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Uterine Fibroids Treatment,symptoms, & treatment options
Uterine fibroids are benign lumps that grow in the uterus. Almost 50% of women will get uterine fibroids by the age of 50. These are benign (non-cancerous) lumps but can lead to symptoms that can affect the quality of your life.
What causes fibroids?
Fibroids are oestrogen-dependent and therefore are uncommon before the age of 20 and tend to shrink after menopause.
What are the common symptoms?
Fibroids are known to cause period-related symptoms. Heavy painful periods, intermenstrual bleeding and fatigue due to anaemia are common symptoms. With increasing size, fibroids can be felt as a tummy mass and can press on the bladder leading to frequency and urgency of micturition. Sometimes, they outgrow their own blood-supply and can become painful.
How do you make a diagnosis?
Ultrasound scan is the best way to detect size and location of uterine fibroids.
What are the uterine fibroids treatment options?
Uterine Fibroids Treatment depends on the size and location of fibroids and symptoms caused. One should get it treated at the best possible fibroid clinic. Asymptomatic fibroids can be left alone.
30 minute consultation with consultant gynaecologist
Management of symptoms: to reduce heaviness of periods and treat anaemia
Hysteroscopic resection: Suitable for intra-cavity (submucous) fibroids
Laparoscopic myomectomy: Suitable for fibroids up to 10cm in size
Open myomectomy: Reserved for very large and numerous fibroids
Uterine artery embolisation: Treatment to block blood supply of fibroids leading to shrinkage
MRI-guided focused ultrasound: New treatment useful for small-medium sized fibroids
Hysterectomy (laparoscopic or open): A permanent solution suitable to women with severe symptoms who have completed their family
Can uterine fibroids be treated by key-hole surgery?
Very often, fibroids can be treated by key-hole surgery. If the fibroids are encroaching into the uterine cavity, they can be easily resected (hysteroscopic resection). Laparoscopic myomectomy is suitable for fibroids up to 10cm in size and usually 1-3 fibroids can be removed in one key-hole procedure. Finally, if hysterectomy is needed, it can be often performed as a key-hole procedure.
Can fibroids affect pregnancy?
In presence of fibroids, pregnancy often progresses without any problems but it can also be a rocky relationship! Fibroids can make it more difficult to get pregnant and can also increase risk of miscarriage or premature delivery. You are more likely to have a breech presentation or transverse lie and need a caesarean section. Bleeding after delivery can also be a problem. See your doctor to see if removal of fibroids is necessary before getting pregnant.
Is there a risk of fibroids turning malignant?
This is very rare and is quoted as 1 in 1000. If the fibroids are growing at a very rapid rate, an MRI scan may be needed to obtain more information.
