Fibroids are noncancerous growths made up of fibrous tissue and muscle that can occur in the uterus. They may cause symptoms such as heavy periods, abdominal pain, and bloating. Treatment options include drugs, nonsurgical procedures, and surgery. Women in their 30s and 40s and those who are overweight are more likely to develop fibroids.
A fibroid, or myoma, is a type of growth commonly found inside the uterus, or uterus, and is made up of fibrous tissue and muscle. Sometimes known as uterine fibroids, or simply fibroids, fibroids are not cancerous but are benign tumors, thought to affect as many as two out of five women and can occur singly or in clusters. Fibroids often cause no symptoms, but heavier periods, abdominal pain and bloating, constipation, or a frequent need to urinate may occur. Even if these tumors are noncancerous, if symptoms become severe, treatment may be needed. Treatment may involve the use of drugs to shrink the tumors or one of various surgical and nonsurgical techniques may be employed to remove them.
Women in their 30s and 40s and those who are overweight are more likely to develop fibroids. Tumors vary in size and may be too small to be visible or large enough to fill the entire uterus. Although the cause of the tumors is not known, they are more likely to grow when estrogen levels are higher. For this reason, a fibroid may slowly enlarge while a woman is still menstruating, but may shrink after menopause when estrogen levels decline.
A uterine fibroid can develop within the muscular walls of the uterus, in which case it is referred to as an intramural fibroid. Submucous fibroids grow under the inner lining of the uterus, while so-called subserous fibroids arise from outside the uterus and can become huge. Occasionally a pedunculated fibroid, a type of fibroid that grows at the end of a stem, can develop from the outer wall of the uterus.
Diagnosis is usually made using an investigation such as an ultrasound. Treatment is only necessary if symptoms are bothersome. A drug known as GnRHa, or gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, can help shrink tumors, but it’s generally not taken long-term because of side effects such as osteoporosis, where bones become brittle.
Nonsurgical procedures such as UAE or uterine artery embolization, reduce the size of tumors by removing their blood supply. Endometrial ablation removes the lining of the uterus and cuts the fibroids near the surface of the uterus. For large fibroids, an operation such as a hysterectomy, in which the entire uterus is removed, may be required. If women wish to have children later, an alternative method called a myomectomy may be performed, in which the fibroids are extracted through the cervix or through an incision in the uterus, sometimes using keyhole surgery techniques.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
