Management of endometrial polyps: a clinical review

Endometrial polyps are common, increasing in incidence with age. They are also commoner in women with obesity and hypertension, and those treated with tamoxifen. They can be asymptomatic or can be associated with abnormal uterine bleeding. Diagnosis can be made with ultrasound or hysterosonography, but diagnostic hysteroscopy remains the gold standard is as it allows assessment of the rest of the uterine cavity. Although the risk of malignant transformation is low, the general consensus is that polyps should be removed. The most widely recommended method of removal is hysteroscopic resection. Long term follow up studies have shown that after polypectomy, symptomatic relief is greater in the older age group, so a causative role of polyps in abnormal uterine bleeding in younger women is questionable.