Uterine Fibroids
Time to read 7 min
Time to read 7 min
WHAT IS IT?
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. They aren’t associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer.
Fibroids range in size from seedlings, undetectable by the human eye, to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus. They may grow slowly or rapidly or remain the same size. Some fibroids shrink on their own.
SYMPTOMS
As many as 3 out of 4 women have uterine fibroids at some point. Most are unaware of them because they don’t cause symptoms. In women who have signs and symptoms, the most common are:
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Prolonged menstrual periods
Pelvic pressure or pain
Frequent urination
Difficulty emptying your bladder
Constipation
Backache or leg pains
Rarely, a fibroid can cause acute pain. This happens when it outgrows its blood supply.
TREATMENT
There’s no single best approach to treat uterine fibroids — many treatment options exist. They include:
Watchful waiting. If you aren’t experiencing signs or symptoms, watchful waiting could be the best option. Fibroids aren’t cancerous and they usually grow slowly, or not at all, and tend to shrink after menopause.
Medications. Medications target hormones that regulate your menstrual cycle, treating symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pressure. They don’t eliminate fibroids but may shrink them.
Minimally invasive procedures. These procedures may be used to destroy uterine fibroids
Surgery. A surgeon removes the fibroids, either with traditional open surgery or laparoscopic surgery. If the fibroids are small and few in number, laparoscopic surgery may be performed. If you have multiple fibroids, very large fibroids, or very deep fibroids, your doctor may recommend traditional open surgery. The only permanent solution for treating uterine fibroids is the surgical removal of the uterus (hysterectomy). Hysterectomy is major surgery and it ends your ability to bear children.
In fact, one of the most common benign tumors in females is uterine fibroids. According to the Mayo Clinic's "A to Z Health Guide," uterine fibroids are growths that are noncancerous that appear within the wall of the uterus.
They vary by size, shape, and where within the uterus they develop. Knowing these facts about fibroids and your own health-in particular, if you are experiencing symptoms or when planning to have a baby-is important.
So, what are uterine fibroids?
Fibroids, also known as leiomyomas, are formed by muscle and fibrous tissue. They may occur singly or in clusters and range in size from that of a pea to that of a grapefruit or even larger. The fibroids can develop in any portion of your uterus, interfering with its functions and causing a variety of symptoms.
According to the location, there are several types of fibroids:
This is the most common type and develops in the wall of the uterus.
It grows on the outer side of the uterus and can cause pressure on other organs around it.
These are the ones that just lie beneath the lining of the uterus. These can push into uterine bleeding and can commonly be related to symptoms of uterine fibroids.
These for uterine fibroids use a stalk-like structure to connect to be in uterus, hence giving it a mushroom-like appearance. It can cause pain when it twists.
Uterine fibroids do not affect every woman; however, if symptoms appear, they can be very disruptive.
The symptoms of uterine fibroids vary considerably with size, location, and number. Some of the common symptoms include:
Heavy periods that have lasted longer, could be the result of fibroids that affect the lining of your uterus.
Large fibroids can cause pain or a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen.
Fibroids pushing on the bladder may increase need to urinate.
When fibroids compress the rectum, it causes bowel problems.
Fibroids at the back portion of the uterus can lead to pain that radiates to your back.
In some cases, fibroids may cause fertility problems, especially if they distort the uterine cavity.
The cause of uterine fibroids is not known, but the following factors may increase a woman's risk of developing fibroids, including:
- Hormones: The hormones that stimulate the growth of the uterine lining each month, estrogens and progesterones, seem to stimulate the growth of fibroids.
- Family history: If either your mother or sister has had fibroids, this increases your chances.
- Age and race: Uterine fibroids are most common between the ages of 30 and 40, whereas the risk of having them will be higher in African American women at earlier ages.
- Obesity: Women who are obese have a greater risk to develop fibroids.
- Diet: A diet with a higher intake of red meat and lesser intake of green vegetables is at a greater risk.
If you have symptoms of fibroids within your uterus, it may require further tests by a doctor to confirm the existence of such lumps, including:
Ultrasound: This is an image test that can help one see fibroids and their size.
MRI: This provides more detail views of the uterus to plan treatment.
Hysteroscopy: It requires inserting a camera into the uterine cavity to look for submucosal fibroids.
Once you have a diagnosis, the treatment of uterine fibroids can vary depending upon your symptoms, age, and whether you wish to conceive in the future.
Hormone treatment might diminish the severity of symptoms but has no effect on removing the fibroids.
This is a minimally invasive procedure that eliminates the blood flow to be in fibroids, causing them to shrink.
The fibroids are removed and the uterus is left in the body. It may be the best choice if you would like to conceive later.
The uterus is entirely removed. This is a permanent measure and is used when all treatments have failed.
MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery is a new procedure where sound waves are used to destroy the fibroids.
Yes, fibroids can cause complications during pregnancy, such as
Infertility: Fibroids in the wall of the uterus or inside the uterine cavity block the fallopian tube, affecting how well you can conceive and implant your embryo. Therefore, if one has fibroids, conceiving is always difficult.
Pregnancy complications: Those people who are pregnant with fibroids are mostly painful than others, while the delivery time is lower than average with a higher cesarean section rate.
If you are planning to have a baby, or already pregnant, then consult your doctor regarding your fibroids. Your doctor can advise you about the management of your fibroids and avoid complications emerging from it.
For many women, uterine fibroids will not be such a big issue. But there is good news for you if you have fibroids. These are some of the things you can do to manage the symptoms:
- Observe your symptoms: Keep track of how your menstrual cycles have changed, the level of pain you are experiencing or any other symptom that you would like to raise with your physician.
- Live a healthy lifestyle: You can help keep your fibroids from getting real big. A well-balanced diet will also do this.
- Over-the-counter pain medicines: Even though pain from fibroids is not that unbearable, physicians recommend ibuprofen to ease some of the issues.
- Alternative therapies: Other women find solace in acupuncture, herbal supplements, and other holistic therapies, but these must be discussed with your physician.
You should see your doctor if you are experiencing the following:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding that impacts your daily life.
- Pelvic pain that does not respond to over-the-counter pain relievers.
- You are having trouble with urination or having bowel movements because of fibroid pressure.
- Problems conceiving after a year or more.
Your doctor may recommend periodic ultrasounds to monitor your fibroids or discuss treatment options to help you manage your symptoms and make you feel better.
Being in control means knowing what uterine fibroids are, and what they look like symptom-wise, so knowing treatment options can be very empowering about making healthy decisions.
And that may be either wanting to have the options available to you so that if necessary you want to explore things to make symptoms manageable or even go to those treatments for preserving fertility options.
A good first step is to work closely with your doctor in building a plan that works for you.
Fibroids are pretty common, and many women go through a healthy, symptom-free life with proper management.
If you suspect you might have fibroids or notice some of the symptoms, you don't have to wait to ask your physician for advice.
Early diagnosis and the design of an appropriate treatment plan are key to proper management.
- In some cases, the fibroids might shrink due to the reduced female hormones at the time of menopause, but not all of them do that without treatment.
- Diagnosis typically involves a pelvic exam or exams, ultrasounds, and other more informative visualization techniques such as MRI if further testing is needed.
- Fibroids are generally benign and cannot lead to cancer, although in an extremely rare type of leiomyosarcoma, this may be possible.
- Yes, it is very likely most women with fibroids can become pregnant and the extent to which the fibroid size and location impact this will only be known for their individual case. Treatment may help improve fertility.
- A minimally invasive procedure that causes the fibroids to shrink by removing their blood supply. It is an alternative for women who do not prefer to undergo surgery.
* Medical Disclaimer - The following information is for educational purposes only. No information provided on this website, including text, graphic, and images, are intended as substitutes for professional medical advice. Please consult with your doctor about specific medical advice pertaining to your condition(s).
