Uterine Polyps: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
I call them pesky polyps because that’s just what they are … pesky! Polyps can happen in many different places in the body, but the ones we worry about in fertility are uterine polyps. These pesky polyps decrease pregnancy rates and have a habit of coming back even after removal.
It’s not the same polyp growing over and over; it’s that sometimes a patient has a propensity to have polyps. The good news is that Dr. Wells and I are good at catching them and even better at safely removing them.
What are polyps anyway?
Uterine polyps are localized, hyperplastic overgrowth of endometrial glands and stroma around a vascular core. This overgrowth forms either a sessile (or flat) polyp or a pedunculated (or projecting) polyp from the lining of the uterus.
Sometimes these growths also have smooth muscle present. Polyps can be single in number, but multiple polyps can also occur. They range in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters and they can occur anywhere in the uterine cavity.
Why do polyps occur?
We don’t know for sure, but we have some theories. These include:
• Endometrial hyperplasia (abnormal growth of the uterine lining)
• Overexpression of an enzyme found in the lining of the uterus called aromatase
• Possible genetic factors that explain the propensity to produce these pesky polyps.