There are many diseases and complications that can arise in our bodies throughout life. Some are quite well known and easy to treat, others are also famous but difficult to manage, while there are problems that many people are not even aware exist. This is the case with polyps, a type of phenomenon that can occur in our bodies and that many people do not know about.
What Are Polyps?
Polyps are pieces of tissue that grow abnormally in certain parts of the body such as the uterus, intestines, or rectum and usually appear in people over the age of 50. They are almost always benign, although there are risks associated with certain types of polyps. These tissue growths can have a wart-like or mushroom-like shape, with the latter requiring more attention as it may indicate the onset of certain diseases. The two most common types of polyps are uterine and intestinal polyps, and that’s why we’re going to talk more deeply about both.
Uterine Polyps
They are more frequent in older women, especially those going through menopause, but can appear at any age. These are polyps located on the inner wall of the uterus caused by excess endometrial tissue. These tumors, although almost always benign, can cause certain problems, such as difficulty for women to get pregnant and more intense pain during menstruation, pain which is often confused with menstrual cramps.
Symptoms of Uterine Polyps
Several symptoms can indicate the presence of uterine polyps, including:
- Vaginal bleeding outside the menstrual period and with a heavy flow;
- Vaginal bleeding during or after sex;
- Irregular menstruation;
- Difficulty getting pregnant
Although some of these symptoms may indicate other problems, it is important to pay attention and see a gynecologist as soon as you notice any of them, to be sure of the cause and start treatment.
Treatment of Uterine Polyps
The treatment of uterine polyps is only done if the woman is having a lot of trouble getting pregnant or if their presence indicates signs of a malignant tumor. In such cases, some procedures may be taken, such as taking progesterone-based medications, which reduce the size of the polyps until they are eliminated. In more extreme cases where there is danger to the woman, surgery to remove the uterus may be necessary, but everything should be thoroughly discussed with the gynecologist before any drastic measures are taken.
Intestinal Polyps
Intestinal polyps can appear in both the colon and rectum and there are several types, both benign and malignant. These polyps can be flat or spherical with a wart-like shape, and both types can appear at the same time. Several factors contribute to the appearance of intestinal polyps, such as age. It is estimated that people over the age of 50 are much more likely to develop them than younger people. Additionally, people’s eating habits also directly influence the appearance of this type of polyp. Foods with preservatives and a lot of salt considerably increase their occurrence, and also increase the chances of developing cancer.
Symptoms of Intestinal Polyps
Intestinal polyps can be identified through some symptoms, such as:
- Bloody stools;
- Abdominal pain;
- Changes in bowel function
However, unfortunately, they often present no symptoms and are only discovered after diagnostic tests such as X-rays. For this reason, it is important to always keep your exams up to date, since early detection of intestinal polyps can make treatment easier.
Treatment of Intestinal Polyps
First of all, a biopsy is necessary to check whether or not there are malignant cells among the intestinal polyps. The most common way to remove polyps is through colonoscopy, but more complex surgeries may be needed depending on the patient’s clinical situation.
Do Polyps Turn Into Cancer?
Most polyps are benign, meaning they do not pose a danger of becoming cancerous, even though they require treatment. However, there are some that can become cancerous, usually those with a mushroom shape or those that are very large, since the larger the polyp, the higher the chance it will develop cancerous cells. The Adenomatous Polyp, which develops in the intestine, is considered dangerous and its cells are considered “pre-cancerous.” For this reason, the earlier the diagnosis is made, the greater the chance that this problem can be resolved before the polyp develops into a more serious and much more complicated disease. Problems like polyps may be unknown to many people, but they can be a real danger, especially when there is a risk of them becoming cancer. Keeping all your exams up to date is important so that any problem that exists is detected early, thus making any type of treatment easier. And that is why any type of problem needs to be known, no matter how insignificant or distant from your reality it might seem. After all, we never know if we’ll have to deal with it or not, and it’s always good to be prepared. Also see: Crohn’s Disease – Types, Causes, and Diagnosis Photo: Nephron