Information you need to know about uterine fibroids in women

What are uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are cells that grow from the uterine muscle. There are types of uterine fibroids, also known as “myocardial infarction”, and they can grow in the wall of the uterus and put pressure on the bladder or intestine. It can also grow within the wall of the uterus, or even emerge from the wall of the uterus as a mass that hangs from a thin leg into the uterine cavity or into the ectopic.

Fibroids can be as small as a bean or as large as a soccer ball, and they are always benign in appearance, no matter how large they are. Fibroids do not increase the risk of cancer. If the size of the fibroid is clearly large or it is growing on the outer surface of the uterine wall, the uterus can sometimes be pushed to one side. The growth of the uterus can compress the bladder or intestines.

In rare cases, if the fibroid is large or if it grows in the lower part of the uterus, the uterus may be closed. In this situation, pregnant women may need to undergo a cesarean section.

What causes uterine fibroids? Why do women have fibroids?

No one knows specifically what causes uterine fibroids, but changing estrogen levels seem to play a role in their growth. When estrogen levels are high due to pregnancy or birth control pills, for example; the growth rate of fibroids increases. About 20 percent of women of childbearing age suffer from fibroids, but they are few in women under 30 years of age. It is rare for them to appear in young girls before menstruation begins.

As women approach menopause and estrogen levels drop, their uterine fibroids are likely to shrink or almost disappear. No factors were found that increased the risk of fibroids, except women of reproductive age.

What are the symptoms of fibroids in women?

Many women don’t even know they have fibroids. If there are obvious symptoms, they may include:

• A painful monthly menstrual cycle

• The menstrual cycle is very bleeding and persistent for a long time (which can lead to iron deficiency or anemia)

• Frequent urination or a feeling of discomfort when urinating due to pressure on the bladder

• Feeling of fullness or pressure in the lower abdomen.

• pelvic pan

• Back pain

• Constipation

• Infertility (inability to conceive)

• Spontaneous abortion

How is it diagnosed?

Most uterine fibroids are found during a routine internal exam when your doctor notices lumps in the uterus or if the shape of the uterus is abnormal. If you have frequent pain symptoms, your doctor may order an ultrasound imaging session to distinguish fibroids from tumors and other blockages that appear in the pelvic area. If fibroids have grown into the inner lining of the uterus or inside the uterine cavity, they can also be seen using hysteroscopy, a thin, lighted tube inserted into the vagina to examine the cervix and inside of the uterus.

How is it treated?

Most fibroids do not need treatment unless the symptoms bother you and cause problems. Your doctor will make a recommendation based on the following:

• The amount of pain or the amount of blood you lose during your period

• The growth rate of fibroids

• Your age, as fibroids shrink with the onset of menopause

• you want to have children

In rare cases, fibroids can contribute to infertility and in some surgical options they can cause infertility in women and their inability to reproduce. If you need treatment, there are several options you can consider (some of which are more widely available). These include:

• Endometriosis removal: This can be done for fibroids that have grown into the inner layer of the uterus using lasers, a loop of hot wire, electromagnetic waves, or through hot balloon treatment.

• Fibrous tumor electrolysis (electrotherapy) can be done in a simple operation known as laparoscopy or endoscopy. The surgeon inserts a needle-like tool or probe or sends a direct electrical current to the fibroblast and infects both the fibroblast and the surrounding blood vessels.

• Surgical Removal Procedure: It is an operation to remove the fibroids and leave the uterus intact. This process is used for women who are still planning to have children. It is actually very challenging and can lead to more blood loss than hysterectomy.

• Removal of fibroids with laparoscopic technique: it can be used in some cases, especially when the fibroids grow outside the uterine cavity. If the fibroids develop within the uterine cavity, the fibrohysterectomy will be performed using the hysterectomy that is inserted through the vagina.

• Hysterectomy: a process to remove the entire uterus. As a result, women cannot have children. Although hysterectomy was the standard option for the treatment of uterine fibroids, it is highly recommended primarily for women who are near menopause, or women who are not concerned about infertility and the inability to have children, or who have severe symptoms.

• Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a procedure performed by a radiologist. It blocks blood flow to fibroids in the uterus. (Also called uterine artery embolization.) For women who do not plan a future pregnancy, UFE is a possible option instead of surgery for fibroids.

• Medications: Women may use medications that lower estrogen levels to temporarily slow or stop the growth of fibroids, especially before surgery. However, since these drugs often cause menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and low bone density, the course of treatment usually lasts only 3 to 6 months. Fibroids often continue to grow as soon as this hormone therapy is stopped.

• Herbal Remedies for Fibroids: Herbs and green tea have been proven to treat uterine fibroids and help shrink the fibroid tumor.

Some treatments are more successful than others. For example, after fibroids are removed, there is a 25 percent chance that new fibroids will grow within 10 years after surgery. The tumor-blocking artery is thought to prevent tumors from growing back, but more research on this relatively new technique is needed before conclusions can be drawn. The only procedure that ensures non-recurrence of fibroids is hysterectomy.

Questions and answers about uterine fibroids:

Can fibroids in women cause fertility problems?

There is evidence linking fibroids and low fertility. It has been associated with an increased risk of miscarriage in the first and second stages of pregnancy, increasing the likelihood of premature delivery. Fibroids have also been linked to the low success rate of fertility treatments.

However, there is no agreement on how and why this occurs because some women are pregnant and have a successful pregnancy despite having relatively large fibroids in the uterus. One theory says that fibroids mutilate the uterus in a way that affects pregnancy or fertilization, while the other theory says that it weakens the ability to tolerate and continue pregnancy because the tumor affects blood flow. If you know you have uterine fibroids and are having problems with your pregnancy, see your doctor for a referral to a fertility specialist. The first phase of work will focus on identifying and addressing any other possible causes of the fertility problem, if necessary.

Fibroids in women alone can cause fertility problems in less than 3 percent of women. If this applies to you, your doctor may advise you to continue trying to conceive normally for up to two years, unless you are over 34 years of age. In this case, it is best to try the treatment as soon as possible, since fertility tends to decline rapidly with age.

It is unlikely that you will be asked to perform artificial insemination right away, because there is little evidence that this improves your chances of a successful pregnancy. There is also a lack of evidence about whether surgery helps women with fibroids get pregnant and have a successful pregnancy. Your doctor will help you decide on the best treatment option for your condition.

How can symptoms be relieved?

If pain or bleeding continues or worsens during menstruation due to fibroids, see your doctor right away to learn about your options. In the meantime, you can try the following to relieve discomfort:

• Take pain relievers to relieve cramps and body aches.

• Rest in bed when symptoms worsen

• Eat iron-rich foods (such as lean red meat and spinach) and iron supplements (if your doctor tells you to) to prevent anemia from heavy menstrual bleeding

• Put a hot water bottle on your stomach or take a warm bath to help ease the pain.

What can be done to prevent fibroids in women?

Unfortunately, there is no known method to prevent fibroids from growing or replicating.