Uterine polyps. Uterine polyp removal operation
Uterine polyp is a growth that is formed from the endometrium (inner lining of the uterus) as a result of its growth. What are the symptoms of a uterine polyp, why it occurs and how to treat it - it is worth knowing, the disease most often occurs in women of childbearing age.
Causes and factors that contribute to the occurrence of uterine polyps
A uterine polyp is the result of a hyperplastic process (simply speaking, tissue growth). But it does not belong to true tumors - it is a limited growth of tissue structures. Usually, a polyp has a long stem and a rounded body.
It is still unknown why normal tissues of the human body suddenly begin to regenerate and grow. The exact causes of the formation of polyps in the uterus are unknown. But the factors contributing to their emergence and growth are highlighted. First of all, it is:
- excessive amount of estrogens in the blood (the growth of the endometrium depends on them). What is important is not a one-time increase in the number of these hormones, but a chronic one;
- lack of progesterone;
- endocrine failure not only on the part of female sex hormones, but also other hormones - in particular, diabetes;
- other gynecological diseases – fibromyoma of the uterus, genital endometriosis and inflammatory impression of the endometrium, violation of the ovarian-menstrual cycle (in this case, it is best to decide how to treat uterine polyps);
- artificial termination of pregnancy (abortion);
- age from 40 to 50 years;
- excess body weight (obesity).
A genetic predisposition to the disease has also been noted. Having diagnosed this pathology and remembering how dangerous the occurrence of polyps in the uterus is, it is necessary to find out whether the patient's relatives have the same pathology.
Clinical symptoms
Let's consider what symptoms of a uterine polyp can occur in a woman. First of all, patients are concerned about:
- discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen;
- significant uterine bleeding that appears either during menstruation or a few days after the cessation of menstrual discharge;
- irregularity of the menstrual cycle;
- discomfort and pain during intercourse;
- bloody discharge after intercourse.
Similar symptoms occur with a polyp of the cervical canal of the uterus, not only its body. An accurate diagnosis can only be made by an experienced specialist working in a reputable clinic.
Often, small polyps may not show up at all. They are discovered accidentally - when a woman came to see a gynecologist for another gynecological pathology or during a preventive examination, when the doctor referred the patient to additional examination methods.
If a woman has already been operated on for a uterine polyp, she may have discharge in the postoperative period - if they are few, they should not be considered pathological.
Diagnosis of the disease
In some cases, clinical symptoms are not enough to diagnose a uterine polyp. Therefore, additional research methods are used - these are:
- metrography with the use of contrast - through the cervix, a contrast substance is injected into its cavity, then an X-ray is taken;
- hysteroscopy - a hysteroscope (a device with built-in optics) is inserted into the uterine cavity, with the help of which changes in the inner lining of the uterus can be recorded visually, in particular, polyposis growths can be detected.
Previously, uterine polyps were diagnosed mainly in patients of childbearing age. Now the incidence of polyps has increased in young girls who have not yet started sexual life and in women who have reached menopause. Age nuances are important in the case of significant polyposis: if the patient has not yet given birth, the doctor is faced with a choice - whether to remove the polyp in the bottom of the uterus with an attempt to preserve the organ, or to extirpate the uterus. With the first option, there are chances that a woman will be able to become a mother.
Complications of uterine polyps
Sometimes small endometriosis growths ""live"" in the uterine cavity for years and do not cause discomfort. But it should be remembered how dangerous the occurrence of polyps in the uterus is:
- polyps of medium and large sizes lead to the fact that a woman cannot become pregnant - a polypous growth prevents a fertilized egg from attaching to the inner surface of the uterus;
- uterine polyps often provoke heavy bleeding, which leads to significant blood loss;
- in 2-3% of all clinical cases, endometriotic polypous growths degenerate into cancerous tumors.
Polypous growths can grow over time to such an extent that they protrude from the body into the cervix, causing physiological discomfort during sexual intercourse.
How to treat uterine polyps
Acceptance of any ""home-proven"" remedy for the treatment of a polyp of the cervix or its body can have sad consequences. Treatment of pathology should be carried out by a highly qualified and experienced specialist who will make the appointment after a thorough examination of the patient.
If polyps are found in the uterus, they should be removed. It is possible to treat a uterine polyp without surgery by an open method (with dissection of the abdominal cavity). This method can be used during hysteroscopy - examination of the uterine cavity using a hysteroscope. When a polyp is detected, its base is cut, and the site of the cut is treated (burned) with liquid nitrogen. In fact, the diagnostic procedure turns into a therapeutic one.
If the removal of a uterine polyp is impossible due to technical reasons (lack of necessary equipment, inability to enter the uterine cavity through the cervix, etc.), an operation to remove the polyp from the uterus with laparotomy (incision of the anterior abdominal wall) is indicated.
Removal of uterine polyps by laser has been used more and more successfully in recent years. The laser knife not only cuts out endometrial tissue that has grown, but also ""welds"" the walls of blood vessels, thereby preventing bleeding. There were almost no negative consequences of removing a polyp in the uterus with a laser.
You can read more about the treatment of uterine polyps on our website Dobrobut.com.
Related services:
Gynecological Check-up
Colposcopy
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