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fibroids

What is fibroid, cause, symptoms and in pregnancy

What is Fibroid Fibroid is a lump or growth in the uterus that is not cancerous...

fibroids in uterus

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Fibroid Fibroids do not present noticeable symptoms. But some symptoms include...

What are the Causes of Fibroids Although some women are more likely to get fibroids, including black women, women who have never been pregnant

What are the treatments for Fibroid There are many treatment options that exist. The best action to take after discovering fibroids is simply to be aware they are there...


what is Fibroids

Fibroid is also known as a uterine leiomyomata or “myoma,”. Fibroid is a lump or growth in the uterus that is not cancerous. Fibroids can be as small as a pea to as large as a basketball. Fibroids are usually round and pinkish in color, and they can grow anywhere inside or on the uterus. While some women have only one fibroid, they typically are present in groups of two or more.

About 30% of women older than 30 years have fibroids, and they usually appear between the ages of 35 and 45.

Uterine fibroids are the most common female pelvic tumor, affecting up to 30% of women. Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that arise from smooth muscle cells within the uterus and can result in symptoms such as pelvic pain, pelvic pressure, urinary frequency, abdominal fullness, infertility and heavy menstrual bleeding. Fibroids can be microscopic and some fibroids may weigh several pounds. While it is unclear what causes fibroids to form, we do know fibroids depend on estrogen to grow and are more common in African-American women.

Treatment options for fibroids vary upon the severity of symptoms, a patient's age and medical history, as well as her desire to maintain fertility. Simple treatment options include monitoring with ultrasound, oral contraceptive pills or hormone injections to control fibroid growth. A myomectomy, or surgical removal of fibroids, can be performed. ysteroscopically, larparoscopically or abdominally. In addition, uterine artery embolization (UAE), performed by an interventional radiologist, is designed to restrict the fibroid's blood supply. The benefit of UAE is avoidance of surgecal removal of fibroids, but long-term results are unknown, as is the affect on future pregnancy.


What are the signs and symptoms of fibroids

Fibroids do not present noticeable symptoms. Some women never realize that they have fibroids because they have no symptoms. In other women, uterine fibroids are discovered either during a routine gynecologic exam or during prenatal care.

When symptoms of fibroids occur, they can include:

  • Pelvic pain or pressure
  • Heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Abdominal swelling
  • Low back pain during intercourse or during menstrual periods
  • Fatigue or low energy from heavy periods and excessive bleeding
  • Infertility, if the fibroids are blocking the fallopian tubes
  • Constipation
  • Repeated miscarriages Bleeding or spotting between menstrual periods
  • Unusually frequent urination

What are the causes of fibroids

To what is the real cause of fibroids is still unknown. Although some women are more likely to get fibroids, including black women, women who have never been pregnant and women who have a mother or sister with fibroids ishigh risk.

The female hormones estrogen and progesterone seem to what make fibroids grow. The female body makes the highest levels of these hormones during menstrual years.

Upon reaching the menopausal period, the body tends to produce less of estrogen and progesterone and usually, fibroids shrink and stop causing symptoms.


Fibroids and Pregnancy

Having fibroids should not be a deterrent for a woman who wants to be pregnant. The chance to bear and deliver a healthy baby is high. Fibroids pose no immediate danger in pregnancy as long as potential complications are identified through regular medical checkups.

While uterine fibroids tend to increase in size during pregnancy due to increased secretion of female hormones, most women report minor symptoms. Symptoms of the presence of fibroids may include pelvic pain and light spotting. This is particular for conditions where the stalk of a growing fibroid is twisted. However, this condition is not common and to most women, they do not even know that the fibroids are there.

The associated risk for pregnant women having uterine fibroid is that they have a slightly higher risk of miscarriage during the first or second trimester of their pregnancy. And later the possibility of preterm labor.

Complications in pregnancy of fibroids

  • When a fibroid grows in or near the fallopian tubes. Fibroids can partially or completely block the egg cells to go down and meet with sperm cells ultimately preventing pregnancy...
  • The fertilized egg cannot implant into the uterus because a fibroid is occupying its space.
  • The fertilized egg implanted near a growing fibroid and a conflict for nourishment and space begin that eventually ends in miscarriage.
  • Fibroid growth occurs along the birth canal making labor and vaginal delivery difficult and complicated. A caesarian delivery may be needed.
  • Occurrence of fetal malpresentation where the baby is forced to unusual position inside the uterus because of the presence of a large fibroid.

Signs and symptoms of preterm labor for pregnant women with fibroids

  • Vaginal spotting or bleeding
  • Abdominal, pelvic and back pain
  • A feel like the baby is pressing down
  • Feeling of abdominal cramps and menstrual cramps
  • Watery discharge from the vagina
  • Diarrhea

Treating fibroids during pregnancy

You should not try to treat fibroids during pregnancy. Visit your health care provider regularly to monitor the growth of fibroids in order to anticipate any complications. Avoid unnecessarily worrying about your fibroids and pregnancy. Stress and anxiety may do you more harm. If you may experience abdominal, pelvic or back pain, do not drink pain killers. Use an ice pack to numb the area. If severe pain continued and/or associated with profuse bleeding. Seek an immediate medical treatment.

Fibroids tend to shrink in size after pregnancy.


treatment of fibroids

Doctors agree that there is no single best approach to fibroid treatment. There are many treatment options that exist. The best action to take after discovering fibroids is simply to be aware they are there. Since fibroids are non-cancerous and if fibroids are small and are not causing any symptoms, they do not need to be treated.

Being aware means a regular trip to the gynecologist for pelvic examination to measure fibroid growth. This should be done every six months to a year to make sure that the fibroids are not growing rapidly.

The Uterine Health Companion: A Holistic Guide to Lifelong Wellness is book for fibroids.available in amazon.com with good reviews. This is worth reading to empower you to make informed decisions for your fibroids.

The following alternative approach found in the next page does not guarantee a cure for fibroids. To some it may work and to others may not. There are no concrete scientific bases that may support the suggested therapies. It is still best that you discuss your medical condition to a certified gynecologist.

Next : Fibroid Treatment, Diet, Exercise and Relaxation

Fibroids Fibroids treatment

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Fibroids articles references:

  1. Merck Medical Dictionary, Fibroids.
  2. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
  3. M. Castleman "Blended Medicine, The best choices in healing, Fibroids "
  4. Fibroids Mayoclinic's website.
  5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fibroids
  6. Nisolle M, Gillerot S, Casanas-Roux F, Squifflet J, Berliere M, Donnez J (1999). "Immunohistochemical study of the proliferation index,...
  7. Advances in Uterine Leiomyoma Research: The Progesterone Hypothesis
  8. Celik H, Sapmaz E (2003). "Use of a single preoperative dose of misoprostol is efficacious for patients who undergo abdominal myomectomy"
  9. Goto A, Takeuchi S, Sugimura K, Maruo T (2002). "Usefulness of Gd-DTPA contrast-enhanced dynamic MRI and serum determination of LDH and its isozymes in the differential diagnosis of leiomyosarcoma from degenerated leiomyoma of the uterus". Int. J. Gynecol. Cancer


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