Polyps are soft, plump pieces of flesh inside the uterus. They are seen very frequently. These are detected in 10-30% of women with breakthrough bleeding. Polyps may be single or multiple. They can be of various sizes. Although polyps are considered benign, they can cause cancer at a rate of 1-2%.
The possibility of developing polyps is higher, especially in cases of obesity, high blood pressure, and those using tamoxifen for breast cancer.
Polyps In 70% of women with this condition, menstrual bleeding is heavy and there may be breakthrough bleeding. Sometimes, polyps are detected accidentally during vaginal ultrasound in people who have no complaints. Polyps may be observed in the uterus in cases where there is a desire for children or who have infertility problems.
Although polyps are generally considered benign, the possibility of transformation into cancer increases in those with risk factors and those with polyps larger than 1.5 cm. This transformation occurs especially during menopause. The presence of polyps is detected by ultrasound performed on the vagina and by injecting physiological saline into the uterus. In cases where Doppler ultrasound is performed, seeing a single feeding vessel is typical for a polyp.
Although the Pap smear test does not give any findings, in cases with polyps, if there is a transformation into cancer, the shed cells in the smear may give a clue. A camera is connected to these and they have a light-emitting part. The uterus is entered and if there is pathology, it is removed in the same session. With this method, the polyp is removed from its root, and the chance of recurrence is greatly reduced. If the polyp is very small and the patient has no symptoms, follow-up can be sufficient.
Polyps may sometimes be in the cervix, and they are observed directly with a speculum during vaginal examination. Although they are generally benign, they can become malignant at a rate of 1%. When seen, it must be removed, the bottom and the inside of the uterus should be scraped in the same session, a sample should be taken and sent to pathology. These polyps can sometimes cause bleeding and spotting during intercourse. Sometimes it may cause infertility problems by preventing sperm from reaching the uterus. Polyps are generally associated with excess estrogen. Therefore, the use of hormone medication is not recommended in these cases. Since weight gain will cause excess estrogen, it is recommended that the patient lose weight to avoid experiencing the same problem again and again.
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