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| Physicians treating - fibroids |
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| Fibroids... |
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A uterine fibroid is the most common benign (not cancerous) tumor of a woman's
uterus (womb). Fibroids develop with the uterine wall or attach to it. They may grow as a single tumor or in
clusters. Uterine fibroids can cause excessive menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and frequent urination.
These growths occur in about 25% of all women and are the leading cause of hysterecomy (removal of the uterus)
in the United States. Of every woman older than 35 years, 1 in 5 has a uterine fibroid.
Fibroids can be tiny and cause no problems, but they can also grow to weigh several pounds. They grow slowly. Some women with many fibroids may have an inherited tendency toward developing them.
These growths can show up as early as age 20 and shrink after menopause when your body stops producing large amounts of estrogen. |
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Signs and Symptoms
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| Heavy Vaginal Bleeding - Some women experience excessively heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. Not uncommonly, women describe soaking through sanitary protection in less than an hour, passing blood clots and being unable to leave the house during the heaviest day of flow. As a result of the blood loss, some women develop anemia, or a low blood count, which can cause fatigue or lightheadedness. |
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| Pelvic Pressure or Discomfort-- Women with large fibroids may have a sense of heaviness or pressure in the lower abdomen or pelvis. This discomfort is similar to pregnancy when the enlarging uterus presses against surrounding structures. |
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Bladder Changes-- The most frequent bladder symptom is the need to urinate more frequently. Women may awaken several times during the night in order to urinate. Occasionally, women experience an inability to urinate despite a full bladder. Bladder symptoms are caused by the uterine fibroids pressing against the bladder thereby reducing its capacity for holding urine or allowing urine to pass.
Pelvic Pain -- A less common symptom of fibroids is acute, severe pain. This type of pain occurs when a fibroid goes |
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| through a process called degeneration,usually because it has outgrown its blood supply.The pain is usually localized to a specific spot and improves on it own within two to four weeks. |
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| Low Back Pain -- Fibroids that press against the muscles and nerves of the lower back can cause back pain. It is important to look for other causes of back pain before attributing the pain to the fibroids. |
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| Rectal Pressure -- Fibroids also can press against the rectum and cause a sense of rectal fullness, difficulty having a bowel movement or pain with bowel movements. Occasionally, fibroids can lead to the development of a hemorrhoid. |
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| Treatment |
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| No treatment for fibroids would be the best solution for all women who have this problem, but the treatment that is best for any individual woman will depend on a variety of factors. |
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Fibroids that are not causing problems may need no treatment at all. You should have a check-up every few months to see if the fibroids are growing though. |
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Fibroids in the uterus usually do not prevent a woman from becoming pregnant. However, if you are considering a hysterectomy, you cannot become pregnant or carry a baby. ). A myomectomy may be an alternative, which preserves the uterus but may make it more difficult to become pregnant. |
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A hysterectomy or a myomectomy is major surgery, requiring two to five days in the hospital and about six weeks to recover fully. Ask your doctor about the new procedures involving a hysterectomy. |
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Depending on whether the fibroid is causing severe pain or if the major problem is heavy bleeding the treatment plan may vary. |
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Fibroids shrink naturally after menopause when estrogen levels in the body decline. Treatment with GnRH agonists for a few months will shrink the fibroids, which should relieve pain until the fibroids begin to shrink naturally after menopause. |
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