What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids and how to treat it

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

The life hacker figured out why a tumor forms and how it is treated.

What is uterine fibroids

Myoma Uterine fibroids (fibroma, leiomyoma) is a benign tumor of the muscles of the uterus, or myometrium, which occurs in women of childbearing age. The disease is very common. Studies of uterine fibroids: a course for organ preservation show that at the age of 35–49 years, 70% of patients have nodules. But not everyone knows about the problem, and if they find out, they are very afraid.

The danger should not be exaggerated. Myoma does not degenerate into cancer and cannot metastasize, and a small neoplasm has no symptoms. But leaving the disease unattended is also not necessary. Sometimes the node is actively growing and leads to various complications.

What is uterine fibroid

A normal uterus is slightly larger than a chicken egg, and when fibroids appear, it enlarges. In the muscle layer, Uterine Fibroids can have one or more dense nodules ranging in diameter from a small bead to a large apple. In advanced cases, the tumor volume reaches the size of a small watermelon. But gynecologists usually measure not the fibroid itself, but the overall size of the enlarged uterus. Then it is compared with the volume of the organ by weeks. Modern approaches to the management of patients with uterine fibroids of pregnancy. In the diagnosis, they will write, for example: uterine fibroids corresponding to six weeks.

Depending on how the fibroid locations of the fibroid grows relative to the uterine wall, there are three types:

• Submucous - the node is located under the inner mucous layer. Sometimes it protrudes strongly into the uterine cavity or hangs down on a thin stem, inside which the feeding vessel is located.
• Interstitial - the tumor is located in the thickness of the muscles, stretching and pushing them apart.
• Subserous - myoma forms on the outside of the uterus, under the serous membrane. Sometimes the knot also stretches and forms a leg.

The type of tumor affects the symptoms and the choice of treatment.

Why does uterine fibroids appear

The exact causes of the disease have not yet been established. According to the main theory of uterine fibroids: the course for organ preservation, the node begins to grow due to damage to one muscle cell. Its division is stimulated by the female sex hormones estrogens, which at the same time increase the proliferation of connective tissue in the focus. Therefore, the fibers alternate, intertwine, like threads in a ball. This forms a dense, almost round knot. If there are several such pathological cells, more than one fibroid will appear in the wall of the uterus.

Scientists have identified factors that can lead to damage to the myometrium. Most often these are:

• Early onset of menses Uterine Fibroids. It is believed that it is bad for the body if the first menstruation appears earlier Association of Age at Menarche With Increasing Number of Fibroids in a Cohort of Women Who Underwent Standardized Ultrasound Assessment for 11 years. Typically, these girls have higher levels of estrogen, which can stimulate the growth of fibroids.
• Late first pregnancy or unwillingness of uterine fibroids: a course for organ preservation to have children. Doctors say that the rejection of the mucous membrane during menstruation leads to a temporary disruption of blood flow in the microvessels of the uterus. At the same time, her tissues suffer from a lack of oxygen and some cells can be damaged.
• Abortions Uterine fibroids: a course for organ preservation. During an artificial termination of pregnancy, the wall of the uterus is injured, and subsequent hormonal changes can support tumor growth.
• Chronic inflammation of myoma of the uterus: a course for organ preservation of the uterus. At the same time, biological substances are released and immune reactions are triggered, which damage the cells of the myometrium.

The growth of fibroids can be supported not only by estrogens, but also by progesterone. Uterine fibroids: a course for organ preservation. Therefore, in some women, an inconspicuous tumor grows in size during pregnancy, when this hormone becomes larger.

The risk of nodule formation increases Uterine fibroids with obesity, vitamin D deficiency, lack of vegetables and fruits in the diet, with the consumption of large amounts of alcohol, including beer.

What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids

Many women are unaware that they have fibroids because the small tumor has no symptoms. But the larger the node becomes, the more signs of Uterine Fibroids disease appear. It can be:

• profuse and painful menstruation;
• bleeding between periods;
• aching, pulling pain in the lower abdomen, radiating to the lower back;
• pain The effect of myoma uteri and myomectomy on sexual function during sex;
• increased urination or constipation;
• an increase in the size of the abdomen.

Why uterine fibroids are dangerous

Uterine fibroids researchers assert that fibroids do not turn into cancer. But hormonal changes that occur in the body can lead Uterine Fibroids to form a malignant tumor in the lining of the uterus.

In addition, due to large nodes and profuse menstruation, the woman loses a lot of blood, she develops anemia Uterine fibroids. If the tumor is very large, it presses on the bladder. He cannot empty completely, the woman goes to the toilet more often or feels pain.

Sometimes the blood flow in the nodes of the Uterine fibroids is disturbed, due to a lack of oxygen, the cells die. This is accompanied by severe, acute abdominal pain. The same symptom will appear if a fibroid on a thin pedicle twists around its axis and blood does not flow to the tumor.

Usually, a small fibroid does not interfere with pregnancy. But under the influence of hormonal changes after conception, the node will begin to grow Uterine Fibroids rapidly, deform the uterine cavity and increase the risk of miscarriage. Due to the tumor, the Uterine fibroids of the placenta may exfoliate or the development of the fetus may be delayed.

But in some cases, doctors consider Female infertility fibroids to be the cause of female infertility. The nodes can block the lumen of the fallopian tube, so sperm will not penetrate the egg or the tumor will prevent the embryo from attaching to the mucous membrane.

How is uterine fibroids diagnosed?

Sometimes, on examination, a gynecologist may notice an increase in the size of the uterus or a change in its shape and suggest a fibroid. To clarify the diagnosis, Uterine Fibroids will be examined:

• Ultrasound of the small pelvis. Fibroids can be easily detected using ultrasound, the doctor can determine the number of nodes, their size and location.
• Sonohysterography. The uterus is filled with fluid and an ultrasound scan is done. In this case, the image is more contrasting and of high quality.
• MRI. The study allows you to find small nodes, the size of which does not exceed a few millimeters.
• CT. It is used less often and serves to obtain an accurate picture of the location of the fibroid in the small pelvis.
• Hysteroscopy. A flexible tube with a video camera is inserted into the uterine cavity under anesthesia to examine all the walls. The method is used for subserous tumors. Sometimes, during the examination, the nodes on the pedicle can be removed immediately.
• Hysterosalpingography. A special fluid is injected into the uterine cavity, which gives a contrast image on an X-ray. The method helps to see how the uterine cavity is deformed and whether the tubes are passable.
• Laparoscopy. A tube with a video camera is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen, which helps to see the uterus from the outside. The diagnostic method is used for subserous nodes.

How is uterine fibroids treated?

If, during the examination, the gynecologist found a small fibroid, but it does not manifest itself in any way, he should recommend that the woman do an ultrasound of the pelvis once a year. This will help control tumor growth. In patients after 45-50 years, such small nodes may disappear. Uterine fibroids themselves after menopause.

If a woman has symptoms of fibroids or has complications due to a tumor, the doctor will choose one of the methods of treatment.

Medicines

Scientists have not yet developed a drug that would help completely get rid of fibroids. Medicines Uterine fibroids: a course on organ preservation is used to stop the growth of a tumor, slightly reduce its size or remove unpleasant symptoms. Most often, gynecologists prescribe the following groups of drugs:

• Combined contraception in patients with uterine myoma, oral contraceptives. They are needed to control menstrual bleeding, to slow down the growth of a node that is no more than 2 centimeters in diameter. But in some women, these drugs, on the contrary, can stimulate the increase in fibroids.
• Agonists Gonadotropic releasing hormone agonists in the treatment of uterine fibroids of gonadotropin releasing hormone. They suppress the production of pituitary hormones, which normally stimulate ovarian function and estrogen synthesis. Therefore, the woman develops drug menopause, and the fibroids become smaller. But 6–12 months after treatment, the nodes will start growing again. Due to the appearance of unpleasant symptoms of menopause, such therapy is rarely used and only to prepare for surgery.
• Antigestagens Uterine fibroids. Non-surgical treatment. These drugs block progesterone receptors, inhibit fibroid growth, and cause fibroids to shrink. The drugs in this group do not have the side effect of artificial menopause, so women can more easily tolerate treatment.

For some patients, the doctor may recommend an intrauterine hormonal device to control the growth of the node. The role of levonorgestrel intrauterine systems in the treatment of symptomatic fibroids.

Removal without surgery

Fibroids can be treated with minimally invasive procedures. If the size of the tumor is small, it is located in the thickness of the tissues, and not on the pedicle, it is destroyed without surgery.

The first method of Focused ultrasound surgery is focused ultrasound ablation (FUS-ablation). The procedure is painless, you do not need to go to the hospital for it. A tumor is found in a woman with the help of ultrasound, and then the node is heated with a special ultrasound with high power. At the same time, the surrounding tissues are not damaged. The problem of the choice of therapeutic tactics in patients with uterine fibroids planning pregnancy (literature review), the fibroid cells die, and then completely dissolve within a year.

The second method is Uterine Artery Embolization of the uterine artery (UAE). The procedure is performed by a vascular surgeon. It inserts a thin tube through the femoral artery that reaches the uterus. Then the medicine is injected into this catheter, it goes directly to the vessel feeding the fibroids and glues it. The blood supply to the tumor stops, it dies and resolves within 3–12 months.

Operations

If the tumor is large or is located on a pedicle, the methods listed above cannot be used. Therefore, the gynecologist will take into account the woman's age, her desire to have children, the type of fibroids and will offer one of the types of surgical treatment.

Myomectomy A uterine fibroid is an operation to remove a node. At the same time, the patient retains the uterus, after recovery, the woman will be able to become pregnant. The manipulation is carried out in different ways:

• Hysteroscopic - if the myoma is submucous. Under anesthesia, a hysteroscope is inserted through the vagina and the tumor is removed.
• Laparoscopically - if the node is located under the serous membrane. Small punctures are made on the abdomen and the myoma is excised through metal tubes.
• Laparotomically - during the operation, an incision is made in the lower abdomen, then on the uterus and the node is removed.

Sometimes fibroids are removed not with a scalpel, but using the radio frequency Uterine Fibroids method. This is a type of wave that simultaneously cuts tissue and seals it, so there are fewer complications after surgery.

However, after surgical treatment, sometimes small nodes with a diameter of 1–2 millimeters remain in the wall of the uterus, which cannot be seen. After a while, they can begin to actively grow.

If the tumor is large, presses on the bladder or rectum and interferes with going to the toilet, or the woman often has uterine bleeding, the gynecologist will suggest the uterine myoma to remove the uterus. But the ovaries will be preserved so that hormonal levels do not suffer.

Is it possible to protect against uterine fibroids

Scientists do not know Uterine Fibroids methods that would prevent the appearance of fibroids. But if you follow simple rules, you can reduce the risk of developing a tumor:

• Maintain a healthy body weight.
• Eat properly so that you have enough fruits, vegetables and dairy products in your diet.
• Do not have an abortion unless medically indicated.
• Treat inflammation of the uterus and appendages in time.
• Reduce your alcohol intake.
• If you do not want to become pregnant, take Uterine fibroids oral contraceptives after consulting your doctor.