Uterine Polyps? Here’s Advice from the Mayo Clinic

Although getting rid of a benigh uterine polyp is a good idea, having the entire uterus removed (by undergoing hysterectomy) could be an “overreaction,” according to an article by Dr. Bobbie Gostout of the Mayo Clinic.

Dr. Gostout says:

The preferred means for removing uterine polyps is through the outpatient procedures of hysteroscopy, curettage (often referred to as “D&C,” for dilation and curettage), or, increasingly, the two methods in combination.

In a hysteroscopy, the doctor inserts a thin, flexible, lighted scope (hysteroscope) through the vagina into the uterus. This technology not only allows the doctor to examine the uterus for the presence of polyps but also makes it possible to remove them at the same time, as long as they’re not too large. He or she does the excising with tiny cutting instruments inserted through the hysteroscope.

The time-honored D&C is still the method of choice, especially for larger polyps.

Here’s the Q&A on uterine polyps and here’s a more comprehensive article.