Endometrial polyps are a common cause of abnormal uterine bleeding in postmenopausal women. They’re growths in the lining of your uterus. Most cases aren’t cancerous. But there’s a chance the polyps can be precancerous or cancerous. This is why it’s important to see your healthcare provider if you have symptoms.
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Endometrial (uterine) polyps are growths in the inner lining of your uterus (endometrium). The polyp attaches to the lining and extends into your uterine cavity.
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Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Polyps can range in size from a few millimeters (the size of a sesame seed) to a few centimeters (the size of a golf ball) or larger. Most are under 1 centimeter. You may have one or several of them.
Endometrial polyps can cause abnormal uterine bleeding, like bleeding after menopause. Most growths are noncancerous, but a small number can become cancerous (about 1 in 20).
Removing them is the main form of treatment, especially if you have symptoms.
Endometrial polyps don’t always cause symptoms. When they do, the most common symptom is abnormal uterine bleeding, which may include:
Other less common symptoms may include pelvic pain and infertility. Polyps may interfere with a fertilized egg implanting in your uterus.
Researchers don’t know why polyps form, but hormone levels may be a factor.
Estrogen plays a role in thickening your endometrium each month during your menstrual cycle. This thickening likely contributes to polyp growth. Many risk factors for uterine polyps involve your body’s exposure to high amounts of estrogen.
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Age is a major predictor of polyps. You’re most likely to develop endometrial polyps in your 40s and 50s, around the time when you’re approaching menopause. They can also occur after menopause. They rarely affect people under 20.
Your risk of endometrial polyps also increases if you:
A rare complication of endometrial polyps is cancer. Most polyps are noncancerous. But some can turn into cancer.
Risk factors for having cancerous endometrial polyps include:
Your healthcare provider will review your medical history and ask about your symptoms. They’ll do a pelvic exam. They may suggest other tests or procedures to confirm that the growths are polyps.
These tests may include:
If your provider removes tissue, they’ll send it to a lab for testing to check for cancer cells.
Your healthcare provider may discover polyps that don’t cause symptoms during a procedure or exam for something else. Polyps can sometimes slip through your cervix. In this case, your provider may see the polyp during a pelvic exam.
Treatment will depend on your symptoms and other factors, like whether you have uterine cancer risk factors. If you’re still in your reproductive years and don’t have symptoms, your provider may just monitor it. The polyp may go away on its own.
If you’ve gone through menopause and/or the polyps are causing symptoms, you may need treatment. Your healthcare provider surgically removes the uterine polyps. They can do this in a few different ways depending on the number and size of the polyps.
If the polyps are cancerous, you’ll need additional treatment.
About 1 in 4 polyps go away within one year, especially if they’re small. This is more likely to happen if you’re premenopausal.
Surgical removal of endometrial polyps often provides great results. Most people have significant symptom improvement after this treatment.
Polyps rarely grow back (recur) after removal. If they do, your provider can recommend treatments.
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Abnormal bleeding may be a sign of endometrial polyps — especially if you’re postmenopausal. It can be alarming to have unusual bleeding. But most causes of bleeding (like polyps) are unrelated to uterine cancer. Still, see your healthcare provider to be sure. They can diagnose the cause and offer the best treatment for your situation.
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Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.
Cleveland Clinic’s health articles are based on evidence-backed information and review by medical professionals to ensure accuracy, reliability and up-to-date clinical standards.
From uterine pain to heavy periods, uterine polyps can affect your life. At Cleveland Clinic we’ll craft a treatment plan that gets you back to the things you love.
