Uterine Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that form in your uterine lining. This is the first and very important thing every woman should know as a part of fibroid awareness. When you talk about women’s health issues, it is important to know about uterine fibroids as they can happen from 20 to 70% of all women of reproductive age. Even though they are generally harmless, they can cause complications in your menstrual health and fertility. So, let’s learn about four essential fibroid facts that will help you improve your understanding of fibroids and their effect on your body.
Prevalence of uterine fibroids is quite common. It is expected that almost 70 - 80% of all women experience uterine fibroids by the age of 50. These fibroids are common among women in their reproductive ages and while most of them don’t experience any symptoms due to uterine fibroids, these growths can hurt their health, if left unchecked. Uterine fibroids grow on the muscular walls of the uterus and make for very heavy menstrual bleeding.
In terms of its impact on health, uterine fibroids have negative health impacts for anyone who has it. Even though the symptoms of uterine fibroids may not show in many cases, its impact on health is undeniable. From heavy menstrual bleeding that can lead to conditions like anemia to pelvic pain, constipation, and frequent urination, these are some of the most common health impacts of uterine fibroids.
In certain cases, based on the location and the size of the fibroid, it can lead to infertility. When the fibroid blocks the fallopian tubes or stops a fertilized egg from implanting into the uterus, it leads to problems conceiving. While the symptoms may not be present beforehand, however, the impacts shared here are some of the ways doctors diagnose uterine fibroids.
There are several risk factors associated with uterine fibroids and most of them come from your family history and genetics. Women who have direct family members who have uterine fibroids are more likely to get fibroids than other women. Similarly, having unbalanced progesterone and estrogen levels can also increase your risk of fibroids. Unbalanced hormone levels are common in women of reproductive age. This is why women in that age group commonly develop fibroids. After menopause when hormone levels go down naturally, the fibroids often shrink and the disruptive symptoms can go away on their own. Another known risk factor for uterine fibroids is it is more common in people of certain races than others.
In terms of treatment, there are several options when it comes to uterine fibroids. Based on your lifestyle choices doctors will recommend surgical or medical treatments to you. First, when the fibroids are diagnosed, doctors wait to notice if they have any disruptive symptoms or not.
If the patient is young and wants to have children, doctors will opt for treatments that help manage the symptoms first. This involves offering pain relievers for pelvic pain and uncomfortable intercourse. After that doctors go for hormonal therapy which aims to shrink the fibroids as much as possible. Doctors even recommend using an IUD (intrauterine device) that releases progestin into the uterus.
If these treatment options are not very successful or if the fibroids are causing too many symptoms and health complications, doctors recommend patients to go through surgery. There are namely two surgery types that are generally recommended for patients with uterine fibroids, myomectomy and hysterectomy. A myomectomy procedure involves cutting the fibroids out of the uterus walls and taking them out of the body. This procedure doesn’t involve too many risks and it doesn’t impact your reproductive health as your uterus is kept in place.
Hysterectomy is another procedure doctors recommend in advanced cases of uterine fibroids. This procedure involves removing the uterus completely from the body. Going through with a hysterectomy means women will not be able to bear children anymore. Both procedures can be performed as a minimally invasive procedure and have limited risks. The recovery period for both surgeries is relatively short with little or even no requirement for mandatory hospital stay.
These are the four essential things about uterine fibroids you must know as a part of fibroid awareness. To learn more about uterine fibroids treatment, check out MASSH. We offer some of the best fibroid treatments and consultations in Delhi. Our experts and modern infrastructure allows patients to get the best possible treatment for their uterine fibroids. Check out our website to learn more about uterine fibroid treatments at MASSH or visit us today to get your diagnosis and avail our world-class medical services.
