A placental polyp is a benign tumor that develops after childbirth, abortion, or miscarriage from placenta tissue that is retained in the uterine cavity.
It occurs in approximately 0.36% of births (according to statistics from foreign authors). It is a pathological formation, because it does not disappear spontaneously, accompanied by bleeding and serious complications without treatment.
Placental polyp - causes
A placental polyp is formed as a result of pregnancy - accomplished or interrupted. Plots of the placenta or its villi, located in the layers of fibrin or thrombotic masses in the uterine cavity, give rise to the formation of neoplasms.
If a placental polyp is detected The reasons for the delay in placental tissue in the uterine cavity can be:
• incorrect management of the postpartum period;
• partial removal of the placenta after cesarean section;
• incomplete curettage during medical abortion and miscarriage;
• fetal death in the womb.
The remaining microparticles of the placenta, tightly attached to the uterine wall and the vessels connected with it, sprout with connective tissue over time. Externally, the polyp has the appearance of a flat or mushroom-like formation.
Depending on the morphological structure, Polyps are isolated, consisting of:
• from safe villi - they form some time after a medical abortion;
• destructive villi - develop against the background of incomplete recovery of the uterus after childbirth;
• individual parts of the placenta that are connected to the uterus by common vessels.
Placental polyp - signs
With a placental polyp, the signs of this formation are extremely difficult to detect, because prolonged spotting or heavy spotting after childbirth does not cause a woman's anxiety - many consider this to be the norm and do not attach special importance to this.
In fact, these meager bleeding appears several weeks later (from 2 to 4) after childbirth, abortion or miscarriage. Normally, by this time, discharge from the genital tract should already have stopped.
The blood clotting that appeared after 2 to 5 weeks increases with time, becomes massive bleeding with scarlet blood, which can lead to a life threat.
Therefore, with a placental polyp, the signs of the growth of a polypoid formation in the uterine cavity are so specific that it is impossible to confuse them with another pathology in this period.
Placental Polyp - Symptoms
With a placental polyp, there may be no symptoms other than bleeding or hemorrhaging in the first stages of development. Often, bleeding is so severe that it requires immediate hospitalization and urgent action. In some cases, pain and discomfort in the lower abdomen are disturbing, which in the postpartum period, a woman rarely pays attention to and, as a rule, does not seek medical help.
After a few weeks, even if the bleeding does not intensify, but continues as before, appear new symptoms of placental polyp:
• weakness is growing;
• Concerned about fatigue;
• heartbeats become constant;
• shortness of breath occurs even with little physical exertion.
In fact, these are symptoms of developing anemia, which can progress if you do not consult a doctor on time. During this period, when the body is weakened by pregnancy and childbirth, immunity is lowered, a woman does not have enough rest due to a busy regime for caring for a child, anemia can become a threat not only to health, but also to life.
Due to a sharp decrease in immunity, inflammation can develop, about which The following signs indicate:
• temperature rise;
• discharge with an unpleasant or fetid odor;
• itching and burning sensation in the genitals;
• increasing discomfort or vague abdominal pain.
In the future, a number of serious complications arise that will require intensive treatment, in many cases surgical intervention. Timely untreated polyp leads to the following complications:
• inflammation of the uterus, when the only way to prevent the spread of infection can be extirpation (removal) of the organ;
• sepsis;
• ovarian dysfunction;
• infertility;
• fatal outcome as a result of severe blood loss and sepsis.
Placental polyp - treatment
The opinion of specialists today: in the presence of a placental polyp, its treatment is possible only surgically. Medication methods, as well as self-medication with folk remedies, will not give positive results, but only complicate the course of the disease and lead to serious consequences.
Surgery consists in removing the polyp itself and curettage of the uterine mucosa. Controlled by inspection with a hysteroscope. Vacuum aspiration is possible. This is a less traumatic way. Surgical manipulations are performed under general anesthesia, so no pain or discomfort occurs. If during the examination before the operation, concomitant infectious inflammatory diseases were found or there was uncritical bleeding, a massive antibiotic therapy course is performed before the intervention.
The removed tissues must be examined histologically to exclude chorionepithelioma, a malignant tumor.
After the operation, a course of antibacterial therapy is mandatory to prevent the onset or spread of infection. Anemia is also treated: a long-term intake of iron preparations, group B vitamins and folic acid is prescribed if necessary. The choice of drugs is made only by the doctor according to the results of blood tests in each case individually. It is impossible to engage in self-medication, so as not to worsen the condition, since any medications, including vitamins, have their own indications, contraindications and side effects.
With moderate bleeding and an still unconfirmed diagnosis, medication is prescribed, and only if it is ineffective, curettage is performed.
Currently, in many well-equipped clinics with a placental polyp, a more gentle method is used for treatment: laser removal is used. The neoplasm is excised by a directed laser beam. In parallel, measures are being taken to treat anemia. Laser treatment is the most productive way - after it there is no relapse, the recovery period lasts a week. This method is not widespread, but due to its safety and ease claims to be further developed.
In the postoperative period, at least a month must be observed for body temperature and general condition. After removing the polyp, it is recommended to exclude any thermal procedures, hypothermia, physical activity, sexual contact.
If you see a doctor in time when the first unclear symptoms appear, the prognosis is favorable.
Placental polyp - prevention
In order to avoid a placental polyp, prophylaxis should be constant and consists in following by each woman the following measures:
- the use of contraceptives to prevent unplanned pregnancy and abortion;
- exclusion of childbirth outside the hospital;
- be registered from an early date and conduct pregnancy in specialized medical institutions, come for preventive examinations, monitor tests, pregnancy and the general condition of the body;
- 7 days after the birth, do an ultrasound of the uterus with appendages to exclude a possible pathology;
- if there is a suspicion of spontaneous abortion, you need to visit a doctor to examine and remove the remaining particles of the ovum.
It must always be remembered that for any problems of a gynecological and obstetric nature, it is only necessary to consult a doctor with the appropriate classification.
Childbirth at home can lead to unpredictable situations, including the development of various complications and the formation of polyps in the uterus. Therefore, during childbirth, the entire period must be in the obstetric institution with the availability of medical equipment for any situation under the supervision of a doctor.
Only in such cases can serious problems and complications be avoided.
