When abnormal tissue develops on a mucous membrane, this is referred to as a polyp. Though polyps can occur in any organ that has blood vessels, they are most commonly found in the nose, colon, uterus, and cervix. Treatment for polyps will depend on the location and type of polyp, as well as your overall health and personal preferences. Here are some of the treatment methods used for the most common types of polyps.
Medications
It is common for nasal polyps for be treated with medication rather than surgery. This is because nasal polyps tend to recur, even if they are successfully removed. However, medications can help shrink the polyps that are present and prevent further polyps from developing. Some medications that are commonly used to treat nasal polyps include:
- Nasal corticosteroids: Corticosteroids in nasal spray-form are good for reducing inflammation in the nasal passage and sinuses, which may shrink the polyps or even eliminate them completely. This type of medication can include Flonase (fluticasone), Rhinocort (budesonide), Nasonex (mometasone), Nasacort AQ (triamcinolone), Qnasl (beclomethasone), and Omnaris (ciclesonide).
- Oral or injectable corticosteroids: If a nasal corticosteroid does not prove to be effective for your nasal polyps, then your doctor might recommend oral steroids instead. A popular choice for oral steroids is prednisone, but this medication can only be taken for brief periods of time because of the potential for severe side effects. If your nasal polyps are particularly bad, then you may need injectable corticosteroids.
- Other medications: Other medications may be prescribed to help counteract conditions that might be making your nasal polyps worse, such as allergies, asthma, or infections.
For uterine/endometrial polyps or cervical polyps, hormonal medications may help lessen any symptoms you might be experiencing. This is because polyps that develop on female organs are often due to a change in the levels of the hormone estrogen. Medications for this purpose include:
- Progestins
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists
Surgery
Since colon polyps could potentially be cancerous, your doctor is likely to surgically remove all of them during a regular bowel screening. This can be done in a few ways, including:
- Removal during screening: Most polyps are able to be removed using wire loops during the bowel screening procedure.
- Minimally invasive surgery: If a polyp is too large or located in an area that is not easily accessible during a regular screening, then your doctor will likely set up a time to remove these polyps using minimally invasive surgery.
- Total proctocolectomy: If you have a rare genetic syndrome that causes polyps to develop often, then you may need surgery to completely remove both your rectum and your colon.
Watchful Waiting
Sometimes, polyps that develop on your uterus or cervix may not require any treatment at all, especially if they are small and don’t produce any symptoms. Unless you are at risk for developing uterine or cervical cancer, treatment of small polyps is usually not necessary.
