Sudden uterine polyp

[kennetrose]

I had a medicated cycle at a private clinic in April/May, had the next cycle off but had an NHS scan in that time, and now I’m on CD12 of another medicated cycle at the private clinic. I had my mid-cycle scan today.

I say this because I’ve had a lot of scans recently. My scan today showed a uterine polyp. I had an NHS scan on 3 June, just before my period, and they didn’t say anything. Now on 18 June there is a polyp that is just under a centimetre.

My doctor didn’t seem worried. He said it wouldn’t cause infertility and we’ll just keep an eye on it. I’m trying to follow his example but I feel really alarmed. The more I read about polyps the worse it gets (I should really stop). The fact it grew so quickly freaks me out most.

Has anyone had a polyp that resolved by itself? How long did you monitor it for? If you got it removed, what triggered that decision?

@kennetrose Are you planning to freeze all, or a fresh transfer? Dr is correct in that polyps generally do not affect fertility, as in they will not affect you producing eggs/embryos, but they can affect implantation, so I’d be surprised if they let you transfer whilst the polyp is there.

I have 2 polyps which grew in 2 months and am currently waiting for removal via hysteroscopy before I can proceed with FET. Mine did not grow during stims, I did 3 rounds of freeze all embryo banking between October and January, then one (failed) FET in March. Polyps were never spotted on any scans, but I was midway through my second FET cycle when 2 were found! Dr refused to transfer as I only had 1 embryo left so it wasn’t advisable to risk it. The embryo would be put back were my polyps are, meaning they would take blood flow away from the embryo.

My polyps are 5mm and 9mm. I think mine grew due to the estrogen I was taking for FET, so i need to discuss whether I should avoid it next time. My consultant said they don’t normally disappear on their own in the way cysts often do and polyps can grow back, so this is a massive unwanted stress on top of everything else with IVF.

@IslandStars thanks for your reply. I should have been clearer - not currently going through IVF. I’m doing medicated cycles with timed intercourse. It’s so annoying how it just appeared so quickly. He said it’s small - it’s less than a centimetre (I think I saw 7mm on the screen but that could’ve been something else) but that still feels quite big for something that appeared in a couple of weeks.

It’s good to know that they don’t usually resolve on their own. That’s what I have been trying to work out. I don’t want to hope it’ll go away if it’s not likely, I’d rather focus my energy on removing it. My dr said we’d keep an eye on it. But I am about to ovulate, I already finished the course of letrozole, so I guess it makes sense to see how this cycle goes. What my doctor says seems different to everything I read online about it though! I guess also maybe mine is in a place embryos are less likely to implant and that’s why he wasn’t worried?

Hope you don’t have to wait long for your removal!

Also, totally unrelated, I just dropped the needle on the floor when giving myself my trigger shot. I had to use the needle from another pack so now I’m a needle short. Why!

@kennetrose No problem. Oh I see, I guess it’s not worth interrupting this round then, but if you do struggle to conceive or stay pregnant, then it would be worth removing, presuming the polyp is still there in future scans.

From what I’ve read, under 1cm is not a big concern, but as I’ve got 2 polyps and only 1 embryo left, it makes sense that I need them removed before I continue.

These mixing/withdrawal needles are a nightmare! Luckily some of my meds have been pre filled pens. If you can’t get hold of more needles from clinic/chemist, they’re usually pretty cheap online if you know the measurement you need. Hope this cycle goes well anyway, I know it’s hard when there’s so many hurdles along the way.

@IslandStars totally makes sense why you’re removing them! You have to control for all the variables you can.

Part of me is hoping this isn’t a polyp at all and just extra thick lining that’ll go when I get my period. Just weird how it grew so quickly.

I wish I had a pen, I think gonasi can come in one. But oh well. I’ve emailed my clinic and will also ask at a pharmacy. This will teach me to do it without help. I won’t feel guilty waking up my fiancé next time. I don’t have enough hands!

Hi, just thought I’d mention that I was also found to have a polyp. They offered me to either re-scan to see if it had gone by itself or to go straight to hysteroscopy to remove it. I should say that on the scan the consultant said that it looked like there was no blood supply and so there was a good chance it would shed by itself. But as this was what was holding up the IVF I went straight for hysteroscopy to avoid delay. Anyway to cut a long story short it had gone by the time I had the hysteroscopy so they can go without treatment. X

@Lemongrass1 That’s interesting to hear, I keep wondering if by the time I have my hysteroscopy whether my polyps would have disappeared, but I do have two and Dr said they were ‘active’ meaning blood flowing to them, so maybe not much chance they will both shed.

@IslandStars can they tell there is blood flow from an ultrasound? If so I’ll ask my doctor about mine.

@Lemongrass1 thanks, it’s good to know they can disappear, even anecdotally.

@kennetrose Yeah mine did. The Dr spent quite a long time on the ultrasound and also switched it to a 3D view which she said makes it clearer to see. At least one of mine was active with blood flow, I’m not sure about both. So that meant my embryo would have been sharing blood supply with the polyp had they transferred it.

Hi all!

I know this is a very old thread, but I'm desperately scouring the internet for some reassurance...

We've been having IVF, 3 FETs resulted in 3 miscarriages. The 4th FET was cancelled by what looked like a polyp, had a hysteroscopy 3 weeks later and literally nothing there. Had a day 8 scan today for next FET (roughly 4 weeks after hysteroscopy) and the same mass is showing on the ultrasound so everyone is really confused! I'm terrified it will be cancelled again. I wondered if anyone was firstly still around and secondly had any words of wisdom (I've been sobbing all afternoon and need to sort myself out!)

Could this is a thick area of the lining that appeared 2 months ago if they can't see anything on the hysteroscopy? Even my Dr seems confused!! I wondered what your results were @kennetrose and if all was OK?

Thanks all and sorry for jumping onto your thread xx

Hi @VioletCookie, the polyp did disappear at the start of the following cycle but it had re-appeared by the middle and stuck around for a few months until I had a hysteroscopy in November 2021 to remove it. Things can be more or less visible depending on where you are in your cycle. Was the hysteroscopy done at the beginning of your cycle? I was told early in the cycle after your period has finished is the best time to do them - small polyps could be hidden by your lining if it’s later on.

I continued doing medicated cycles without success until the hysteroscopy and it didn’t change in appearance after its reappearance. Did IVF in February 2022 and had a successful FET in April 2022, the polyp didn’t grow back thankfully.

I’m so sorry you’re having such a rubbish time of it all. It’s so unfair. I have a friend who had about three or four hysteroscopies in a short space of time because polyps kept reappearing. She ended up changing clinics and getting a new doctor and a new protocol. This helped her and she went onto have a successful FET.

@kennetrose thank you so much for your response! I'm so pleased you finally had a successful FET.

The hysteroscopy was done right before my period, probably a day or 2 before I came on. I was already a couple of weeks late due to stopping the FET meds and my cycle becoming prolonged. They said its not huge, about 7mm. I'm kicking myself we didn't wait a couple more weeks now and might have seen something! I think we'll have to fork out for another and have another cancelled cycle... 🤦🏼‍♀️

Hi, I second what @VioletCookie mentioned, depends where you are in your cycle sometimes they cannot be seen, also a fold of skin can look like one. I had one seen on a scan a few years back and when they went to remove it it wasn't there. When I went ahead with a monitored cycle before IUI last year they saw two and I went the hysteroscopy and they removed them. The following month they could see a mark on the scan but assumed it was just scarring from the removal so the 3 IUIs went ahead and did not work. At my IVF scan today they could see it and are going to check on next scan and do a 3d image. If it's a polyp it will likely be a freeze all, If it scarring the cycle will go ahead.

I was advised where it is located can some affect implantation but yes they can naturally shed aswell with your cycle.

@ttcsolomumtobe thank you for your response. I'm really kicking myself it wasn't a week or 2 later, but the consultant never asked when my last period was! I didn't realise it was a thing, he just said he'd prefer I wasn't bleeding at the time. It didn't show for the transfers where we miscarried, but was definitely something showing for the cancelled June cycle. And still there today! I don't know anything about polyps as I've never had one, so all this info is really handy and is giving me some questions to ask tomorrow.

When is your next scan? I hope this cycle goes well for you 🤞🏼

I would say if it is there 2 months in a row then it would be worth having the hysteroscopy done.
Sometimes it's also down to the quality of the machine they are using as to if they can see it in 2D / 3D.

When I started my IUI and they saw the mark I asked them what would happen if it was another polyp and they said they would still go ahead with the IUI as you cant be having hysteroscopy every month/time you see one. Which makes sense. People will get pregnancy naturally with them and never know they have them.

My next scan is Wednesday and then will tell me then when I'm triggering. Hoping the 3D scan shows the "mark" as just scar tissue and not a polyp as don't want delays.

What your saying makes sense, its crazy how this thread has told me more in one night than 2 clinics have! Fingers crossed for you lovely 🤞🏼 how many follicles do you have?

These are my ultrasound and hysteroscopy pics from last month (sorry if an overshare!). Ultrasound shows a white mass and they thought they saw a blood supply feeding it (long blue line). But absolutely nothing showing on the hysteroscopy, however my lining would have been thick as the day before my period so now I'm doubting they were right...

The grey one only is kinda what mine looked like when I had the polyp and when I had the scarring, unfortunately unless they do 3D scans and clearly see it there's no way to know. Maybe ask them if the placement is of concern? Also just before your period and your lining being thick it could be a skin fold, my clinic initially thought that.

Hope you get some answers

@ttcsolomumtobe thank you so much for your responses, best of luck for tomorrow's scan x

FET officially cancelled today, for the second time in a row 😩 There is definitely a polyp and although they couldn't see it in the last hysteroscopy I'm not willing to lose a PGT-A tested embryo without another look!

@VioletCookie im sorry to hear this but you have done the right thing as if it didn't take you would always wonder "was it because".

If the mark on my scan looks like a polyp tomorrow they may not let me do a fresh transfer or may give me the choice. I think it will come down to how many embryos I get.

Are you having to do the hysteroscopy on NHS or private?

@ttcsolomumtobe best of luck for your scan tomorrow, how's have stims been going so far?

Yes I agree, I'd never forgive myself. Just a bugger it's come up when it has and another issue to deal with 😬 it will be a private hysteroscopy, my GP won't touch me for anything fertility related since we started paying for IVF

@VioletCookie they have been going better than I expected... Although defo feeling the tiredness and backache today after a few hours walking around visiting a local city.

Yea exactly, and hopefully being private it can be done quicker. It's bad that your GP won't help with fertility related stuff.

@VioletCookie finding myself in a similar position to you now, at my scan today they are unsure if it's a polyp or scarring from a polyp so I was given the choice to cancel the entire cycle or do egg collection, I have 8 good follicles so a hope of 8 eggs so going ahead with the EC.

As the "polyp/scar" is 8mm they can still go ahead with a fresh transfer if I want to, anything 10mm or above they wouldn't let it and further investigation would be needed. Did you consultant tell you how big your polyp was and have you managed to get booked in, if so when is your appointment ?

I think I will see how many embryos I get and decided then if it's worth going ahead. My clinics private wait is October which feels forever away.

@ttcsolomumtobe sorry to hear you've had some unsettling news, how are you? Coincidentally mine is also 8mm. I would definitely get the eggs collected if you've got the possibility for 8 🤞🏼 when are you triggering? Will this be your first egg collection? Keep me posted on how they develop, everything crossed xx

My uturus is heart shaped and apparently it's right up by my tube so tricky to see. Hopefully now we've got the location we can find it, but they also said if we can't it may be a fold in the lining and we'll just have to transfer hoping for the best. Its got a feeder vessel though so I'm assuming polyp.

Fortunately I've managed to get a hysteroscopy booked for Friday, which I can't quite believe! It's with another private clinic as Create couldnt fit me in until September. I know October must feel so far away 😔 If you're happy to pay privately I'd recommend Spire Healthcare, they've been so quick with booking me in both times. I called every gynecologist in the local counties and they were the best lead times!

Im okay now I've had some time, was just so devastated earlier as all felt it was going so well till this point. This will be my first egg collection so definitely going ahead with it as got this far and a polyp doesn't affect collection. Just going to see what happens come Friday, they will do a further scan before collection and I have sent some old pics for them to compare. The dot is in literally the same spot that one was removed from and mine doesn't have a feeder vessel but it has blood showing in it, the tiniest dot.

May I ask how many follicles you had on your cycle, how many eggs collected and embryos you ended up with?

Glad you got an appointment so soon, will check them out. I'm with ABC which is part of create and earlier they advised there is 1 appointment in August (probably gone now) otherwise it's October. They haven't come back to me about the August appointment yet as I asked if I could provisionally book it as think I'm guna wait to see what the embryo numbers are like at day 3.

Are they saying the placement of yours is an issue for IVF? I ask this as when I did IUI mine is right near the fallopian tube opening and they said it would be an obstruction for the egg and the sperm meeting, yet surely that placement shouldn't affect IVF as it wouldn't implant there. The folded skin thing was something my old clinic thought they saw. Also have they shared if there's any concerns around pregnancy if the embryo implants and there's a polyp there? There's so much conflicting info. My Dad bless him was like "surely people get pregnant naturally and have these polyps" and his probably right but it's just that knowing and then that wandering like we mentioned the other day.

Keep checking in with ABC/Create, they get cancellations so you might get in sooner. But yeah the wait time has been 3 months each time I've asked! Which is why I've gone with Spire and they're happy to work together/share any findings. They've actually been really cooperative which has been nice!

I've had 2 egg collections. First one I had 10 fertilised and 4 blasto but 3 very low quality. We've had 3 transfered and 3 miscarriages so had PGT-A testing on the 2nd collection. Again we've ended up with poor quality grading but I know that's only the exterior and they can still be viable 🤞🏼

The Dr told me today that the polyp can stop implantation and may cause early miscarriage, but once an established pregnancy can make the polyp disappear (I've not actually heard that before so need to look into it?) I'm hoping as it's right by my tube there's less likelihood of implantation happening there?! No idea, but I'll add it to my list of things to be anxious about every day 😅🤣

How come you changed clinics if you don't mind me asking?