Uterine polyp - what should I know and any positive stories out there?

[PotatoesPastaAndBread]

After ttc no. 1 unsuccessfully for c. 18 months, I had a HyFoSy this week. I had probably been a bit complacent ("they won't find anything and will just come back and tell me to have more sex, and good luck"). In fact they first said my tubes looked clogged with "gunge" (the actual technical term the gynae used!) but were unclogged by the ink flow, and then the results showed a uterine polyp.

I was so surprised that I didn't really ask any questions - now I have a big list call back with. I am also being tested for low ovarian reserve (something in the hormone tests indicated it) and as polyps usually occur in women just before or after the menopause, I am worried I'm going to have early menopause (I'm 34). Also they want to put me straight in for polyp removal under GA. Reading past threads it seems you can have it done under local, so I'm wondering if it's particularly large.

I googled it and about the only thing I learned was that for medical stuff you don't know about, google is not your friend.... Or rather, google is your hysterical, overreacting friend.

So can anyone help? What should I know, what should I ask - and what does this mean for fertility treatment? Is it fast track to IVF or might I still conceive naturally if they remove it? And will I now need regular treatment for polyps for the rest of my life?

Thanks for you help.

[AttilaTheMeerkat]

"and as polyps usually occur in women just before or after the menopause"

This is not always the case. Endometrical polyps can occur in women of any age and they think that my particular one (which hung on a stalk into the uterine cavity ) had been there since not long after birth. The causes of these things is not fully understood but it is thought that estrogen plays a role with regards to them. My particular polyp was removed under GA and such things can also pump out hormones which can interfere also with ovulation. It was completely harmless but a nuisance to have overall. They did not find any more and after that was removed I needed no further treatment for them.

I would not have such a thing removed locally.

What are your hormone levels like?.

I would also write down any questions you want to ask well ahead of your next appointment; no question is daft and you do not want to leave there thinking, "oh I should have asked about xyz...".

[PotatoesPastaAndBread]

Thanks attila. I definitely have a list of questions now... how big, where, how long has it been there, recovery time, what shall I bring, will it re-grow.... loads!

Hormone levels have all been ok, except one (can't remember which) that they said looked high (although still in normal range) which could indicate low ovarian reserve. So having a test for that too.

They left a message today saying I'm booked in in a week's time. It seems very fast. I don't know if that's good or if it means they're worried. I plan to call them during opening hours tomorrow.

Thanks for your reassurance!

[Rufus200]

I had 3 polyps found on a routine scan as I have PCOS. They hadn't been there a few years before or were perviously missed. I'm 33 now and had them 2 years ago.

I had a GA and had them scraped out. It is the same procedure as for a termination, they force the cervix open and then scrape out the lining of the uterus (sounds horrible but you are asleep).

You can't use tampons after surgery, have to wear sanitary towels. There is a small risk of infection. There is some light bleeding, heavier then spotting that lasted about a week. I was a bit sore but no worse then period pain. They send the polyp off for histology just to make sure it is nothing nasty. I had my surgery on a Friday so had the weekend off, back at work on Monday.

My period pain has been a lot less since the surgery (apparently I had a very small cervix TMO).

My AMH of 12 is the low end of normal with one clinic's scale and is considered low fertility at another clinic's. Haven't started TTC yet.

[PotatoesPastaAndBread]

Thanks rufus. Interesting to hear about the impact on your periods. I have short, extremely heavy, vey painful periods and I wonder if the polyp(s) could be a factor in that, would be great if that improved.

Putting sanitary towels on the list of things to take...

AMH is the other test that has been proposed. I'm going to book it, but get this out of the way first (don't offer it on NHS here, have to go private). Thanks for sharing your experience.

[imip]

I also had a uterine polyp. It was as big as my uterus and was the cause of my infertility. I was infertile for just over a year, we had infertility investigations done privately thanks to dhs work insurance cover (a bloody lucky find!). Removal under GA. I'd always spotted throughout my cycle, this was the reason. Also my cycle seemed irregular, probably 28-31 days (I tracked it pretty meticulously). Turns out that they were actually Very Early miscarriages.

After the polyp removed under GA, I feel pregnant about 5 cycles later. I was also 34 at the time.

I have to sadly say that I lost my first baby at 25 weeks, made my experience with infertility pale into insignificance. I did go on to conceive four more 'successful' pregnancies. All born within 5 years and 2 months. I fell pregnant every single time that I first ttc.

It's likely that the polyp removal will improve your periods. Also, regarding the surgery, it was pretty straightforward. I've had four c-sections since and four cervical sutures, it was easier than they were....

Wishing you the very best of luck!

[PotatoesPastaAndBread]

sorry to hear what you've been through. I also have the 28-31 day thing and some months the heavy bleeding had made me wonder if something else is going on (early miscarriage? ).

I am 35 very soon and the nurse seems to be trying to rush me to ivf as fast as possible (have to start treatment before turning 35 for it to be free on nhs) but I'm not so sure, I feel I want to give it some months of trying naturally after having the hyfosy and polyp
removed as I hear that can make all the difference due to flushing out tubes etc. I seem to ovulate fine. Your
story makes me think I should stick to my guns on that.

Glad it worked out for you

[PotatoesPastaAndBread]

Sorry I deleted my first line there:
Thanks for sharing your story imip, and sorry to hear what you've been through.

[imip]

Interesting... BecaUse mine was done privately it moved very quickly. I also hAd the hystosalinpinogram (sp,).

With my miscarriages, it was the little signs that I didn't know would be 'my' signs while pregnant. Eg, huge huge nipples and enormous boobs! I used to think, how funny that happens with some periods and not others.

If this is the same for you, then it is actually good news, because you can conceive. Sometimes I feel a little empty about the miscarriages, there were about 4 or so, ironically I am quite fertile. I remember one on my birthday in marrakesh, I had a horrendous period about four days late with those boobs... Like I said though, all pales into insignificance, so I don't dwell....

I hope it is not too long til you have the op...

[PotatoesPastaAndBread]

Sounds awful imip. And I know I could be a lot worse off. I have had pms where I totally outgrow my bra... but not had the dark nipples. I wonder.

Op is in nine days. Really they're in a hurry! I asked why and the nurse said it's so I cant sue them for delaying me and missing starting ivf before I turn 35 and gave to pay!! It's sad that they have to worry about that! And means they aren't giving good advice on whether I
should wait a few months and try naturally; will only
quote statistics about length of time trying and success naturally/ on ivf. They don't want to be seen to be delaying me.

Anyway cross that bridge later and all that. Thanks again for sharing

[stubbornstains]

I had a uterine polyp removed at 35 and conceived DS about 6 weeks later . It's a very simple, quick procedure- GA, but day surgery.

I'm now 40 and TTC- I keep nagging the GP to send me for an ultrasound, but she keeps hanging back. Surely if I've had a polyp once I stand a greater chance of growing another one?!

[PotatoesPastaAndBread]

Thanks stubborn

Seven days on and I am still bleeding.... Am super positive about conceiving now (hopefully not too optimistic...) and hope I stop bleeding soon!