Small fibroids with no symptoms may not require treatment
Fibroids are muscular tumours that grow in the wall of the uterus (womb).
Fibroids can grow as a single or many in the uterus. They can be as small as an apple seed or as big as a grapefruit and sometimes larger than that. About 20 per cent to 80 per cent of women develop fibroids by the time they reach age 50.
Who can get fibroids?
Factors that increase a woman’s risk of developing fibroids:
> Age — common during the 30s and 40s through menopause > Family history
> Nulliparity
> Hormonal factor
> Ethnic origin: African-American
> Obese individuals
> Red meat consumption
Where can fibroids grow?
Depend on location in uterus. > Submucosal fibroids grow into the uterine cavity.
> Intramural fibroids grow within the wall of the uterus. > Subserosal fibroids grow on the outside of the uterus.
> Cervical fibroid
Symptoms of fibroids
> Heavy bleeding or painful periods, torsion
> Pelvic pressure
> Abdominal swelling > Frequent urination
> Pain during sex
> Lower back pain > Complications during pregnancy and labor, including a sixtime greater risk of cesarean section
> Reproductive problems, such as infertility
Can fibroids turn into cancer?
Fibroids are almost always benign. Rarely a cancerous fibroid may be found known as leiomyosarcoma.
Pregnancy and fibroids
Risks associated in pregnancy > Breech
> Labour fails to progress > Placental abruption > Pre-term delivery > Caesarean section
How to detect fibroids?
These tests might include: > Ultrasound
> Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
> Cat scan (CT) > Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) or sonohysterogram
> Laparoscopy
How are fibroids treated?
A lot of factors can be considered — like pregnancy in future, size and location of fibroid before deciding treatment. Numerous options are available for short term relief with its own side effect, such as low-dose birth con- trol pill, progesterone-like injec- tions.
Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa). Side effects include hot flushes, depression, not being able to sleep, decreased sex drive, and joint pain. It offers temporary relief, however once you stop taking the drugs, the fibroids often grow back quickly.
Surgery
For fibroids with moderate or severe symptoms, surgery may be the best way to treat them. > Myomectomy: It is best for women who wish to have children after treatment for their fibroids or who wish to keep their uterus for other reasons. You can become pregnant after myomectomy. With an experienced laparoscopic surgeon, all fibroids irrespective of size and location can be treated laparoscopically with good results. Advantages of laparoscopy are fast recovery, shorter hospital stay, decrease adhesion formation, good pregnancy rate. > Hysterectomy – Women who do not desire future fertility may be candidate for laparoscopic hysterectomy.
> Uterine Artery Embolisation: It involves an embolic agent introduce via angiography to occlude the vascular supply of fibroid.
What new treatments are available for uterine fibroids?
> No standard treatments > Radiofrequency ablation > Anti-hormonal drugs
Treatment may not be required for small fibroids with no symptoms. However, for fibroids with symptoms one should be in regular touch with their doctors during pregnancy or when they are planning to conceive so that constant monitoring and suitable treatment can be given. (This article has been sponsored by the advertiser)