With increasingly advanced detection methods, the detection rate of endometrial polyps is gradually increasing. However, many patients still do not know enough about the disease, delaying treatment and causing more harm. So what exactly are the dangers of endometrial polyps? What symptoms should be alerted? The endometrial polyp is often related to endometrial hyperplasia Dr. Fan said, “From the reproductive age to postmenopausal women, are the high incidence of endometrial polyps. Endometrial polyps are proliferative changes in the endometrium, which may be related to long-term gynecological inflammation, stimulation of foreign bodies in the uterine cavity (such as the contraceptive ring), infection caused by childbirth or abortion, high estrogen levels and immune factors, etc. The cause of the disease has not yet been determined. However, women who suffer from long-term gynecological inflammation must be actively examined and treated.” Endometrial polyps can cause gradually increasing abdominal pain For the harm of endometrial polyps, Dr. Fan said, “80% of patients with endometrial polyps will have abdominal pain. The abdominal pain during the patient’s period is different from what is often referred to as dysmenorrhea. The primary dysmenorrhea is mainly due to the increase of endometrial prostaglandin content during menstruation, which causes excessive contraction of uterine smooth muscle and vascular spasm, resulting in uterine ischemia and hypoxia. In contrast, menstrual abdominal pain caused by endometrial polyps is due to the obstruction of endometrial polyps, which leads to poor discharge of menstrual blood and accumulation of abdominal pain in the uterine cavity, thus causing progressive increase in abdominal pain. Therefore, abdominal pain often starts in the second half of the menstrual period and gradually disappears after the menstruation clears. In addition, polyps are relatively foreign bodies in the uterine cavity, and if they are large, the uterus will have a protective rejection reaction. This rejection reaction, just like a spontaneous abortion, causes contractions and consequently abdominal pain.” Persistent irregular bleeding is one of the typical symptoms Menstrual disorders are one of the symptoms of almost all internal uterine pathologies, and for menstrual disorders caused by endometrial polyps, Dr. Fan explains, “Multiple polyps or larger endometrial polyps may cause increased menstrual flow or irregular uterine bleeding. Due to the hyperplasia of the endometrium, patients may experience continuous bleeding after menopause, which may also manifest as shortened cycles, prolonged periods, or even bleeding for up to a month, and heavy bleeding may cause anemia. Larger polyps or polyps that protrude into the cervical canal may also become infected and necrotic, causing irregular vaginal bleeding and secretion of purulent leucorrhea with a foul odor.” Endometrial polyps can affect conception in many ways Dr. Fan specifically mentioned the problem of infertility caused by endometrial polyps, “Depending on the size and location of endometrial polyps, it can cause infertility in many ways. A polyp growing in the uterine cavity may prevent a fertilized egg from being laid or interfere with the development of an embryo. If they grow in the cervical canal, they may prevent sperm from entering the uterine cavity and uniting with the egg. If the polyp is combined with an infection it is also detrimental to the viability of the sperm and egg. Combined tubal or ovarian infections may cause obstructive or anovulatory infertility. If conception occurs, early larger polyps may also cause miscarriage due to poor blood supply to the placenta.” Finally, Dr. Fan reminds us that whether symptoms appear or abnormalities are found during ultrasound physical examination, further diagnosis and timely treatment are needed. At present, hysteroscopy is the ideal way to check. The hysteroscope enters the uterine cavity through the vagina with minimal damage. After entering the uterine cavity, the hysteroscope can clearly observe the situation inside the uterine cavity under direct vision and diagnose the condition more accurately. Experience has shown that the pain of hysteroscopy is generally tolerated by patients, so do not delay the examination for fear of pain.