As a woman, there will be some struggles that can be a tough challenge to overcome. However, proper healthcare and hygiene are critical to pushing forward.
Uterine fibroids aren’t a rare occurrence. They are best described as abnormal growths in the woman’s uterus. These non-cancerous tumours usually happen to have zero symptoms to accompany them. While in some cases, there are large tumours in size that can cause some symptoms to appear.
Small fibroids don’t need treatment, while the larger ones are removed with the help of medication or surgery. Suppose you have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids. In that case, you must know that you may experience various symptoms with these fibroids, and it is possible that the symptoms aren’t the same as those others are experiencing.
Therefore, in today’s article, let’s discuss what fibroids are, what they feel like if you happen to have them, and how they go away in some instances. We will also look at its causes, symptoms and possible treatment options to ensure the article is detailed.
Types of Fibroids
Apart from being identified as fibroids, following are some of the other terms associated with fibroids:
- Fibromas
- Uterine myomas
- Myomas
- Leiomyomas
Now that we have discussed some of the other medical terminologies associated with fibroids let’s get down to their types.
The type of fibroids depends upon their location in the uterus. Some of the types of it are as mentioned below.
1. Intramural Fibroids
These are the most common types of fibroids reported overall. Intramural fibroids tend to appear within the muscular wall of the uterus.
These are the types of fibroids that can easily stretch in your womb as their size continues to enlarge within the cavity.
2. Submucosal Fibroids
Submucosal fibroids are rare fibroids cases that don’t appear in many patients. The tumours of this fibroid appear in the muscle layer located in the middle of the uterus.
3. Subserosal Fibroids
Subserosal fibroids are tumours that happen to grow outside the uterus, which is the area known as a serosa. These tumours can grow huge enough to make the side of the womb more extensive in size.
4. Pedunculated Fibroids
Pedunculated fibroids are a more advanced step in subserosal tumours. When the subserosal tumours grow, a stem (a slender base) secures cancer. These are known as pedunculated tumours.
Causes of Fibroids
To discover whether these fibroids go away or not, it is significant to understand the root causes of their appearance.
Unfortunately, researchers and doctors have failed to know what exactly causes fibroids. Nonetheless, there are a few factors that heavily influence its formation.
- Hormones – Oestrogen and progesterone are two of the major female hormones produced by the ovaries. Since they are responsible for maintaining the uterine lining, they can stimulate the growth of fibroids.
- Pregnancy – During the time a woman is pregnant, the production of oestrogen and progesterone is in full swing. This may cause fibroids to develop quickly while carrying a child.
- Genetics – One’s family history can also be responsible for the growth of fibroids. It runs in the family. Thus, if your mother, grandmother or any close blood tie has this condition, they can be at risk of developing it later.
Symptoms of Fibroids
If you are experiencing fibroids or have been diagnosed with them, chances are you did not feel anything out of order, and that is entirely normal.
In most cases, females don’t feel any specific symptoms. The symptoms mainly depend on the size, location, and the number of tumours one has been through.
Nevertheless, if they have fibroids, then they can have the following symptoms:
- Induced menstrual bleeding.
- Extreme pelvic pain.
- Heavy blood flow during the menstrual cycle.
- Pain and discomfort during sexual activities.
- Increased levels of urination.
- Enlargement or swelling of the abdomen.
- Pressure in the lower abdomen.
Fibroids are non-cancerous in most cases, and this is why they don’t tend to go away. However, if you have regular checkups by your healthcare professional, they will be able to catch on to some concerning activity (that could be the cancerous tumours).
Diagnosis of Fibroids
Fibroids may shrink or expand depending upon the specific factors mentioned, but they don’t go away or fade.
Many affected women don’t even realise or feel they have this problem until they get an ultrasound or become pregnant.
To get a proper diagnosis, you must see a gynaecologist so that a pelvic exam is performed. Listed down below are the reliant ways you can discover whether you have fibroids or not.
Ultrasound
An ultrasound is a process that uses high-frequency sound waves to come up with pictures of the uterus on a screen. This gives access to the doctor to view the insides and detect any fibroids if present.
Pelvic MIR
Pelvic MIR is a detailed imaging test responsible for producing proper images of the ovaries, uterus, and other pelvic organs located in the region.
Computed Tomography (CT)
Through the help of several angles and positions, a CT scan uses X-ray images to form a detailed picture of your internal organs.
Treatment of Fibroids
Your doctor will consider several factors whilst coming up with the best treatment option. Those factors can be dependent on:
- Size of the fibroids.
- Location of the fibroids.
- Symptoms that are experienced.
- Fertility goals.
Your doctor may recommend medications such as over the counter (OTC) pills, iron supplements, birth control, and specific oral therapies.
In other cases that could be severe due to the pain caused while experiencing symptoms, your doctor may recommend opting for surgery. Such surgical options include:
- Myomectomy
- Laparoscopy
- Hysteroscopy
Other options included are; uterine fibroid embolisation, radiofrequency ablation (RFA), and other newer clinical opportunities that are being tested.
Conclusion
Though fibroids are quite common, every case is rare since every individual can have unique forms of fibroids located in their uterus or, in some cases, outside.
If the fibroids are small, you may experience no symptoms, and if they are large, you can undergo some symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, cramps, and pelvic pain.
If these symptoms don’t seem to tone down even through the help of some remedies such as exercise and yoga, it would be best to meet a healthcare professional immediately.
Keep proper track of what you are experiencing, as it will make it easier for the doctor to come up with the perfect treatment plan. Or, if you are pregnant and have fibroids, then make sure to talk through every available option for safe delivery.
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