Polyps: What They Are and How to Treat them

There are several diseases and complications that can arise in our bodies throughout life. Some are very famous and easy to treat, others are also famous, but difficult to deal with, while there are those problems that many do not even imagine exist. This is the case of polyps , a type of phenomenon that can occur in our bodies and that many people are unaware of.

What are polyps?

Polyps are pieces of tissue that grow abnormally in certain regions of the body such as the uterus, intestine or rectum and usually appear in people over 50. They are almost always benign , although there are dangers involving some types of polyps.

These tissue growths may have a shape similar to that of a wart or a mushroom, the second type of shape being the reason for more attention, as it may indicate the onset of certain diseases. The two most common types of polyps are uterine and intestinal, which is why we are going to talk more deeply about both.

Uterine Polyps

They are more frequent in older women, especially those who are going through menopause , but they can appear at any age. These are polyps that are 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 difficulties for the woman to get pregnant and cause more severe pain when the woman is menstruating, a pain that is often confused with menstrual cramps.

Symptoms of Uterine Polyp

Several symptoms can indicate the existence of uterine polyps, including:

Although some of these symptoms indicate other problems, it is necessary to pay attention and visit a gynecologist as soon as you feel any of them to be sure of what it is and start a treatment.

Treatment of Uterine Polyp

The treatment of uterine polyps is only done if the woman is having a lot of problems getting pregnant or if its presence indicates any sign of a malignant tumor. In such cases, some procedures can be taken, such as taking progesterone-based drugs , which reduce the size of the polyps until they are eliminated.

In more extreme cases and where there is danger to the woman, surgery for the removal of the uterus may be necessary, but everything should be very well discussed with the gynecologist before any radical action is taken.

Intestinal Polyps

Intestinal polyps can appear in both the colon and the rectum and there are several types , both benign and malignant. These polyps can be flat or spherical in shape of a wart and can appear both at the same time.

Some factors contribute to the appearance of intestinal polyps, such as age, for example. It is estimated that people over 50 are much more likely to develop them than younger people.

In addition, 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 appearance, in addition to also increasing the chances of the person developing cancer.

Symptoms of Intestinal Polyp

Intestinal polyps can be identified through some symptoms such as:

  • Bloody stools;
  • Abdominal pain;
  • Alteration in intestinal functioning

However, the bad news is that they often do not show any symptoms and are only discovered after tests such as x-rays. For this reason it is important to always keep the exams up to date, as the early identification of intestinal polyps can facilitate treatment.

Treatment of Intestinal Polyp

First of all, it is necessary to have a biopsy to check whether or not there are malignant cells between the intestinal polyps. The most common way to remove polyps is through colonoscopy , but more complex surgery may be necessary depending on the patient’s clinical condition.

Do polyps turn into cancer?

Most polyps are benign, that is, they pose no danger of becoming cancer, despite needing treatment. However, there are those that can become cancer , usually those that have a mushroom shape or those that are very large, since the larger the polyp, the greater the chance of it developing cancer cells.

The Adenomatous Polyp, which develops in the intestine, is considered dangerous and its cells are considered “precancerous”. For this reason, the sooner the diagnosis is made, the greater the chance of this problem being resolved without the polyp becoming a more serious disease and causing much more serious complications.

Problems like polyps may be unknown to many people, but they can be a real danger, especially when there is a risk of becoming cancer. Being up to date with all exams is important for any problem to exist, to be detected early, thus facilitating any type of treatment.

And it is for this reason that any kind of problem needs to be known, however insignificant or distant from your reality it may seem. After all, we never know if we are going to have to deal with it or not and it is always good to be prepared.

See also: Crohn’s Disease – Types, Causes and Diagnosis

Dr. Alexis Hart
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My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.

Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.

Dr. Alexis Hart

My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.

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