Definition
The term "uterine polyp" refers to a soft growth adhering to the inner wall of the uterus, protruding directly into the uterine cavity; the size of the polyps of the uterus varies from a few millimeters to a few centimeters. In some women, uterine polyps form in the form of complex aggregates, consisting of a set of small polyps; in other patients, however, a single large uterine polyp is formed.
Causes
The uterine polyps depend essentially on the abnormal and excessive growth of endometrial cells. However, the main cause responsible for the formation of uterine polyps is not yet known; among risk factors, hormonal variation appears to play a major role in uterine polyposis.
Other risk factors: advanced age, genetic predisposition
Symptoms
As with intestinal polyps, even uterine polyps are often asymptomatic and are diagnosed randomly by gynecological ultrasound. Otherwise, the symptoms related to uterine polyposis are: pain during intercourse, irregular menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, spotting, etc.), vaginal discharge in the menopausal period, infertility.
Information on Uterine Polyps - Drugs for the Treatment of Uterine Polyps is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Uterine Polyps - Drugs for the Treatment of Uterine Polyps.
drugs
Small uterine polyps tend to self-remediate, without the need to take any medication; however, it is advisable to always keep them under control, in order to avoid a possible - albeit rare - evolution in neoplasia (cervical cancer).
In most cases, the gynecologist recommends the removal of uterine polyps, especially when they are of significant size and responsible for considerable uterine bleeding.
The use of drugs is not the therapeutic option par excellence, given that at the end of drug treatment, the probability that the polyp will recur is very high; however, your doctor may prescribe hormonal drugs such as:
progestin
- Norethindrone (Ex. Activelle): the recommended dose for temporary treatment of uterine polyposis is one 5 mg tablet per day for 2 weeks. The dosage can be increased by 2.5 mg per day for two weeks, up to a max. of 15 mg a day. The therapy can be continued for 6-9 months, according to the doctor's indications.
Gonadotropins (releasing hormone agonists)
- Leuprolide (eg Lupron): in the case of uterine polyps, it is recommended to take 3.75 mg of drug intramuscularly once a month for six months; alternatively, take 11.25 mg of leuprolide every 3 months.
- Goserelin (eg. Zoladex): indicated to lighten the symptoms of uterine and endometrial polyposis (reduction of pain and lesions affecting the endometrium) to the posology of 3.6 mg of drug by subcutaneous route (application at abdominal wall level) . The 3.6 mg dose can be repeated every 28 days, as directed by your doctor. Generally, the application should be repeated 6 times (ideal overall duration of therapy: 6 months).
We have seen that the drugs used in therapy for uterine polyps are reserved only to some patients and, in the majority of cases, perform their therapeutic effect temporarily.
To completely resolve the polyposis, the patient should undergo some targeted surgical procedures, such as:
- Scraping: practice of medical competence consisting in scraping the uterine cervix with a special instrument. The scraping is carried out both for diagnostic confirmations and for extracting a fairly small polyp.
- Surgical removal: another invasive practice which consists in the complete surgical removal of the uterine polyp
- Hysterectomy: reserved exclusively for malignant neoplastic forms of uterine polyps: in other words, when a polyp contains cancer cells, the patient must undergo hysterectomy, consisting in the total removal of the uterus.
It should be emphasized that uterine polyps can recur even after surgical treatment, especially in the case of genetic predisposition; in this case, the woman will have to undergo a second operation.
