What are uterine fibroids?
uterine fibroids are tumors, usually benign, which grow into the uterus from the muscle tissue that surrounds it. They are also known as leiomyomes or uterus fibroid . Uterine fibroids can grow inside or on the uterine wall, move the uterus to one side or forces it to grow abnormally. They can be as large as basketball or small as peas.
Complications from uterine fibroids occur when larger fibroids exert pressure on the intestines or bladder, resulting in constipation, frequent urination, severe menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain. This unusual growth can lead to back pain, unpleasant pressure, or a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen and problems with amusement. Uterine fibroids can cause complications during pregnancy when large fibroids block opening into the uterus, requiring C-cut.s. African American women are three times more often developing uterine fibroids like white American women. Lower risk is athletic women, smokers and ŽENY that had two or more children vaginally.
No one knows the exact cause of uterine fibroids. Fibroid growth affects the fluctuations in estrogen levels; High levels, for example during pregnancy, promote fibroid growth. During and after menopause, when estrogen levels are significantly lower, fibroids reduce or almost disappear.
During regular pelvic tests, the doctor feels the uterus for unusual size and growth. The presence of uterine fibroids can cause the uterus to feel lumpy. Ultrasound is usually done to exclude cysts or malignant tumors.
Treatment of uterine fibroids depends on the severity of symptoms. Most uterine fibroids are left untreated if they do not have a big impact on the female. When deciding on treatment, the physician takes into account blood loss and pain during menstruation, woman's age and how fast fibroids grow. In addition to estrogen reducing drugs that can help reduce FIBROIDY, but bring menopausal symptoms, there are two main surgical possibilities.
The first option is fibroids in which fibroids are removed, so the uterus leaves intact and viable for future pregnancy. With this option, there is a 25% level of recidivism of uterine fibroids. The second surgical option is hysterectomy , in which the uterus is completely removed along with the cervical fibroids. This option is reserved for women who are in menopause, women who do not plan to have children, or for those who have particularly serious symptoms. These are both invasive options that can have lifelong impacts.
There are several less invasive options for the treatment of uterine fibroids. The firsts call uterine artery embolization (SAE) . It is a newer technique that has been used since 1995, which is performed by a radiologist. The doctor determines the accurate placement of fibroids and the surrounding blood vessels by means of X -rays or other imaging technoloGIE. It then blocks the surrounding blood vessel, cutting the blood supply of fibroids. Rather than the main surgery, this does not include cut, only small needles and one -night stay in the hospital.
endocoagulation uses similar theory to treat fibroids. It is an experimental technique that includes inserting a needle into a fibroid and a cauterization that cuts it off from the blood supply.