Why uterine polyps bleed

They are usually about the size of a pencil eraser, although they can be even smaller. Rarely, polyps can grow to the size of an orange! Since most polyps are small, they probably do not often cause symptoms. However, when symptoms do occur, they usually include excessive bleeding during a menstrual period, or bleeding in between periods, or even spotting after intercourse. Some women report a few days of brown blood after a normal menstrual period.

Polyps cause these symptoms because they dangle from their stalks and irritate the surrounding tissue, which causes the tissue to rub off, exposing tiny blood vessels. These blood vessels bleed, leading to spotting or vaginal bleeding. If the polyp interferes with the egg and sperm, it may make it hard to get pregnant. Nobody knows how common this is. It is also possible that they may lead to a slightly higher chance of miscarriage, but this is also unknown.

Most gynecologists will remove polyps, as discussed below, if they are found in women with a history of miscarriage. If a woman goes to her doctor complaining of spotting between periods or after intercourse, or very heavy bleeding during a menstrual period, her doctor will usually think of polyps as one of the many possible causes. Diagnosing endometrial polyps involves looking inside the uterine cavity.

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Amsterdam: Elsevier, , pp. Khaund A, Lumsden AM. Benign disease of the uterus. In: Edmonds K. Uterine polyps may be completely asymptomatic, or can cause symptoms like heavy periods or bleeding between periods. Cervical polyps arise from the inner lining of the cervix, the entrance to the uterus located at the top of the vagina.

They may cause no symptoms at all or they may cause spotting between periods, especially with intercourse. It is not known why some women develop polyps while others do not. They do seem to be related to certain conditions:. Diagnosis of polyps depends on their location, size, and number. While most polyps are benign, a small proportion of polyps are malignant cancerous. Irregular menstrual bleeding, bleeding after menopause, excessively heavy menstrual flow or bleeding between periods could signal the presence of uterine polyps.

Uterine polyps are growths attached to the inner wall of the uterus that extend into the uterine cavity. Overgrowth of cells in the lining of the uterus endometrium leads to the formation of uterine polyps, also known as endometrial polyps. These polyps are usually noncancerous benign , although some can be cancerous or can eventually turn into cancer precancerous polyps. Uterine polyps range in size from a few millimeters — no larger than a sesame seed — to several centimeters — golf-ball-size or larger.

They attach to the uterine wall by a large base or a thin stalk. You can have one or many uterine polyps. They usually stay contained within your uterus, but occasionally, they slip down through the opening of the uterus cervix into your vagina.