*Welcome to the OutUK series looking at gay men and their health brought to you in association with the NHS* website.**
	Each week we'll tackle a different topic in our A to Z of Gay Health. We'll have features and advice on everything from relationships, sexual health, mental and physical conditions and how to stay fit. You can follow any of links provided below for more information direct from the NHS website, or see this week's feature L: Laxatives.

Nasal Polyps

Nasal polyps are painless soft growths inside your nose. They're not usually serious, but they can keep growing and block your nose if not treated.

Check if you have nasal polyps

Symptoms of nasal polyps include:

a blocked nose
a runny nose
a feeling that mucus is slowly dripping down the back of your throat (postnasal drip)
a reduced sense of smell or taste
snoring

Nasal polyps can sometimes feel like a cold. But colds tend to clear up within a few days, whereas nasal polyps will not get better unless they're treated.

If your polyps block your sinuses (the air pockets around your nose) you may also have symptoms of sinusitis.

See a GP if:

you think you may have nasal polyps
you have difficulty breathing
your symptoms are getting worse
you notice changes to your sense of smell

Treatment for nasal polyps

A GP should be able to tell if you have nasal polyps by looking inside your nose.

If you have nasal polyps, you'll usually be given steroid nose drops or a spray to shrink the polyps.

Sometimes, you may be given steroid tablets, usually for up to 2 weeks, to help relieve symptoms.

Make sure you follow the advice of the GP about how to use your medicine and how long to take it for.

Surgery to remove polyps

If there's no sign of improvement after about 12 weeks, the GP may suggest surgery to remove your polyps.

Most people who have surgery see an improvement, but it's common for polyps to grow back, usually within a few years.

Important

You may need to keep using a steroid nasal spray after surgery to stop the polyps returning quickly.

Things you can do if you have nasal polyps

After seeing a GP for nasal polyps, a pharmacist can recommend:

steroid nasal sprays that do not need a GP prescription
salt water washes (called a saline rinse or nasal douche) to help unblock your nose

Causes of nasal polyps

It's not clear what causes nasal polyps.

Certain things can increase your risk of getting nasal polyps, like:

asthma
an intolerance or sensitivity to aspirin

Nasal polyps are rare in children.

OutUK's A to Z of Gay Health continues and you can read this week's feature L: Laxatives. We have covered many subjects in this series and you can catch up with all of our Previous A to Z Features. If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.
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