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Today I am going to tell you more about the uterine polyp surgery. Not from a medical point of view, but from the patient’s point of view as a while ago I also went through this type of procedure.

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Even if this is an “endometriosis journal”, many endometriosis patients also confront different type of other problems, such as polyps or myomas, which, in fact, may have the same cause: estrogen dominance (but not only).

The main idea is that a lot of endometriosis patients also confront uterine polyps; and many times I have found questions about this on endometriosis Facebook groups.

Therefore, if you have a uterine polyp and your doctor recommends surgery here’s how it was for me, step by step.

Uterine Polyp Surgery Removal is not as difficult as endometriosis/laparoscopy surgery

The uterine polyp surgery removal is much easier than the excision endometriosis surgery. This type of intervention (I think doctors wouldn’t name it surgery, but “intervention”) is called interventional hysteroscopy.

I would add here that, depending on the case, your doctor could opt for some extra methods to remove the polyps. Yet, for small polyps like mine (maximum 2 cm), the standard procedure is the one described below.

Read also - What can be done for spotting or too heavy periods?

The consult before the interventional hysteroscopy

You may know already you have polyps but it is always better to go again for a medical consult around the date you would want to be scheduled for hysteroscopy.

This way your doctor will see how things progressed, what are your additional problems (if any), if he is ok in scheduling your intervention at that particular moment etc.

Besides, now, you can and should ask him anything you want about the surgery.

Unfortunately, I know in many countries the access to such gynaecological exams is not very easy. In this case I would recommend waiting for your next consult and then talk to your doctor about removing your polyps and even scheduling the procedure.

Why is this consult so important if the intervention is so easy?

It is not a rule, but you shouldn’t have other problems in the pelvic area such as: a big ovarian cyst, blocked fallopian tubes, obvious inflammation in the pelvic area etc.  
If this is your case, talk and ask your doctor about it, about the risks, the “after surgery standard treatment” etc.

When it is better to do the interventional hysteroscopy for removing the polyps?

As far as I know (how it was in my case too), right after period. Yet, I also had a polyp removed in 2014 too and I remember then I was around day 13, 14. Therefore, talk to your doctor, but keep in mind this is “the recommended time frame” for this surgery.

What happens after you know the date? The preceding blood tests

Before the procedure you do some blood tests prescribed by your doctor. Generally, they should include the complete blood count (where they see the level of haemoglobin, leukocytes, lymphocytes etc.)., some blood tests for liver, coagulation time, HIV and hepatitis.

In the morning of the intervention I also did a COVID quick test in the hospital.

The actual day of intervention – how things were

I was scheduled at 13:00 p.m, arrived at hospital at around 11:30 a.m, where they did that Covid test and, after the results was negative, I want to the hospitalization department, where I was informed about the costs – I mention I did this procedure in a private hospital from Romania, so I paid the whole cost of the surgery.

Then, after this step, I was picked up by a nurse and taken to a department especially intended for “small surgeries” like mine.

There, I received a hospital robe (I didn't need anything from home), and a nurse came and put me an IV port, explaining me that was for the anaesthesia.

Then, she also took my blood pressure, made an electrocardiogram, and took my temperature.

After this step, the anaesthesiologist doctor came and explain me a little bit about my surgery and put me all kind of questions: if I am allergic to anything, if I previously made some other surgeries, how I felt then after anaesthesia etc.  I mention this step can also be done by the nurse who closely works with the anaesthesiologist.

I think after this discussion I also signed some papers and in 30 minutes the doctor came and took me in the surgery room which was right next to my room.

Everything went smoothly: they were all kind to me, I think they inserted anesthetic through that IV port (it wasn’t a mask as you can see in the movies) and I fell asleep.
My surgery did not last more than 15 minutes, I came back in the bed on my own (although I don’t remember that), and after 15-20 more minutes I think I was aware of what happens to me and around me.

Read also "The Four Stages of Endometriosis"

I felt some pains in my belly, but the nurse came and gave a strong painkiller, and afterwards things got better and better.

Two hours after surgery I was all right, three hours after I was eager to go. I felt ok, I was able to go home on my own, with a taxi (you are not allowed to drive that day).

What you are not allowed to do several days after this uterine polyp surgery removal?

On that discharge document says that after this type of intervention, for uterine polyp surgery removal you should not have hot baths for three days, you shouldn’t have any intimate contact for three days, and you shouldn’t lift heavy things for three days.

Monitoring after this surgery is essential

No matter how good you feel after the surgery, you should monitor yourself and, of course, follow all your doctor’s recommendations. If, by any chance, you are not feeling well, call your doctor or go to the hospital.

Read also 10 Dietary Supplements Beneficial in Endometriosis and 10 other Tips & Tricks

Are uterine polyps cancerous?

According to studies, the uterine polyps rarely transform into cancer or are cancer. In my case, the histopathological exam came clear so I wouldn’t worry too much about this.

Yet, if you have an uterine polyp just follow doctor’s advice, go to regular check ups and try to have a healthy lifestyle, diet included here too. I know it is not a rule and some believe and others do not believe in diet, but for me, whenever I followed a strict diet (gluten free, dairy free, sugar free, alcohol free, soy free – diet that I neglected during the pandemic time) and took some supplements to control my estrogen I forgot I have any polyp. Yet, at some point, things progressed and I couldn’t avoid uterine polyp surgery removal.

If you are braver, want “things done” and you are ok in terms of ovaries and tubes, I would say it is not such a bad idea to remove the uterine polys as soon as you find out about it...I kind of regret I didn't do this intervention earlier.

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This was my experience with uterine polyp surgery removal. Hope you found it useful and, if you are scheduled at this type of procedure, everything to go well.

Marina Rasnoveanu

Editor & Endometriosis Advocate