Uterine polyps are one of the most common findings when a patient is being examined for abnormal bleeding, recurrent pregnancy loss, or infertility. Traditionally, polyps were not thought to be commonly associated with infertility, perhaps affecting only 5% of cases. Newer studies, however, have documented the crucial impact of removing polyps on fertility outcomes. Due to this data, it has become standard to assess for polyps using sonohysterography (SHG or SIS) among women with abnormal uterine bleeding, intermenstrual spotting, recurrent miscarriages, or infertility prior to initiating fertility treatment.
Polyps can be easily removed with hysteroscopy performed either in the office or in an ambulatory procedure setting and require no incisions. While polyps must be checked for cancerous or pre-cancerous changes, they are almost always benign in reproductive-aged women.