Learn all about uterine fibroids — causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and prevention tips for better women’s health.
Uterine fibroids is non-cancerous ?
Uterine fibroids are common non-cancerous (benign) growths made up of muscle and connective tissue that develop in or on the walls of the uterus. They are the most frequent type of benign tumor found in females.
Small fibroids often do not require treatment. However, larger or symptomatic fibroids may be managed with medications to control symptoms or surgery to remove them.
Common fibroid names-
Uterine fibroid, fibromas, myomas, leiomyomas, uterine myomas.
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What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?
Uterine fibroids symptoms depend on the fibroid number, fibroid size and fibroid location. For example,
Fibroid size
If fibroids are very small, or if you are going through menopause, you may not experience any symptoms. In fact, fibroids often shrink during and after menopause.
Large fibroids can deform the shape of the uterus.
Large fibroids leads to severe abdominal pain and heavy menstrual bleeding.
It create pressure against the bladder, leading to frequent urination. They may also cause pain during penetrative sex or discomfort in the lower back.
Fibroid Location
Submucosal fibroids, which grow within muscular layer (myometrium) and into the uterine cavity (inner lining of uterus) cause heavy menstrual bleeding and affect the fertility.
Fibroid Risk factors
There are few known risk factors for uterine fibroids, other than being a person of reproductive age. These include:
Race
Any female of reproductive age could develop fibroids. But black people are more prone to develop fibroids as compared to white people.
Family history
Women with a family history of fibroids are at a higher risk of developing them.
Other factors
Obesity, period before the age of 10; low level of vitamin D; diet high in red meat and low in green vegetables, fruits, and dairy products, and Alcohol consumption, could increase the risk of fibroids.
Complications
Most of the time, uterine fibroids are not harmful. However, they may result in problems and cause pain.
Among these is anemia, or a decrease in red blood cells. Fatigue from excessive blood loss may result from that situation.
Your doctor might advise taking an iron supplement to prevent or treat anemia.
Due to blood loss, an individual with anemia may occasionally require a transfusion, which is blood given from a donor.
What tests are used to diagnose fibroids?
When performing a pelvic exam, a medical professional detect uterine fibroids in many cases.
Symptoms such as, heavy bleeding and other associated symptoms help in diagnosis of fibroids.
Numerous tests are available to confirm fibroids and identify their location and size. These examinations may consist of:
Ultrasonography
With the help of sound waves, this test creates image of internal organs.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Magnetic and radio waves used for creation of images of internal organs.
Laparoscopy
In laproscopy, small cut is created in lower abdomen followed by insertion of thin and flexible tube with a camera on the end to look closely at your internal organs.
How to treat fibroids?
Treatment of fibroids depends in patients age, health, symptoms, types of fibroids, location and size of fibroids.
When symptoms are present, several options are available:
For severe pelvic pain
Ibuprofen, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), or paracetamol help in pain relief.
For heavy bleeding
Iron supplements is recommended for those who are anaemic
Medications
Different medication are available which are used to shrink fibroids.
Surgical options
Myomectomy and hysterectomy are available to get rid of fibroids.
Myomectomy
It is fibroid surgery to remove very large growths or multiple growths of fibroids.
Note- Fibroids might grow back after a myomectomy.
Hysterectomy
If patient condition is worst and she is above 50 or don’t want to give child birth, whole uterus is removed. This procedure known as hysterectomy.
Uterine artery embolization
A minimally invasive procedure that blocks blood flow to fibroids, causing them to shrink.
Important facts
- Uterine fibroid start shrinking and its symptoms reduce or go away after menopause because hormone levels decline in patient body.
- There is a chance that fibroids could exist without any symptoms. Fibroids often shrinking and don’t cause any symptoms in women who have gone through menopause. Some little fibroids disappear in nonmenopausal women.
- Compared to people of other ethnicities, African Americans are also more likely to have fibroids.
- It is very uncommon to have cancerous fibroids. These cancerous types, known as leiomyosarcomas, don’t seem to develop from benign fibroids.
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