Can Uterine Polyps Go Away on Their Own?
Uterine polyps, sometimes called endometrial polyps, are a common women’s health condition, affecting around 30% of women at some point during their lives.
The condition is a common cause of abnormal uterine bleeding, including heavy periods and bleeding between periods.
If you are concerned about endometrial polyps, contact the team of gynecologists at Maiden Lane Medical in Manhattan, New York. Our team offers expert diagnosis to identify the cause of your symptoms and personalized treatment to restore your health and relieve your symptoms.
What are uterine polyps?
Uterine polyps are soft, small growths that develop on the inside lining of the uterus. Polyps are usually noncancerous but can become precancerous polyps or cancerous.
Uterine polyps can vary in size, from very small to as large as a golf ball. It’s also possible to have one or several polyps — every patient is different.
Additionally, polyps are different from uterine fibroids. Polyps consist of the same cells that form your endometrium, while fibroids are made up of muscle cells. Let’s explore some of the details about polyps.
Symptoms of uterine polyps
Irregular menstrual bleeding is a common symptom of uterine polyps. You might also have irregular periods or very heavy or long-lasting periods. Some experience spotting between periods or vaginal bleeding after menopause. In some cases, uterine polyps affect fertility, making it difficult to conceive.
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Causes and risk factors
Physicians don’t know exactly what causes uterine polyps. However, there is a link between uterine polyp development and your hormones. Uterine polyps are estrogen sensitive and may form in response to circulating estrogen.
Some of the common risk factors for uterine polyps include:
- Age
- Perimenopause or menopause
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Certain medicines like tamoxifen
Women of any age have a risk of developing uterine polyps. However, the condition is less common in younger women.
Why get them checked?
The symptoms of uterine polyps are similar to uterine cancer symptoms, so it’s critical to see your doctor and get a diagnosis and treatment. Uterine cancers can go undiagnosed as the cancerous cells trigger symptoms that many women accept as a normal part of their menstrual cycle.
Any heavy or abnormal uterine bleeding or severe pelvic pain should be a concern and lead to an appointment with your gynecologist.
Diagnosis
The Maiden Lane Medical team provides comprehensive diagnostic tests to identify the cause of your irregular bleeding and other symptoms. After a consultation and pelvic exam, your gynecologist may order additional lab tests to evaluate your hormones and diagnostic imaging tests, such as a transvaginal ultrasound, hysteroscopy, or hysterosonography.
These tests allow your doctor to examine the inside of your uterine cavity and confirm the presence of endometrial polyps.
If your doctor finds abnormal growths in your endometrial lining, they may order an endometrial biopsy to take a sample of cells for additional testing.
Can uterine polyps fall out on their own?
In some cases, uterine polyps will go away on their own. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may recommend watchful waiting as a treatment plan. For example, small polyps that don’t cause symptoms often resolve without medical intervention.
How are uterine polyps treated?
However, if your endometrial polyp symptoms are interfering with your health and quality of life, your physician will create a personalized treatment plan, which may include the following:
Hormonal medications
Certain hormonal medications, such as progestins and gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, are often prescribed to treat endometrial polyps. These medicines regulate your hormones, which can shrink polyps and relieve your symptoms.
Minimally invasive gynecology surgery
If medication doesn’t effectively relieve your symptoms, your doctor may suggest a surgical procedure to remove the endometrial polyps. The team at Maiden Lane Medical specializes in minimally invasive surgical removal of polyps and uses state-of-the-art medical technology to remove the endometrial polyps while preserving your fertility.
However, if your polyps are cancerous, our doctor may recommend a hysterectomy to remove your uterus and eliminate the risk of cancer cells developing again.
Call, text, or use the online contact us form to schedule a consultation at Maiden Lane Medical today if you have any concerns about your reproductive health. Our specialists in Manhattan, NY are ready to put your mind at ease.
Marina Arutyunyan DO, MPH
Board Certified Gynecologist