Uterine Polyps & Subfertility

What Are Uterine Polyps?

Uterine polyps are excessive growths of the lining of the uterus (endometrium).

What are the symptoms of Uterine Polyps?

• Difficulty in getting pregnant
• Heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding
• Bleeding between menstrual periods
• Few women with polyps
• Approximately 15-25% of women with unexplained subfertility are found to have polyps either on ultrasound or on hysteroscopy. Hysteroscopy is the gold-standard test.

How do uterine polyps affect fertility?

• By inhibiting embryo implantation
• By mechanical interference with sperm transport
• By production of chemicals that inhibit pregnancy
• But, regardless of the exact mechanism, it is clear that uterine polyps, if present can significantly decrease fertility

INSIDE THIS

• Diagnostic modalities of uterine polyps
• ‘See and treat’ approach
• Truclear technique- a state-of-the-art technology

DIAGNOSTIC MODALITIES

There are several ways used to diagnose uterine polyps, i.e.,

• Pelvic ultrasound
• Hysteroscopy
• Hystero-salpingography (HSG)

In terms of sheer diagnostic accuracy, hysteroscopy is considered as the gold standard for diagnosis of uterine polyps. With the modern technological advances, this can be achieved by passing a tiny telescope of a 2 mm hysteroscope (size of ballpoint pen’s refill) under local anesthesia and some women have it without any anesthetic. This is because they feel experience of pain from local anesthesia was more than the miniature hysteroscopy.

Why hysteroscopy is considered a gold standard technique to rule out uterine polyps?

Hysteroscopy allows direct visualization of the uterine cavity

‘SEE AND TREAT’ APPROACH

It is possible to not only to explore the uterine cavity with a tiny hysteroscope but if a polyp found it can also be taken out at the same time. This approach is called as “see and treat” approach.

This ‘See and Treat approach blurs the distinction between diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

This procedure is entirely outpatient and minimally invasive typically using local anesthesia and sometimes medications are used to soften the cervix.

This procedure typically will last one two to minutes.

‘Truclear’ technique- a state-of-the-art procedure to remove uterine polyp

Truclear technique is the latest technological advancement in the treatment of uterine polyps. Here typically cervix is softened with a medication and a local anesthetic is injected to neck of the womb and then after dilating the cervix to few millimeters, Truclear hysteroscope is gently introduced into the uterine cavity. After confirming the presence of uterine polyp, it is cut and suctioned and tissue is retrieved.

This whole procedure typically lasts between one to two minutes. Many women like to watch this procedure on the screen at the same time. After few minutes of rest, patients usually walk out of the clinic.

Few days later doctor will contact about the tissue diagnosis of the polyp removed.

This is in comparison to traditional method, where patients were put to sleep (general anesthetic) and cervix use to be dilated to twice the size (10mm) and electrical heat energy is used to resect the polyps. The traditional technique is known to be associated with higher complication rates compared to Truclear system.

How do I find out more about the diagnosis and treatment of uterine polyps?

Call 108 Medical Chambers to speak to one of our admin staff to make an appointment for a Consultation with our Consultant. If you prefer to email, you can email at info@108harleystreet.co.uk or you can fill the contact form at http://www.108harleystreet.co.uk/enquiry.php