FIBROIDS IN UTERUS

Fibroids in the uterus are non-cancerous growth from muscle layer of the uterus, affecting 30-40 % of women of 30-50 year age group. It is one of the commonest cause of hysterectomy under 50 years.

Fibroid causes

There are no specific risk factors that promote formation of fibroids have been identified, but it has shown to some extent its growth depends on estrogen. They have shown increasing size in reproductive age, during pregnancy and usually regress following menopause. Risk has shown high in those who is never pregnant, family history of fibroids and In African population

Fibroids Symptoms

• Most of fibroids do not cause symptoms.
• Heavy and prolonged bleeding during periods.
• Abdominal heaviness, back pain and abdomen pain, abdomen can get enlarged if its big.
• Pressure symptoms like constipation, frequency of urination and Difficulty in emptying
• Fibroids can cause infertility if they are altering the uterine inner lining, miscarriage, and abnormal position of the baby, obstruction during the delivery requiring cesarean and bleeding during and after delivery.

Diagnosis

Uterine fibroids are usually found during a routine pelvic exam. If you have symptoms of uterine fibroids, doctor will recommend the following tests.

• Ultrasound.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This imaging test can show the size and location of fibroids, identify different types of tumors, malignant changes and help determine appropriate treatment options.

Fibroids treatment

Most of the fibroids does not need treatment, only symptomatic fibroids need treatment. The doctor will check them during your regular visits to see if they are increasing or remaining same size.

Only 10-20% of them need treatment.

Non-surgical

Medications for uterine fibroid targets hormones that regulates your menstrual cycles, they do not eliminate the fibroids, they shrink it temporally helps to postpone the surgery. MRI guides focused ultrasound Non-Invasive high-energy ultrasound waves given after localizing the fibroid. Embolization of fibroids-Particle are injected into the arteries supplying uterus cutting the blood supply of the fibroid resulting in shrinkage of fibroids, shrinkage of fibroids is slow and may take up to 3 months.

Surgical

Surgical removal of fibroids or uterus is the definitive treatment options for fibroids.

Minimally invasive procedures (laparoscopy)

In order to perform open surgeries, surgeon make cut large enough to have adequate visibility, depending on the type of surgery 6-12-inch length. There will be more discomfort associated with these cuts, needs more hospitalization and blood loss, long recovery post-surgery. In Laparoscopic surgery where surgeon makes small 3-4 cuts about half an inch instead of large cut. Small tubes are placed through these cuts and carbon dioxide is used fill the abdomen so, surgeon will have more room to operate.

Laparoscopic myomectomy- Laparoscopic myomectomy in young patients who wants to conserve uterus for future fertility. In myomectomy surgeon removes fibroid leaving uterus in place. Morcellation a process of breaking fibroids into smaller pieces and taking out fibroid from abdomen if the fibroid has cancerous changes may increase the risk of spreading cancer, there are several ways to reduce that risk, such as evaluating risk factors before surgery, newer technique of morcellating the fibroid in a bag.

Hysteroscopic myomectomy- This is an option in case if fibroids are inside the uterine cavity, camera is passed from birth passage to uterine cavity and fibroids are removed.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy-removal of uterus who have completed the family who does not want to conserve the uterus. Many of the patients seek alternative treatments, such as specific dietary recommendations, magnet therapy, black cohosh, herbal preparations or homeopathy. So far, there’s no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of these techniques.

Prevention

Although many research are going to know the causes of fibroid tumors, no scientific evidence is available on how to prevent them, because the cause of fibroids is poorly understood, there are no known ways to prevent its development, but only a small percentage of these tumors require treatment. But, by making healthy lifestyle choices, like maintaining a normal weight and eating fruits and vegetables, you may be able to decrease your fibroid risk.