Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that grow in the uterus muscle. They are said to be the most common form of non-cancerous tumors to affect women of childbearing age. Almost 30% of women in America are known to have uterine fibroid. This condition does not require treatment, but can be removed both through medication and surgery. In the United States, two groups of women are most susceptible to uterine fibroids:
i. Black women, who are almost five times more likely to suffer from uterine fibroids than their white counterparts
ii. Women whose weight is not in sync with their height
While in many cases, uterine fibroid may not show any symptom, there are women who may experience the following problems if they are suffering from uterine fibroids:
i. Pain during intercourse
ii. Heavy bleeding during periods
iii. Painful periods
iv. Bleeding between periods
v. Pain in the lower back
vi. Frequent urination
vii. Infertility; though not all women suffering from uterine fibroids experience this. There have been several cases where women with this medical condition have had successful pregnancies.
Medical community is still divided on the exact cause of uterine fibroids. According to some experts, hormones such as progesterone and estrogen result in fibroids. In other cases, point out doctors, women may be predisposed to develop fibroids. During pregnancy however, a rush of hormones may lead to fibroids. On the basis of their location in the uterus, fibroids can be classified as:
i. Intramural fibroids
ii. Subserosal fibroids
iii. Submucosal fibroids
Intramural fibroids:
The most common of all fibroids, the intramural fibroids grow inside the uterus wall.
Subserosal fibroids:
These fibroids grow outside the uterus. They can take large sizes, at times, even reaching other organs.
Submucosal fibroids:
These grow inside the uterus.
Uterine fibroid may not require any treatment at all if there are no symptoms. But women who are suffering from some of the symptoms mentioned above, medication or surgery may be prescribed. Medical experts may administer medicines that can both slow and stop the growth of fibroids in the uterus. However, once the medication stops, chances are that the fibroids may recur.
Doctors may also perform one of the following procedures in order to surgically remove fibroids:
i. Hysterectomy
ii. Myomectomy
iii. Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) or Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE)
Hysterectomy:
The only definite procedure of treating fibroids, hysterectomy is a surgery where the uterus is removed from the body.
Myomectomy:
As part of this procedure, doctors only remove the fibroids from the uterus. The uterus in itself remains as it is.
Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE):
Under this method, the blood supply leading to the uterus and the fibroids is cut, resulting in the fibroids shrinking in size.