Many women are unaware that they have fibroids in their uterus. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that develop in the uterus and are difficult to detect because they do not show any symptoms.
Is this dangerous, and what causes it and how to overcome it? Check out the explanation in this article, come on, Mom!
What Are Uterine Fibroids?
The National Health Service (NHS) describes fibroids as non-cancerous (benign) growths that develop in or around a woman’s womb (uterus) during her childbearing years.
The growth in question consists of muscle and connective tissue in the uterine wall. The growth can develop inside the uterine wall, inside the main cavity of the organ or even on the outer surface.
The size can vary greatly, according to the pageMayo Clinic. Ranging from the size of the seed that is undetectable by the human eye, to a large mass that can distort and enlarge the uterus.
Sufferers can have one (single nodule) or a group (multiple fibroids). In extreme cases, multiple fibroids can enlarge the uterus to the ribs and can add weight to the sufferer.
Cleveland Clinic explains,clusterFibroids can range in diameter from 1 mm to more than 20 cm (8 inches) or even larger. For comparison, they can be the size of a watermelon!
In the medical world, uterine fibroids are also known asuterine myoma(uterine myoma) orleiomyoma(leiomyoma).
Fibroids are actually a very common type of growth in a woman’s pelvis. About 40 to 80 percent of women have them, according to the Office of Women’s Health as reported byHealthline, often experienced by women aged 50 years.
However, most of them do not realize they have fibroids, because this disease does not have any symptoms. Some even have them all their lives and do not realize it. Usually doctors find these fibroids in the uterus accidentally during a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound.
This condition is not associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develops into cancer in women.
Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids
One in three women with uterine fibroids may experience these symptoms:
- Very heavy or painful menstrual periods
- Menstruation can last more than a week
- Stomach ache
- Lower back pain
- Pain in the legs
- Frequent urge to urinate
- Difficulty emptying the bladder
- Constipation
- Pain or discomfort during sex
However, if you pay attention to the symptoms, these symptoms are also common or similar to other health conditions.
In rare cases, further complications caused by uterine fibroids can affect pregnancy or cause infertility.
Causes of Fibroids Can Develop
The exact cause of fibroids is unknown to this day. However, some health experts link them to several things as summarized from several sources:
- Estrogen. Estrogen is a female reproductive hormone produced by the ovaries (female reproductive organs). Fibroids typically develop during a woman’s reproductive years (from about age 16 to 50)—a time when estrogen levels are at their highest. They tend to shrink when estrogen levels are low, such as after menopause when a woman’s monthly periods stop.
- In addition to estrogen, fibroids can run in families (genetics). If your mother, sister, or grandmother has a history of the condition, you may also have it.
- Pregnancy can also increase the production of estrogen and progesterone in your body. Fibroids can develop and grow rapidly when you are pregnant.
- Extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM is the material that holds cells together, like mortar between bricks. ECM increases in fibroids and makes them fibrous, as well as storing growth factors and causing biological changes in the cells themselves.
- Other growth factors. Substances that help the body maintain tissue, such as insulin-like growth factors, may affect fibroid growth.
Risk Factors
Of course, those most at risk of experiencing this are women. Women are at greater risk for developing fibroids if they:
- Aged 30 to 50 years.
- There is a family history of fibroids.
- Of African-Caribbean descent.
- Being overweight or obese because being overweight increases the level of estrogen in the body.
- Have no children.
- Starting menstruation earlier than other girls.
- Late menopause.
- Other factors, such as vitamin D deficiency; having a diet high in red meat and low in green vegetables, fruit and milk; actively consuming alcoholic beverages, including beer.
In women who have had children, the risk of uterine fibroids is actually lower, and the risk decreases with the number of children they have.
Uterine Fibroid Diagnosis
Because it has no symptoms and even if there are symptoms they are similar to other health problems, to get a proper diagnosis, a doctor must perform a routine gynecological examination, test or scan.
If you experience the above symptoms persistently, see your GP immediately so he can investigate the possible causes.
If your GP thinks you have fibroids, you will be referred urgently for:
- Ultrasonography (USG) . A high-frequency sound wave device produces images of your uterus on a screen, allowing your doctor to see the internal structure and any fibroids (check the condition, size, and shape of your uterus). Your doctor may also use a transvaginal ultrasound, a wand inserted into your vagina, to get clearer images of the inside of your uterus.
- MRI Abdomen Pelvis. This in-depth imaging test produces images of the uterus, ovaries, and other pelvic organs.
- Computed tomography (CT): A CT scan uses X-ray images to create detailed images of internal organs from multiple angles.
- Hysteroscopy : Hysteroscopy is a tool called ascope(a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end) to view fibroids inside the uterus.Scopeinserted through your vagina and cervix and then moved into your uterus.
- Hysterosalpingography (HSG): This is a detailed X-ray in which a contrast material is injected first and then an X-ray of the uterus is taken. This is more often used in people who are also undergoing an infertility evaluation.
- Sonohysterography : In this imaging test, a small catheter is placed transvaginally andsalineinjected through a catheter into the uterine cavity. This extra fluid helps create a clearer picture of the uterus than can be seen with a standard ultrasound.
- Laparoscopy : A medical professional will make a small incision in the lower abdomen, then a thin, flexible tube with a camera on the end will be inserted to view the internal organs up close.
Types of Uterine Fibroids
Not only the size, the location of the fibroid growth is also important to know so that the doctor knows how to treat you. The location of the fibroid growth is also the basis of the types of fibroids, namely:
- Submucosal fibroids (submucosal fibroids): Fibroids grow in the uterine cavity (wall) where the baby grows during pregnancy.
- Intramural fibroids : Fibroids are embedded in the wall of the uterus itself. Think of the sides of the uterus like the walls of a house and the fibroids growing inside those muscular walls.
- Subserosal fibroids (subserosal fibroids): Fibroids are located on the outside of the uterus and are closely connected to the outer wall of the uterus.
- Pedunculated fibroids : The least common type where the fibroid is located on the outside of the uterus and has a thin stalk connecting it to the uterus. Often described as mushroom-like because it has a stalk and a wider top.
Possible Complications
Although uterine fibroids are considered benign and harmless cancer, they can cause discomfort and some complications, more so due to heavy menstruation. Among them:
- Decreased red blood cells (anemia)
- Fatigue
- Losing a lot of blood, but rarely requiring a transfusion because of it.
Anemia is a condition that occurs when the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells to carry oxygen to the body’s organs. This condition can make the body feel tired and weak.
In this case, the sufferer needs treatment such as iron supplements or iron infusion (by IV) – in severe cases.
Fibroids also generally do not interfere with pregnancy. However, there is a possibility that fibroids – especially submucous fibroids – can cause infertility or miscarriage.
Fibroids can also increase the risk of certain pregnancy complications, such as placental abruption, fetal growth restriction, and premature birth.
How to Treat Uterine Fibroids
Fibroids do not need to be treated if they do not cause symptoms. Treatment for uterine fibroids varies depending on the size, number and location of the fibroids, as well as what symptoms they cause.
If There Are No Symptoms
You may not need treatment. Over time, fibroids will shrink and even disappear without treatment, especially after menopause.
Mild Symptoms
If you do have symptoms caused by fibroids, medications to help relieve the symptoms will usually be recommended by your doctor first. Fibroids are also closely monitored over time, but no immediate action is needed. Periodic pelvic exams and ultrasounds will usually be recommended by your doctor depending on the size or symptoms of the fibroids.
Severe Symptoms
Such as anemia due to excessive bleeding, moderate to severe pain, infertility or urinary tract and bowel problems. Your treatment plan will depend on several factors, including how many fibroids you have, the size of the fibroids, the location of the fibroids, what symptoms you are experiencing related to the fibroids, and your pregnancy plans.
Treatment options may also depend on your future fertility goals. If you want to have children in the future, some treatment options may not be an option. Talk to your doctor about this.
Treatment Options Depend on Pregnancy Plans
Treatment options for uterine fibroids may include:
Drugs
These include: Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications; iron supplements; birth control such as oral contraceptive pills, intravaginal contraceptives, injections, and intrauterine devices ( IUDs );Gonadotropin-releasing hormone(GnRH) agonists, in the form of nasal sprays or injections that work to shrink fibroids.
Operation
This has to do with whether or not you want to get pregnant again.
- If you still want to get pregnant, you can do a myomectomy procedure . This procedure, which allows fibroids to be removed without damaging the uterus, can be done by hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, or laparotomy.
- If you are not planning to get pregnant, surgery to remove fibroids can be done by hysterectomy.uterine fibroid embolization, orradiofrequency ablation(RFA).
Prevention Efforts
In general, there is nothing you can do to prevent fibroids. Once diagnosed with uterine fibroids, you can only reduce your risk by maintaining a healthy weight and having regular pelvic exams.
Also, some studies suggest that using hormonal contraception may be associated with a lower risk of fibroids.
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia
