Almost every woman in the world knows the possible dangers that uterine polyps can provide if they are not treated in time. However, there are some women who are not aware of what uterine polyps are. They should know that they are growths attached to the inner wall of the uterus and projecting into the uterine cavity. These uterine polyps occur when there is an overgrowth of cells in the lining of the uterus.
Women should also know that the size of polyps can range from a few millimeters to even the size of a golf ball. A woman may have one or several uterine polyps at one time. In most cases the polyps remain in the uterus but in some rare cases they can slip through the opening of the uterus and end up in a woman’s vagina. Every woman can suffer from uterine polyps but it is a lot more common for women older than 40 years of age to be suffering from them.
Causes
The doctors are still unsure on what the exact cause of uterine polyps is. However, they are almost sure that hormonal factors play a role in that process. Since uterine polyps are estrogen-sensitive, they respond to estrogen in the same way as the lining of the uterus does. Tests and diagnosis
In cases when the doctor suspects that a woman may be suffering from uterine polyps, he or she will order some additional tests or procedures in order to be sure. Some of these tests and procedures are transvaginal ultrasound, hysteroscopy and curettage.
Women should know that in most cases uterine polyps are not cancerous. However, in certain cases they may be cancerous. Whenever a doctor performs a checkup, he or she will send a tissue sample to the laboratory for it to be tested.
Treatments and drugs
There are a lot of options for women who have uterine polyps. Some prefer to wait and see whether the problem will resolve on its own. Unless there is a risk of uterine cancer there is no need for a treatment.
Taking certain medications that will shrink uterine polyps and reduce the symptoms is also an option. However, this is not a long-term solution.
Undergoing a surgery that will remove the polyps is another option and a lot of women go for this option. Apart from these, there are also curettage and hysterectomy as options. Women need to know that even though uterine polyps are removed, they may recur.
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