Uterine Fibroids
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Uterine Fibroids
What are fibroids?
Fibroids are a mass of abnormal growth, which develop inside the uterus, especially during childbearing age. Sometimes these fibroids turn out to be large tumors and cause abdominal pain and heavy periods. Alternatively, they do not show any symptoms. You might wonder that the fibroids are cancerous, but they are not.
The growth of fibroids is noncancerous. Fibroids are often known as myomas, uterine myomas, leiomyomas, etc. About 80% of women have them by the age of 50. The strange part is most women do not show any symptoms. Treatment of fibroids includes medications, surgery, etc.
About Uterine Fibroids
Uterine Fibroids
There are different types of fibroids, and the growth of the fibroids varies. While some grow inside the uterus, others develop around it. Listed below are some of the common fibroid types.
- Intramural fibroids
It is one of the most common fibroids that women develop. These appear within the muscular uterine walls. Besides, the intramural fibroids can grow large and even stretch your womb. Even though it is a common fibroid form, it can be alarming. - Subserosal fibroids
Subserosal fibroids mostly grow outside the uterus and are known as serosa. These can grow immensely big and make your womb look extremely big, especially on one side. Although it can not be critical, it is best to consult a doctor. - Submucosal fibroids
The submucosal fibroids develop in the middle muscle layer or even the myometrium of the uterus. However, submucosal tumors are not as common as the other different types.
The causes behind the fibroids are unclear. However, there are hundreds of factors that work behind the development of fibroids. Some of them are:
- Hormones
It is crucial to understand that ovaries produce hormones like progesterone and estrogen. These two hormones are responsible for the uterine lining to regenerate every month during the menstrual cycle. Besides, it even stimulates the growth of fibroids as well. - Family history
Fibroids are often genetic and even run in the family too. For example, if your mother, sister, or even your grandmother had it, then you can get it as well. Hence, family history does play a significant role when it comes to getting fibroids. - Pregnancy
Pregnancy is yet another one of the common reasons behind developing fibroids. Since pregnancy increases the chances of estrogen or progesterone, you might end up getting fibroids while you are pregnant.
Fibroids’ symptoms depend on the number of tumors, their location as well as size. For example, submucosal fibroids can cause heavy menstrual bleeding and even cause trouble in conceiving.
If your tumor is small and you are in the menopause phase, you might not face any symptoms. Fibroids shrink after menopause. The reason behind this is women going through menopause face a drop in estrogen as well as progesterone. Here are some of the symptoms of fibroids:
- Heavy bleeding with blood clots during and after your periods
- Lower back pain or pelvic pain is yet another symptom of fibroids
- Frequent urination
- Longer menstruation cycles
- Pain at the time of intercourse
- Swelling as well as enlargement in the abdomen
When diagnosing fibroids, it is vital to consult a gynecologist who would ask you to take a pelvic exam. This examination tells us the condition, size as well as shape of the uterus. Some of the tests that gynecologists mostly ask for include:
- Ultrasonography
USG utilizes high-frequency sound waves for producing images of your uterus. It helps in letting your doctor check the structures as well as fibroids present in your uterus. Besides, a transvaginal ultrasound is helpful where we insert a wand inside the vagina. It helps in providing a clear structure of the uterus. - Pelvic MRI
An in-depth imaging test helps to produce pictures of your uterus, ovaries as well as your pelvic organ. - Hysteroscopy
Your doctor will use a scope to look for any fibroids in the uterus. This scope is a thin, flexible tube that doctor inserts into the vagina and reaches the uterus through the cervix. - Hysterosalpingography (HSG)
It is a detailed X-ray test where the doctor injects a contrast material and then takes the X-ray images of the uterus.
There can be few more tests to diagnose uterine fibroids like lab tests, Computed tomography (CT), Sonohysterography, Laparoscopy, etc.
When treating fibroids, there are different ways. Listed below are some of the treatment procedures, and listed below are some of them.
- Medications
It is vital to understand that medications are crucial for regulating hormones. Besides, it shrinks the fibroids too. One of the common medications, which doctors recommend is Gonadotropin-releasing agonists. It helps in dropping the estrogen as well as progesterone levels. Also, it restricts your body from producing follicle-stimulating and luteinizing hormones.
Some other options that help in controlling pain, as well as bleeding, include intrauterine devices, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory pain relievers. However, they do not help in removing the fibroids. - Surgery
Surgery is yet another one of the solutions that help in removing fibroids. This process is known as myomectomy. In this process, we make a large incision in the abdomen for accessing the uterus to remove the fibroids. We do this entire surgery laparoscopically using many small incisions too.
We recommend different types of myomectomy if you have future pregnancy plans like Hysteroscopy, Laparoscopy, Laparotomy, etc. In case: you don’t have any future pregnancy plans, your doctor may choose Hysterectomy, Uterine fibroid embolization, Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), etc.
Fibroids are not cancerous, but if we don’t treat them on time, they can cause serious complications. Every woman should have some basic knowledge about fibroids, and this blog covers all of it. If you have any symptoms or are suffering from fibroids, book an appointment with our doctors to get the best fibroid treatment.