Uterine polyps, also known as endometrial polyps are abnormal growths that form on the inner lining of the uterus (the endometrium). They are usually benign (non-cancerous), but can sometimes become cancerous. Uterus polyps affect women in all age groups from reproductive years to post menopause.
Presence of uterine polyps can cause abnormal uterine bleeding, such as several days of menstrual bleeding, mid-cycle bleeding, or excessive blood loss due to heavy bleeding during the menstrual cycle.
Ayurvedic treatment offers a safe and effective way to remove uterus polyps without surgery. There are many Ayurvedic herbal remedies and medicines that provide natural treatment option to remove and prevent uterine polyps. They also help to balance your hormones so that polyps, cysts and fibroid will not come back after the treatment.
What is Uterus Polyp?
Polyps are a kind of benign growths (tumors) that occur in the uterine lining. Endometrial polyp are a type of uterine polyp that forms on the endometrium, which is the inner uterine lining.
Polyps can vary in size from a few mm to several cm. They may be single or multiple, and can occur in any part of the uterus.
Uterus polyps are not usually associated with symptoms, but they can sometimes cause menstrual blood flow between periods or after menopause. In rare cases, they can also cause infertility.
The polyps in the uterus are different from uterine fibroid, the muscular growths inside, on or outside the uterine cavity. However, they can lead to similar problems in your menstrual cycle.
Types of Uterine Polyps
- Pedunculated Endometrial Polyp: These are attached to the uterine surface by a narrow elongated pedicle (stalk).
- Sessile Endometrial Polyp: These have a large flat base and do not appear to be hanging with a stalk.
- Cervical Polyp: These hang from a stalk and protrude through the cervical opening. Cervical polyps originate in the mucosal surface of the cervix.
Polyps are usually found during a routine pelvic exam or ultrasound. They may also be found during a biopsy of the uterus (endometrial biopsy).
Symptoms of Uterus Polyps
The most common symptom of uterus polyps is abnormal uterine bleeding between periods or after menopause. In rare cases, they can also cause infertility.
Other possible symptoms of uterus polyps include:
– Menorrhagia (excessive menstrual bleeding with blood clot)
– Metrorrhagia (abnormal bleeding)
– Dysmenorrhea (painful menstrual period)
– Pelvic pain
– Miscarriages
– Pain in the body or in the uterus
– Patient may also experience burning sensation in the pelvic region
If you have any of these symptoms, it is important to see your doctor so that they can rule out other possible causes.
Health complications of Uterus Polyp
If you have uterine or endometrial polyp, it is important to see your doctor for regular check-ups. In case, uterus polyps become cancerous, they can be treated with surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy. In most cases, the cancer is found at an early stage and can be treated successfully. However, in some cases, the cancer may spread to other parts of the body and become more difficult to treat.
The most important thing is to get uterus polyps removed as soon as possible. The sooner they are removed, the less chance there is of them becoming cancerous.
If you have any symptoms of uterus polyps, it is important to see your doctor so that they can rule out other possible causes.
Causes of Uterus Polyps
The cause of uterus polyps is not known, but they are thought to be associated with an abnormal growth of the endometrium. This abnormality may be due to a hormone imbalance in specific estrogen dominance, genetic factors, or other unknown causes.
Hormone imbalances are common in women of childbearing age, and can be caused by a variety of factors, including birth control pills, pregnancy, menopause, and thyroid problems. One of the hormonal imbalance responsible for uterine polyps is Estrogen dominance or high levels of Estrogen.
Since estrogen promotes cell growth, whereas progesterone inhibits it. As a result, you must maintain the delicate balance of estrogen to progesterone in order to avoid excessive breast growth, cysts on the breasts and ovaries, polyps and heavy menstrual bleeding in the uterus. Estrogen levels that are too high can cause breast cysts and ovarian cysts as well as uterine polyps and excessive menstrual flow.
Genetic factors may also play a role in the development of uterus polyps.
Diagnosis of Uterus Polyps
Polyps are usually found during a routine pelvic exam or ultrasound. They may also be found during a biopsy of the uterus (endometrial biopsy).
During a pelvic exam, your doctor will insert a gloved finger into your vagina and feel for any abnormalities in your uterus. An ultrasound is a painless test that uses sound waves to create a picture of your uterus. A biopsy is a procedure in which a small sample of tissue is removed from your uterus and examined for signs of cancer.
If you have any symptoms of uterus polyps, it is important to see your doctor so that they can rule out other possible causes.
Conventional Treatment for Uterine Polyps
The most common treatment for uterus polyps is surgery to remove the polyps. This can be done using a hysteroscope, which is a thin, telescope-like instrument that is inserted into the uterus through the vagina. Polyps can also be removed surgically using a procedure called hysteroscopy polypectomy.
However, it doesn’t remove the root cause, hence polyp can come back after the surgery.
In some cases, uterus polyps can be treated with birth control pills. These pills help to regulate the hormone levels in your body and can reduce the size of the polyps. However, they will not remove the polyps completely.
In addition, the birth control pills come with multiple side effects such as blood clot, stroke, and heart attack. There is also a risk of hormonal imbalance, which can cause a variety of symptoms, including weight gain, mood swings, and breast tenderness.
Ayurvedic Perspective of Uterus Polyps
The abnormal growths inside the reproductive system such as ovarian cysts, fibroid, polyps (cervical polyp or uterine polyp) are classified as “Yoni Vyapat” in Ayurveda. “Yoni” refers to the reproductive system and “vyapat” means malfunction.
In the case of uterine polyp, there is poor circulation and blood congestion in the uterine vessels due to blockade created by vata dosha imbalance. In addition, kapha dosha aggravataion stimulates excess growth of the endometrium in the form of muscular structures that lead to formation of clots. Pitta dosha involvement leads to build up heat and poor quality “rakta dhatu”, which further disturbs menstrual blood flow causing dysfunctional uterine bleeding.
Ayurvedic treatment for uterus polyps focuses on removing polyp at the root cause level, boost fertility and balance the hormones such that polyp and cysts do not recur. Your Ayurvedic practitioner will provide you with prescription for Ayurvedic herbal medicines, diet and lifestyle changes according to your specific symptoms and health requirements.
Ayurvedic Herbal Remedies for Treatment of Uterus Polyps
There are a number of herbal remedies that can be used in Ayurveda treatment for polyps, cysts and fibroid. Ayurvedic herbs help to regulate the hormone levels in your body, reduce the inflammation and detoxify so that these growths can be stopped and polyps can be safely removed from the body. Some of these herbs include:
– Ashoka tree bark: This herb is rich in a number of compounds that have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. It also helps to check heavy menstrual bleeding and balance high Estrogen levels.
– Turmeric: This spice is a well-known anti-inflammatory agent. It can help to shrink the size of uterus polyps and also prevent their recurrence.
– Guggul: This herb is effective in treating a number of hormonal imbalances. It helps to regulate the production of Estrogen and can shrink uterus polyps.
– Black cohosh: This herb is beneficial in treating a number of menopausal symptoms. It can also help to reduce the size of uterus polyps.
– Kachnar: This herb is effective in treating uterine fibroids. It can also help to shrink uterus polyps.
– Chasteberry: This herb is effective in treating a number of menstrual disorders and also reduce menstrual pain. It can also help to reduce the size of uterus polyps.
– Lodhra: This herb is effective in treating dysfunctional uterine bleeding and endometrial thickness. It can also help to shrink uterus polyps.
– Shatavari: This herb is effective in treating a number of female reproductive disorders. It can also help to reduce the size of uterus polyps, improve fertility, egg quality in women and balance the hormone levels in menopause.
These herbs can be taken in the form of capsules, tinctures, or teas. It is important to consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before taking any herbal remedies.
Precautions to be taken while taking Ayurvedic medicines for uterus polyps
If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, it is important to consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before taking any herbal remedies. There is a risk that some of these herbs could stimulate uterine contraction, which could lead to miscarriage.
If you have a history of uterine cancer or endometrial cancer, then also you should consult with a qualified healthcare practitioner before taking any herbal remedies to prevent any interactions.
Dietary Tips for treatment of uterine polyps, cysts and fibroids
There are a few dietary tips that can help in the Ayurveda treatment of uterine polyps.
- Avoid Sugary, fried and processed foods.
- Include more fiber in your diet by eating whole grains, vegetables, and fruits.
- Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables.Increase your intake of Omega 3 fatty acids by eating fish, nuts, and seeds.
- Reduce your intake of caffeine and alcohol.
- Drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated.
- Avoid fermented, excessively sour and heavy to digest foods.
- Limit your intake of estrogenic foods such as soy, fennel and dairy.
If you have any symptoms of uterus polyps, it is important to see your doctor so that they can rule out other possible causes.
Lifestyle recommendations for people with Uterus Polyps
There are a few lifestyle recommendations that can help people with uterus polyps. These include:
- Exercising regularly: Exercise can help to regulate the hormone levels in your body and can reduce the size of uterus polyps.
- Yoga and meditation: These practices can help to reduce stress, which can help to balance the hormones and prevent polyps from growing any further.
- Maintaining a healthy weight: Being overweight or obese can increase the risk of developing uterus polyps.
- Quit smoking: Smoking can increase the risk of developing uterus polyps.
- Reduce stress: Stress can trigger the growth of uterine polyps.
- Sleep well: Getting enough sleep can help to reduce stress and promote hormone balance.
- Avoid exposure to toxins: Chemicals and toxins can trigger the growth of uterus polyps. Avoid environment and products that contain pesticides, chemicals and smoke.
- If you have any symptoms of uterus polyps, it is important to see your doctor so that they can rule out other possible causes.
If you have any symptoms of uterus polyps, it is important to see your doctor so that they can rule out other possible causes.
Yoga for Treatment of Uterine Polyps
Yoga can be helpful in the treatment of uterine polyps. Yoga helps to reduce stress, which can help to balance the hormones and prevent polyps from growing any further.
Some of the yoga asanas that can help in the treatment of uterus polyps include:
Bhujangasana (Cobra Pose): This asana helps to improve blood circulation and can help to shrink uterus polyps.
Halasana (Plough Pose): This asana helps to stimulate the uterus and can help to reduce the size of uterus polyps.
Matysasana (Fish Pose): This asana helps to improve blood circulation and can help to reduce the size of uterus polyps.
Shivangi (Moon Salutation): This asana helps to balance the hormones and can help to prevent the growth of uterus polyps.
Surya Namaskar (Sun Salutation): This asana helps to improve blood circulation, reduce weight and can help to reduce the size of uterus polyps.
Shavasana (Corpse Pose): This asana helps to relax the mind and body and can help to reduce stress.
Takeaway
If you have any symptoms of uterus polyps, it is important to see your doctor so that they can rule out other possible causes.
Consult with Medhya’s Ayurvedic Doctor to get your personalised health plan involving prescription for Ayurvedic medicine, diet, yoga and lifestyle guidelines.
FAQ
1. Can polyps shrink naturally?
Polyps are growths on the surface of the body that can be benign or malignant. Benign polyps are not cancerous and do not spread, while malignant polyps can become cancerous and spread to other parts of the body. Although polyps can occur anywhere on the body, they are most commonly found in the endometrial lining of the uterus in women. Polyps can vary in size, and they may grow larger over time. Fortunately, there are several natural ways to shrink polyps. For example, diet plays an important role in maintaining your health. Consuming plenty of fiber-rich foods can help to reduce the risk of developing polyps, while a diet high in fat and sugar can increase the risk. In addition, regular exercise is essential for maintaining a healthy weight and reducing inflammation throughout the body. Finally, managing stress levels is also important, as stress can contribute to inflammation. These lifestyle changes can help to naturally shrink polyps and reduce the risk of them becoming cancerous.
2. Can uterus polyps be removed without surgery?
Uterine polyps are a common problem for women of childbearing age. They are benign growths that develop on the inner lining of the uterus, and can range in size from a few millimeters to several centimeters. While uterine polyps are usually not harmful, they can cause abnormal bleeding and may be associated with an increased risk of miscarriage. In some cases, they may also lead to fertility problems. Surgery is the most common treatment for uterine polyps, but there are also several non-surgical options that can be effective. One such option is Ayurvedic medicine, which is a traditional system of medicine from India that uses a variety of herbs and other natural substances to treat illness. Ayurvedic practitioners believe that uterine polyps are often caused by an imbalance in the body’s three main energies, or doshas. Thus, by correcting this imbalance with the help of Ayurvedic medicines, diet and lifestyle changes, they can often shrink or eliminate the growths without surgery.
3. Is a 5 mm polyp big?
A 5 mm polyp is not considered to be big. However, it is important to have any polyp checked by a doctor, as some polyps can be precancerous or cancerous. If the polyp is cancerous, it will need to be removed and may require additional treatment. If the polyp is precancerous, it will likely need to be removed and monitored closely. Polyps can vary in size, and some can grow very large. However, a 5 mm polyp is not considered to be big.
4. How do you stop polyps from growing?
Polyps are growths that form on the lining of the uterus. While most polyps are benign, some can develop into cancer. Fortunately, there are a number of things you can do to help prevent polyps from forming in the first place. One of the most important things is to maintain a healthy diet. Eating plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains helps to keep the colon healthy and reduces the risk of polyps. In addition, it’s important to avoid processed meats and foods high in fat and sugar. Regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are also important for preventing polyps. If you have a family history of polyps or uterine cancer, you may be at increased risk. In this case, it’s important to talk to your doctor about regular screening tests such as colonoscopies. By taking these steps, you can help reduce your risk of developing polyps.
5. Can Ayurveda cure uterus fibroids?
Ayurveda is a holistic system of medicine that has been practiced in India for thousands of years. One of the many conditions that Ayurveda can effectively treat is uterine fibroids. Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that can occur in the uterus, and they are often associated with heavy bleeding, pain, and infertility. While Western medicine typically recommends surgery to remove fibroids, this is not always necessary. Ayurvedic treatment for fibroids focuses on balancing the body’s energies and correcting any underlying imbalances. This often includes a combination of diet, lifestyle changes, and herbal supplements. When correctly applied, Ayurveda can be highly effective in treating uterine fibroids without the need for surgery.
6. What are the side effects of uterus polyp removal?
Polyps are growths that form on the lining of the uterus. They are common, and most women will have at least one polyp during their lifetime. While most polyps are benign (non-cancerous), some can become cancerous. For this reason, it is important to have any polyps that are found removed. The side effects of polyp removal depend on the type of procedure used. Polyps can be removed using a number of different methods, including surgery, endometrial ablation, or hysteroscopy. The side effects will also depend on the size and location of the polyp(s). Some common side effects include cramping, spotting, and light bleeding. However, most women recover quickly from the procedure with no long-term side effects. If you have any concerns about the side effects of polyp removal, be sure to discuss them with your doctor prior to the procedure.
References
MANAGEMENT OF UTERINE POLYP WITH AYURVEDA – A CASE STUDY
Ayurvedic management of Uterine Polyp: A case study
Ayurvedic intervention in the management of uterine fibroids: A Case series
