Uterine Polyps Diagnosis

a blog by Beth Hartog, M.D., East Coast Infertility & IVF, January 19, 2012

Have you been diagnosed with uterine polyps?

If you are navigating the infertility path and have been diagnosed with uterine polyps, here are some quick tidbits of information to help you understand this diagnosis.

• Uterine polyps are common; the incidence rises steadily with increasing age. Polyps frequently occur in a group (multiple polyps), but you can also have a single polyp. Polyps range in size from 2 to 3 millimeters to 2 to 3 centimeters. The overwhelming majority of polyps are benign. Frequently, polyps will cause abnormal menses; either heavy bleeding or spotting between menses.
• The most efficient way to diagnose polyps is by sonohysterography. This is a procedure in which saline is placed into the uterine cavity while watching with the ultrasound machine. The sonohysterogram is better at diagnosing the polyps then an ultrasound without saline.
• It is likely that polyps interfere with establishing a pregnancy and also may be implicated in causing a miscarriage. Sometimes polyps can go away on their own, but, most often, they need to be removed. Polyp removal is best accomplished by placing a special telescope through the cervix, identifying the polyp and removing it with a surgical instrument. The polyp is then sent to the laboratory to be certain it is benign. This surgical removal of the polyp is best done before moving on to any fertility treatment cycles that you may be considering.