Hysteroscopic Polypectomy (Uterine Polyp Removal)

What Are Uterine Polyps?

Uterine polyps, also called endometrial polyps, are growths that develop on the inner lining of the uterus. They can range from as small as a sesame seed to larger than a golf ball, and a person may have one or several. Polyps are common in women between 20 and 40 years of age, and most are not cancerous, though a small number can be precancerous or cancerous.

Many polyps cause no symptoms at all and are discovered during a routine ultrasound or fertility workup. When they do cause symptoms, or when they may be interfering with fertility, removal is often recommended.

Why Polyps Are Removed

Your care team may recommend removing a uterine polyp because it is:

• Causing irregular, heavy, or unpredictable bleeding, or bleeding between periods
• Suspected of contributing to difficulty conceiving or recurrent pregnancy loss, since a polyp inside the uterine cavity may interfere with implantation
• Flagged during imaging for further evaluation to rule out precancerous or cancerous changes

How Hysteroscopic Polypectomy Works

Hysteroscopic polypectomy is the primary method used to remove uterine polyps. It is a minimally invasive, outpatient procedure that does not require any external incisions. Generally, here is what happens:

1. You will receive anesthesia or sedation, depending on your care team’s recommendation.
2. The cervix is gently dilated to allow instrument access.
3. A hysteroscope, a thin lighted scope with a small camera, is inserted through the vagina and cervix into the uterus.
4. The polyp is directly visualized on a monitor and removed using small surgical instruments passed through the scope.
5. In some cases, tissue is sent to a lab for further evaluation.

The entire procedure often takes less than 30 minutes.

Recovery

Recovery from hysteroscopic polypectomy is generally quick compared to more invasive surgery. Many patients experience mild cramping or spotting for a few days afterward. Most people return to normal activity, including desk work, within one to three days, though physically demanding jobs may require additional recovery time. Your care team will give you personalized guidance based on your procedure.

Polyp Removal and Fertility

For patients trying to conceive, removing a polyp that projects into the uterine cavity may improve the chance of conception, particularly ahead of treatments like IUI or IVF. Your specialist will help you understand whether polyp removal is likely to be relevant to your specific fertility goals, since not every polyp affects fertility the same way. Learn more about how HSG testing can identify polyps before surgery.

About This Page

Meet George D. Kofinas, MD, FACOG

As the compassionate leader of Kofinas Fertility Group and a distinguished authority on fertility medicine, Dr. Kofinas has used his depth of knowledge and sharp intuition to help thousands of couples start families of their own. Dr. Kofinas has written and spoken about the full...

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By: George D. Kofinas, MD, FACOG
Reviewed By: George D. Kofinas, MD, FACOG

Published: Nov 10th, 2026

Last Reviewed: Nov 10th, 2026