding after menopause
• Infertility

One of the most common signs and symptoms of uterine polyps is an irregular or unpredictable menstrual cycle.

Most women menstruate for four to seven days. A woman's normal menstrual cycle usually lasts 21 to 35 days. Women with polyps in the uterus tend to experience irregular menstrual cycles and periods.

Another symptom that is usually found in people with uterine polyps is menstruation with excessive blood or menorrhagia. Blood can also sometimes appear when menstruation has ended, or after sexual intercourse.

There may be signs and symptoms not listed above. If you have concerns about a certain symptom, you should immediately consult your doctor.

When should I see a doctor?

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should immediately check with the nearest doctor:

• The vagina continues to bleed after menopause
• The presence of red spots or bleeding, even though menstruation has ended
• Other abnormalities during the menstrual cycle

Early treatment can prevent complications from this disease. Each person's body may show varying signs and symptoms. Therefore, always consult a doctor to get the most appropriate treatment and according to your health condition.

Cause

What causes uterine polyps?

Until now, it is still not known exactly what causes the growth of polyps in the uterus. However, some experts believe that hormonal changes in the body can affect the occurrence of this condition.

Polyps that appear in the uterus are believed to be estrogen-sensitive. That means, the polyps that appear are thought to be a response to changes in estrogen levels in the body.

In each menstrual cycle, the levels of the hormone estrogen in the body will increase and decrease. This condition causes the uterine wall to thicken and shed during menstruation. If the tissue on this wall grows too long or too large, polyps can form.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for uterine polyps?

Uterine polyps are a health condition that can affect all women of any age group. However, there are several factors that can increase the risk of developing polyps in the uterus.

The following are risk factors that trigger a person to develop this disease:

1. Age

Uterine polyps are more common in women aged 40 or 50 years and over. This may be triggered by a drastic change in the hormone estrogen, coupled with approaching menopause.

2. Menopause

As a person gets closer to menopause, the levels of the hormone estrogen in their body will experience significant changes. This condition is believed to affect the appearance of polyps.

3. Have high blood pressure (hypertension)

Although the relationship is not known with certainty, high blood pressure or hypertension is considered to increase a person's risk of developing this condition.

A study published in The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology conducted a study of 353 cases of hypertension. The results showed that 38% of hypertensive patients had polyps in their uterus.

4. Have excess weight or obesity

Women who are overweight or obese are also believed to have a greater chance of developing this condition.

5. Undergo breast cancer treatment

Breast cancer patients who take tamoxifen tend to be more prone to having this condition. This drug is thought to have the potential to cause irregular menstrual cycles.

Complications

What are the complications caused by this condition?

Uterine polyps with symptoms that are classified as mild and small in size are generally not dangerous to health.

However, people with polyps need to be vigilant if the lump starts to interfere with the menstrual cycle and more serious symptoms appear. This condition has the potential to cause infertility or infertility.

Infertility due to polyps may be resolved by performing surgical removal of polyps, but this has not been scientifically proven.

Diagnosis & Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

How are uterine polyps diagnosed?

If you experience symptoms that may indicate a polyp in the uterus, check with the nearest doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

At the time of diagnosis, the doctor will start by asking a few questions. Doctors usually want to know about your menstrual cycle, how long menstruation lasts, and whether the time span occurs regularly or not.

If you have a complaint that it is difficult to conceive or your vagina often produces unusual vaginal discharge, you should tell your doctor about this condition.

If your doctor suspects you have polyps in the uterus, they will order you to undergo some additional tests. The following are some of the types of tests your doctor may order:

1 . Ultrasound (Ultrasound) transvaginal

The transvaginal ultrasound test aims to find out the inside of the uterus, including any problems that may be in the uterine wall.

In this procedure, an ultrasound transducer or thin device is inserted into the vagina and emits sound waves. These waves can produce images of the inside of the uterus, including any abnormalities that appear.

2. Sonohysterography

This procedure is done to help take a clearer picture of the inside of the uterus, especially if the transvaginal ultrasound procedure does not provide a detailed picture.

The doctor will insert a thin tube or catheter into your uterus. This catheter contains saline fluid. This fluid will enlarge the uterine cavity, so that the doctor can get a clearer picture of the lining of your uterus.

3. Hysteresis

In this test, your doctor will insert a thin, flexible, and small telescope equipped with a flashlight into your uterus through your vagina. Apart from being used to diagnose a lump in the uterus, this procedure is usually combined with surgery to remove polyps.

4. Endometric biopsy

In addition to some of the tests above, your doctor may also take a sample from your uterine wall. This procedure is performed using a suction catheter. The sample that has been taken will be examined in a laboratory to detect any problems with the uterine wall.

5. Curettage

This procedure can only be done in the operating room. The doctor will use a long metal instrument called a curette. A curette is used to remove tissue from the inner wall of the uterus. After that, this tissue will be examined in the laboratory.

Most polyps will not develop into cancer or tumors. However, some cases of cancer and tumors in the uterus usually have signs and symptoms in the form of polyps growing in the uterus.

If the doctor suspects the possibility of developing cancer, the doctor will recommend a surgical procedure to remove polyps.

How to treat this condition?

Generally, uterine polyps that do not cause any symptoms or signs do not require special treatment.

However, if the polyp causes abnormal bleeding during menstruation, it should be removed immediately.

In addition, if the polyp is suspected to have the potential to develop into cancer or a tumor, the only way to deal with it is to have the polyp removed.

Polyps that cause pregnancy problems such as miscarriage, cause infertility, or occur after menopause should also be treated immediately.

Here are some types of medication and treatment given to treat this condition:

1. Take drugs

Certain hormonal drugs will usually be prescribed by a doctor as a temporary treatment. This medication can help reduce the appearance of polyp symptoms. These drugs include progestins or gonadotropin-releasing hormone drugs.

2. Surgical removal

Several types of surgical procedures that are of choice are curettage, polypectomy, and hysterectomy.

In curettage and polypectomy, the doctor will only remove the polyp. Meanwhile, if the polyp has caused complications or damage to the uterus, a hysterectomy procedure or a complete removal of the uterus may be necessary.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be done to treat uterine polyps?

To maximize your health and prevent uterine polyps, you should have a balanced diet based on the nutritional needs of women. In addition, you are also advised to carry out regular gynecological examinations.

In addition, you need good nutritional intake to maintain overall health. This is useful for those of you who lose a lot of blood during menstruation.

Not only that, adequate nutritional intake can help maintain the health of the fetus during pregnancy, even though you have polyps in the uterus.

A healthy and balanced diet includes a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains, ideally at every meal. Avoiding saturated fat in red meat, fried and processed foods is a healthy habit.

On the other hand, grilled chicken, grilled fish and low-fat dairy products will help reduce the risk of complications from health problems.