Hello... I Have Been Diagnosed With An Endometrial Uterine Polyp After Having An Ultrasound. My Ob/gyn Is Asking Me To Go In For A D&c And A Hysteroscopy , As Outpatient Surgery Under A Light Anethesia. She Would Like Me To Do It Sometime Soon... I Am Now Also Considering Acupuncture, And Homeopathic Medicine And Herbs Under The Care Of An Acupuncturist To Maybe Help Cure The Polyp. Is This Possible?? I Have Read Different Personal Success Stories Of Women With Fibroids Who Have Used Acupuncture... It Would Be Less Invasive.. and Less Expensive Also...
Thank You

There are people who actually think that poking a needle into the skin can be an alternative to surgery?

I have heard it releives stress and believe that but as an alternative to surgery to remove a polyp, very doubtful. I wouldn't waste time with needles and herbs if a doctor is saying you need surgery.

A Endometrial Uterine Polyp is scaring and clumping of the lining, and if left untreated can lead to cancer.

You can of course along with proper surgary do other holistic health care to help with healing and to prevent future issues.

But on serious health issues you need to work together with regular health professoinals

Hello... I Have Been Diagnosed With An Endometrial Uterine Polyp After Having An Ultrasound. My Ob/gyn Is Asking Me To Go In For A D&c And A Hysteroscopy , As Outpatient Surgery Under A Light Anethesia. She Would Like Me To Do It Sometime Soon... I Am Now Also Considering Acupuncture, And Homeopathic Medicine And Herbs Under The Care Of An Acupuncturist To Maybe Help Cure The Polyp. Is This Possible ???? I Have Read Different Personal Success Stories Of Women With Fibroids Who Have Used Acupuncture.... It Would Be Less Invasive..and Less Expensive Also...
Thank You
Hi Healthy1, if you don't mind me asking, I was wondering what method of treatment you chose for your endometrial polyp. I, too, have been diagnosed with an endometrial polyp and my obgyn suggested hysteroscopy and D&C. I am afraid of getting surgery so I was considering acupuncture as well.

I can tell you that my wife, diagnosed with endometriosis, fibroid cysts, and severe adhesions, was told she could either take vicodin for the pain she was in over and over, or she could get a hysterectomy.

Based on the advice of a friend whod had acupuncture for endometriosis with success, she tried it. Within two weeks her pain was cut in half and she was off meds. Still having rough spots, but better. Over the course of about two years, the problem went away. Every six months seemed to be better than before. It was through exercise, acupuncture, and some massage.

She and I are both trained in the sciences. I've trained pharmacy and pre med students at university. I have a lot of respect for western med. I all but laugh out loud when I hear or read about the cold and hot energy theories behind eastern med.

But I can tell you this... EVERYTHING my wife's acupuncturist has said he could do, he has done. Period. She went from doubled over in pain, naked on the bathroom floor to 50% better in less than a month.

Were my wife to have listened to what western med said, I wouldn't be a father today of a beautiful 4 year old. Her uterus would have been removed. Period. That's all that was left for her.

Have they told you why theyd do a hysterectomy and not curettage (a biopsy)? Is there evidence of cancer?

In the absence of cancer, I don't understand why the push for a hysterectomy... but I'm not a specialist in this this field, and that's a question for your provider. If you are unsure, get a second opinion.

So... I can't tell you what to do... only my wife's experience. The clinic she went to had a solid reputation and good references... and she still goes from time to time, probably no more than 2-4 times a year.

Talk to your doctor about a biopsy, if the concern is cancer, and talk to a doctor of eastern med at a clinic with a solid reputation. The chi talk, the cold and hot energy talk... just noise to me... but my wife no longer has adhesions, no longer is in debilitating pain, and I'm a father.

Can't promise you will find the same results, but I would lie if I told you "poking a needle through skin" didn't help save my wife from surgery.

kp2171,

Thank you for sharing your wife's experience. I started getting acupunture to treat the polyps but I was unsure as to whether it would do anything for me. The doctor suggested a hysteroscopy, polypectomy, and d&c. I believe a hysteroscopy is where they use a tiny video camera to take a look inside the uterus. In anyway case, the procedures sound so invasive and not to mention I will have to get general anesthesia. I did get a biopsy done and the results came back benign so my main reason for removing these polyps is so I will be able to get pregnant. But if acupuncture actually did wonders for your wife and allowed her to get pregnant, perhaps I will keep going with it.

i can tell you that my wife, diagnosed with endometriosis, fibroid cysts, and severe adhesions, was told she could either take vicodin for the pain she was in over and over, or she could get a hysterectomy.

based on the advice of a friend whod had acupuncture for endometriosis with success, she tried it. within two weeks her pain was cut in half and she was off meds. still having rough spots, but better. over the course of about two years, the problem went away. every six months seemed to be better than before. it was through exercise, acupuncture, and some massage.

Did your wife have acupuncture and chinese herbs, or just the acupuncture?

I am in the same position... I am looking for alternatives, and don't know whether to try acupuncture, chinese herbs, western herbs/naturopathy, homeopathy...

Did your wife have acupuncture and chinese herbs, or just the acupuncture?

I am in the same position.... i am looking for alternatives, and dont know whether to try acupuncture, chinese herbs, western herbs/naturopathy, homeopathy ...

My wife did several things. First, the acupuncture was done in tandem with chinese herbs. When she started I believe it was two treatments a week for a couple of weeks... then once a week, then every two weeks, then once a month of if she had problems. The herbs were paid straight out of pocket... and the treatments, which I think were about 50 dollars, were out of our med flex plan...

She also used exercise and massage. Walking and running seemed to help and then she focused on core strength with pilates. Being active, especially the walking or running, seemed to help... the "proof" being when she went through a period without exercise the pain seemed to be stronger... she also had a good massage therapist shed see. And I had found, long before the acupuncture, pressure points on her feet that could relieve/lessen pain at night so she could sleep better. The same points also help with cramping.

And, as I mentioned, it was a haul. The fact she wasn't taking any big drugs within two weeks for pain was a great first step. But she still had some painful moments, and there was a time in that first year I thought "how can we keep this up long term"... I'm very glad she did.

Like I said before, I would not be a father today if she hadn't refused to accept "take drugs or get a hysterectomy"...

One note... my wife said that shed often feel "icky" the day of a treatment, or perhaps the next day. The treatment itself wasn't "walk out with a bounce in your step"... but she was more than willing to have an off day now and then when the overall goal of being pain free and healthy was getting closer and closer.

Off topic-ish, but I just read an article mentioning how the military is now using acupuncture on the battlefield to help with pain management. Different scenario, I know, but the pain management side clearly is being recognized more and more. A decade ago the FDA reclassified acupunture needles from being "experimental" to "medical" devices and the NIH endorsed acupuncture for pain treatments. Add to that the fact that more and more insurance plans are covering treatments, seeing the cost benefits of care that is cheaper and effective in many cases.

That's great that chinese medicine and acupuncture worked for your wife.
I am going to give it a go.

Whilst I have heard that acupuncture can help with pain, I am a little skeptical that it can help eliminate endometrial polyps/fibroids etc. Not sure if the herbs can do this either.

My understanding with these type of polyps is that they need to be removed regardless of whether they are causing symptoms or not, as they can contain cancerous cells. Fibroids are a different matter- they can be left there if small enough and not causing major probs.
So I am not sure how the chinese medicine can help with the polyp- unless it can make it disappear, it is most likely I will need still need surgery to have it removed (eg. D&C, hysteroscopy).

I figure I have nothing to lose at this stage. I am willing to try almost anything to avoid surgery.

My wife had both endometreosis and cysts.

One MD said it was all in her head... as if the pain she had was not possible with the pattern she was presenting. An US didn't show cysts. When her ob/gyn finally said "lets see if theres something there we can't see" and performed surgery, guess what... it wasn't in her head.

So she had surgery and two months later was in pain again. That is when the docs told her 1) have surgery again, 2) live with the pain and use meds as needed, including vicodin, or 3) remove your ovaries.

Now... I understand the skepticism...

All I can tell is is what I know first hand. My wife had endometriosis and cysts before acupuncture and herbal treatment. She does not now. She has her ovaries. I have a son. She isn't in pain at all like she was.

She will occasionally see her acupuncturist, maybe once a quarter now, but its mostly "maintenance"

It is believed, by doctors (im talking MD's here in addition to acupuncturists), that acupuncture can increase blood flow to the uterus and help balance hormones. The endorphins help with pain, but regulation of FSH and LH are tied to ovary function.

The practitioner my wife went to had training as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, which consisted of four years of formal education... but if you are uncomfortable with this look around for a physician trained in acupuncture.

Many reproductive centers are lead by an MD acting as director... many of those same centers offer acupuncture as a treatment option.

Again... I hate the chi/qi/energy flow talk... but when my wife walked into his office and explained her situation, he was visibly upset... knowing that he has helped other women in her position, like the woman to recommended the practitioner to my wife. She had also suffered, had been treated, and, like my wife, would later present no symptoms.

I was recently diagnosed with an uterine polyp and underwent surgery two days ago. Before I had the surgery, I tried acupuncture twice weekly for 3 months, and took Chinese herbs twice daily for two months. Although acupuncture has made a significant improvement in the quality and regularity of my menstrual cycles, (previously: severe cramps, dark, clotty and moderate amount of flow to now barely any cramps, bright red, light flow) and the herbs have improved my basal temperature, they did not make a difference to my polyp.

The surgery itself was very quick (from OR time to discharge was less than 2 hrs!). I opted for conscious sedation only (no general anesthetic) which allows for a quicker recovery and has less risk involved. It was a very smooth process. I was drowsy the first evening, but not in any pain. I took one motrin yesterday for slight cramps. Yesterday and today I have had very light flow which is expected to last until my next menses.

This is the option I took after trying less invasive remedies. To ease my own my mind, I sought out multiple professional opinions (from my reproductive endocrinologist, GP, TCM practitioner, and naturopath) and read a good deal of literature. I have not read anything that promises another method getting rid of polyps (not to be confused with fibroids, which have been linked to hormonal imbalances). The best you can do for yourself is make an informed choice that you can live with.

I was recently diagnosed with an uterine polyp and underwent surgery two days ago. Before I had the surgery, I tried acupuncture twice weekly for 3 months, and took Chinese herbs twice daily for two months. Although acupuncture has made a significant improvement in the quality and regularity of my menstrual cycles, (previously: severe cramps, dark, clotty and moderate amount of flow to now barely any cramps, bright red, light flow) and the herbs have improved my basal temperature, they did not make a difference to my polyp.

The surgery itself was very quick (from OR time to discharge was less than 2 hrs!). I opted for conscious sedation only (no general anesthetic) which allows for a quicker recovery and has less risk involved. It was a very smooth process. I was drowsy the first evening, but not in any pain. I took one motrin yesterday for slight cramps. Yesterday and today I have had very light flow which is expected to last until my next menses.

This is the option I took after trying less invasive remedies. To ease my own my mind, I sought out multiple professional opinions (from my reproductive endocrinologist, GP, TCM practitioner, and naturopath) and read a good deal of literature. I have not read anything that promises another method getting rid of polyps (not to be confused with fibroids, which have been linked to hormonal imbalances). The best you can do for yourself is make an informed choice that you can live with.

Can I ask, how big was your polyp?
I had a pelvic ultrasound 2 months ago and there is a 5mm area in the lining of the uterus which they think might be a poyp. I am going to have a repeat ultrasound in a month.
I haven't gone down the path of TCM and acupuncture because I don't think it will help rid of this growth. My cycles are normal and I have no symptoms.
Did you have symptoms? What size was the growth?

I have not read anything that promises another method getting rid of polyps (not to be confused with fibroids, which have been linked to hormonal imbalances). The best you can do for yourself is make an informed choice that you can live with.

Uterine polyps do grow in response to circulating estrogen... now... this doesnt conflict with the AMHD posted quote I cited. This indirectly suggests that something like acu, that can regulate hormone levels, may be effective as a prophylaxis, rather than causing polyps to "recede"...

My polyp was 7mm - which is not very big, from what I understand. I imagine that's why the surgery was so minor and the recovery has been a breeze. (I believe the procedure itself was only 10 min). The HSG was MUCH worse an experience than the surgery.

My challenge is that I'm trying to conceive at age 40. After two early stage miscarriages in six months, I realized that there must be something which is preventing implantation. It was somewhat of a relief finding the 'mass' on the HSG (the RE/radiologist couldn't identify what the 'mass' was for certain without surgery, so I was initially under the assumption that it was a fibroid).

For me, the combination of western and alternative therapies has had a positive influence on my overall health. I am still on chinese herbs and speak with my TCM practitioner once a week. My RE and GP (who are both very supportive of alternative therapy) said that western medicine doesn't fully understand why fibroids / polyps occur, and despite their size, they may release chemicals that are toxic to the embryo. They certainly offered to 'wait and watch' but after months of alternative therapy, I chose to go through with surgery. Fortunately, cost isn't a factor, since I'm in Canada and the fees are covered.

My TCM practitioner suggested that herbs could help shrink the 'mass', but that it would take time. She also raised concerns about the potential for scar tissue from the surgery on my uterine lining. But the surgeon and GP pointed out that the base of a 7mm stalk-like 'mass' is minute, and encouraged me to try conceiving the following cycle.

If you have time, you may want to use herbs / alternative therapy only. I will definitely stay on the herbs now to prevent any potential regrowth. Hope this helps. For something so small, it was definitely a tough decision for me, too! BEst of luck!

TRiedTestedTrue,
Thanks for your info.
I have both fibroid and polyp. I was told not to worry about the fibroid as it is only 1cm, and they are usually only a problem when they start to grow over 5cm and have symptoms. However I was told the 5mm polyp needs to be removed because they can contain pre-cancerous cells. My obgyn said it is a straight forward procedure.

I am glad it went well for you. At 7mm, it shouldn't be much of a problem with scarring on the lining.

Good luck with trying to conceive.

The problem with polyps is that they grow. They can grow so large that they emerge from the cervix, causing spotting and allowing bacteria to enter the uterus. They can also become cancerous. I think that chinese herbs and acupuncture can be very helpful with many conditions, but they will not cause polyps to go away.

I had a dnc/hysteroscopy three years ago for endometrial polyps. The surgery was very quick and I was in and out in about two and a half hours.

Ren6, has the polyp returned since you had the procedure?
I have read somewhere that they fre

Ren6, has the polyp returned since you had the procedure 3 years ago?
I have read somewhere that they frequently return.

Do you take any alternative/ Chinese medicines to help prevent regrowth? (If that is even possible).

Thanks

I did get another polyp within a year, on my cervix. Fortunately, the doctor was able to remove this in the office, by twisting it off with a forceps. I haven't had another polyp that I know of in the last year. I haven't used chinese herbs or acupuncture for this, but I did have success with chinese medicine and endometriosis pain. This was nearly 15 years ago(the endometriosis).

Thanks Ren6 for your response.
Hopefully the polyps won't recur.

I spoke with my Chinese herbalist yesterday about my polyp and she said it was a symptom of imbalance of the kidney and recommended different types of herbs throughout my cycle (e.g. ones that treat kidney-yang deficiency after ovulation). They don't think in terms of 'estrogen dominance' etc, since that's a western term. It's such an individual experience and the herbs can be powerful. I would suggest seeing a TCM for a prescription.

Hi,

Some insights I found on the net regarding endometrial polyps. I have one too. Am schedule for a hysterocopy and D & C this coming August 29, 2009.


http://www.obgyn.net/displayarticle.asp?page=/women/articles/polyps_dah

I have endometriosis, and I definitely know what you're going through - it's not fun.
The surgery, however, is very non-invasive, and can really, really help. I've had two surgeries in the past 10 years, and I've found that the recovery time is about 3 weeks - I couldn't walk for about 2-3 days, and after that I was fully functional, for the most part.
However, if you're looking to avoid surgery, here are some tips:
Endometriosis get's a growth signal from the hormone estrogen. It gets a 'death signal' from the hormone progesterone. One of the best ways to control endometrial growth is by taking birth controls with a higher amount of progesterone than estrogen - depo provera (a needle in the bum every three months) or an IUD (a t-shaped plastic device that sits in your uterus and emits progesterone) are two of the best.
Also, keep in mind that fat deposits on women encourage estrogen production. Women with endometriosis and breast cancer are encouraged to reduce their body fat to discourage estrogen production.
Stress can cause estrogen production, which is where acupuncture comes in. Some people think that acupuncture can reduce stress, which could in turn reduce the amount of estrogen you're producing, which in turn reduces the amount of growth signals that your endometrial depsits receive.
I have no idea about herbs or other homeopathic remedies, but keep in mind that the key to reducing endometriosis is a hormone balance.
As far as scientists know, the only way to remove endometriosis is to surgically remove it. The only thing you can do without surgery is try to prevent continued growth. Also, for some strange reason pregnancy helps to reduce endometrial growth, and it also prevents recurrence.

I am a fourth year biology student with an avid fascination about endometriosis.

My two cents, as I have had polyps and done acupuncture and surgery. I appreciate these blogs as I am going through fertility treatments and the more info we have from other women's experiences the better. I can only tell you my experience and understanding. Polyps are little skin tags that most of us get on the outside of our body but these are inside the uterus. They grow and thrive in high estrogen environments. Such as the case with me taking lots of estrogen boosting shots and pills for more embryos, due to fertility issues.

The surgery itself was not difficult and not too painful afterward- just a belly ache. I was in there only to have a Hysteroscopy and they found the Polyp to be completely attached to the lining of my uterus so they did the D&C. I did acupuncture and Chinese herbs which helped especially after the surgery as the acupuncture is able to balance my hormones.

When I had a couple of large cysts on my ovaries the Dr.s were amazed at how quickly they were gone (less than a month) by using acupuncture and Chinese herbs.

katieokell wrote: Endometriosis get's a growth signal from the hormone estrogen. It gets a 'death signal' from the hormone progesterone.

That's a great point. I am definitely progesterone deficient, but I am using a bio-identical form of progesterone to increase my levels. The type of estrogen and progesterone found in birth control are synthetic and are associated with other health issues (e.g. stroke).

Maca and vitex are also great herbs for balancing estrogen and progesterone.

I would like to a little something about acupuncture. 3 years ago I was unable to conceive because my hormones were so out of wack, and my reproductive endocrinologist diagnosed me with PCOS, fatty liver, hyperprolatemia, and uterine polyps, and hypothyroidism. I went to an acupuncturist/ naturepath who naturally reversed all these conditions with acupunture & herbs. I also did castor oil packs with a heating pad & to this day have no more polyps. I am now ovulating and have been on my own for over a year! Acupunture & herbs are powerful treatments that have been around a lot longer than western medicine (try 5000 years).
I also think it's important to mention that my reproductive endocrinologist wanted to push the most expensive surgery before anything else, she wanted to push IVF before even trying IUI. So be careful of your docs motives. They even get pushy sometimes, like when I said I am not sure I want to go the route of expensive laporoscopic surgery right off the bat... The NP said well the doctor might choose not to treat you then. Felt like a threat!