Endometrial polyps

  Endometrial polyps are a common gynecological condition. Usually, it is found during gynecological check-ups, but some patients show irregular bleeding after menstruation or affect pregnancy leading to infertility.  The incidence in the population is about 7.8-34.9%, the older the patient, the higher the incidence, and more common in postmenopausal patients than in premenopausal patients.  The etiology of endometrial polyps is less clear, and some studies suggest that it may be a polygenic disease, related to both estrogen and progesterone. Some breast cancer patients are also prone to polyps with the use of triamcinolone.  Most patients do not have any uncomfortable symptoms. About 68% of patients may experience abnormal vaginal bleeding. Irregular bleeding can take different forms, including heavy menstruation, irregular bleeding, bleeding after sex or intermenstrual bleeding. Postmenopausal bleeding is also due to polyps in about 1/4 of patients. A quarter of patients may have a combination of cervical polyps.  In younger patients, endometrial polyps may also be a cause of infertility, and surgical removal may be considered if other causes of infertility are not present.  The chance of malignancy in polyps is very low, with a summary of the literature finding a range of 0-4.8%, with a relatively high incidence in postmenopausal patients with symptoms.  The decision of whether a polyp needs to be treated requires a combination of the patient’s symptoms, the risk of malignancy, whether there is a combination of infertility problems, and the conditions of the hospital.  Twenty-seven percent of polyps, after one year of observation, can resolve spontaneously. In general, small polyps under 25px are prone to regression and have little chance of malignancy; therefore, polyps under 25px are an option for conservative observation.  Some studies suggest that polyps have a better chance of disappearing after progestin-based medication, but the side effects of long-term hormonal medication need to be considered. The hormone-containing contraceptive ring (Mannedal) also has a role in reducing the occurrence of polyps, but is still under study.  For treatment, blind scraping is no longer recommended, but more often hysteroscopic surgery is recommended, not only to examine the uterine cavity, but also to surgically remove the polyps at the same time.  Patients who have infertility in the presence of polyps are an indication for surgical removal of uterine polyps, and the pregnancy rate after surgery can be 43-80%. Pregnancy outcome can be improved by surgery.  Postoperative recurrence is a rare phenomenon, with one foreign study suggesting a recurrence rate of 3.7% at 9 years, with fewer requiring reoperative intervention after surgery.  In conclusion, the need for surgery after being diagnosed with an endometrial polyp requires a combination of the patient’s symptoms, the size of the polyp, the possibility of malignancy, and whether it affects fertility. If surgery is needed, hysteroscopy with simultaneous removal of polyps is a surgical option to consider.