Uterine Polyps Or Fibroids

Uterine polyps or fibroids

Uterine polyps or fibroids are small outgrowths of the uterus that are inoffensive. They are very common and don’t pose a serious threat unless they get complicated. These are benign tumors of the uterus and are not involved in any cancerous activities. Unlike malignant tumors, they lack the ability of metastasis and are not responsible for malicious deeds.

Uterine polyps are small extensions of the uterine lining. The inner lining of the uterus is known as endometrium and that is why uterine polyps are also called as endometrial polyps. These projections look like fingers or small mushrooms and are very fragile. For the most part, polyps grow from the lining but occasionally they may grow on the cervix (neck of the uterus). These polyps cause irritation and some other abnormalities. They can easily be diagnosed by the examination of cervix via speculum.

Polyps are not confined to uterus and can develop in various other parts of the body, for instance in large intestine. Such polyps were really considered as a precursor of some cancerous activities. On the other hand, uterine polyps have not that case. In most of the cases, being benign, they are not involved in any cancerous activities. In the present days, the situation has changed to some extent. With the increase in the utilization of the medical ultrasonography, the number of polyps with abnormal growth has substantially increased. This has increased the ratio of endometrial cancer, arising from polyps, to 2%.  Therefore it is recommended that the patient should get rid of these protrusions, so that nothing complicated arises.

Uterine polyps are not associated with any specific type of symptoms. Some patients who develop polyps show symptoms while others don’t. A number of the common symptoms include heavy periods, prolonged menstrual cycle, post-menopausal vaginal bleeding etc. Due to such a heavy bleeding, the patient may suffer acute deficiency of red blood cells, a condition known as anemia.  Such patient suffers cramps, dizziness, weakness etc. They should be given iron supplements to overcome the deficiency of iron.

There are plenty of methods for the detection of polyps such as hysterosonography, transvaginal ultrasound, curettage etc. These methods can effectively tell the presence or absence of polyps. Regarding the treatments of polyps, hormonal therapy, hysterectomy and excision are the available options.

As mentioned above uterine fibroids are benign tumors that get developed in the uterus. Although they are ubiquitous, yet they are much more common in African American women as compared to another. They are very common among women who are of the age group of 25-35. It is very rare to have fibroids in teenage girls and post-menopausal women.

Uterine fibroids have no accurate causes known. Their development is associated with estrogen as they are involved in increasing the size of fibroids. Owing to this reason, women who reached menopause don’t develop fibroids. Their common symptoms include irregularities in menstrual cycle.

In the nutshell tumors like ovarian cysts, fibroids and polyps should not be considered as serious threat for life of the women, owing to their harmless nature. In case of any complication, the patient should be treated timely to avoid unnecessary consequences.