Vaginal polyps and hormones--is there a link? A case series.
Fibroepithelial stromal polyps (FSP) of the vault after hysterectomy are an uncommon, though well recognised finding. Both tibolone and tamoxifen have been reported to cause polyps in the endometrium but their connection with the same pathology in the vagina has never been described. Here, we report a case of a patient presenting with a symptomatic FSP 30 years after her hysterectomy while on treatment with both tamoxifen and tibolone. This prompted us to see if there was an association between these hormone-modulating agents with vaginal polyp formation. We reviewed all the cases notes of patients having FSP surgically removed in Hull over a 4 years period. Thirty-four women were identified. Some kind of hormonal influence, natural or otherwise, was found in 22 out of the 34 women. Endogenous or exogenous gonadal hormones or hormones modulators thus appear to influence the formation of vaginal polyps, but in this cohort a precise contribution of specific drugs could not be established.
Sharma
Sandeep
S
Specialist Registrar (Obstetrics and Gynaecology), Bradford Royal Infirmary, Duckworth Lane, BD9 6RJ, UK. dr_sandysharma@yahoo.co.uk
Albertazzi
Paola
P
Richmond
Ian
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000726:Androgen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009652:Norpregnenes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011127:Polyps / Q000139:chemically induced*; D017698:Postmenopause; D017697:Premenopause; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000726:Androgen Antagonists; D004965:Estrogen Antagonists; D009652:Norpregnenes; D013629:Tamoxifen; C027385:tibolone