Do uterine fibroids require surgery?
Fibroids range in size from small seedlings that are undetectable by the human eye to bulky masses that can enlarge and distort the anatomy of the uterus. Fibroids may need surgery if:
- They are big enough to distort the uterine function.
- They cause heavy periods.
- They interfere with pregnancy.
In extreme cases, multiple large fibroids can enlarge the uterus to an extent that it reaches the rib cage and may even add to the body weight.
Pregnancy and fibroids:
Some types of fibroids can cause infertility or loss of pregnancy. Fibroids may increase the risk of certain complications during pregnancy, such as restricted fetal growth/low birth weight or premature birth.
When to see a doctor?
The following require medical attention:
- Pelvic pain that doesn't go away
- Overly heavy, prolonged, or painful periods with blood clots
- Spotting or bleeding between periods
- Difficulty emptying your bladder
- Anemia (decreased red blood cells) due to blood loss during periods. Anemia presents with fatigue, pale skin and eyes, shortness of breath, etc.
What are the signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids?
Many women may not have any symptoms. In women who have symptoms, the most common signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids include:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Menstrual periods lasting more than a week
- Pelvic pressure or pain
- Difficulty urinating
- Constipation
- Back pain
How are uterine fibroids treated?
The treatment options are as follows:
Observation and follow-up: Many women with uterine fibroids may not have signs or have mild symptoms that can be managed conservatively to provide symptomatic relief.
Medications: These include medications that target hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle and treat symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding or pain. Medications don't eliminate fibroids but may help shrink them:
- Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists: They block the production of estrogen and progesterone. This causes menstruation to stop, putting the patient in a temporary menopausal state. As a result, fibroids shrink, and anemia often improves.
- Progestin-releasing intrauterine device (IUD): A progestin-releasing IUD can relieve symptoms such as heavy bleeding caused by fibroids. It provides an additional benefit of contraception but doesn't shrink fibroids or make them disappear.
- Lysteda and Cyklokapron (Tranexamic acid): These non-hormonal medications are taken to reduce bleeding during periods.
- Oral contraceptives: These can help control menstrual bleeding but don't shrink the fibroid size.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These can be effective in relieving pain related to fibroids, but they don't reduce menstrual bleeding or shrink fibroids.
- Nutritional supplements: Vitamins and iron supplements may be advised to correct anemia and improve overall health.
Noninvasive procedures:
- Focused ultrasound surgery (FUS): It is a non-invasive treatment option for uterine fibroids that preserves your uterus, requires no incision, and is done on an outpatient basis. It is performed while the person is inside a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner. The setup is equipped with a high-energy ultrasound transducer for treatment. The images give the doctor the precise location of the uterine fibroids. When the location of the fibroid is targeted, the ultrasound transducer focuses on sound waves (sonication) into the fibroid that heats up and destroys small areas of fibroid tissue. This is a newer technology, so researchers are learning more about long-term safety and effectiveness. But so far, data collected show that FUS for uterine fibroids is safe and effective.
Minimally invasive procedures:
- Uterine artery embolization: Embolic agents (small particles) are injected into the arteries supplying the uterus, cutting off blood flow to fibroids, causing them to regress.
- Radiofrequency ablation: Radiofrequency energy is used to destroy uterine fibroids, and it shrinks the blood vessels that feed them.
- Laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy: During myomectomy surgery, the fibroids are removed, leaving the uterus intact.
- Hysteroscopic myomectomy: In this procedure, the surgeon inserts instruments through the vagina and cervix into the uterus to remove the fibroids.
- Endometrial ablation: A specialized instrument is inserted into the uterus. Heat, microwave energy, hot water, or electric current is used to destroy the lining of the uterus, resulting in the ending of menstruation or reducing menstrual flow.
Traditional surgical procedures:
- Abdominal myomectomy: In the case of multiple fibroids or very large or deep fibroids, the surgeon may use an open abdominal surgical technique to remove the fibroids.
- Hysterectomy: This involves the removal of the uterus. It is a permanent solution for uterine fibroids.
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Common Medical Abbreviations & Terms
Doctors, pharmacists, and other health-care professionals use abbreviations, acronyms, and other terminology for instructions and information in regard to a patient's health condition, prescription drugs they are to take, or medical procedures that have been ordered. There is no approved this list of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and terminology used by doctors and other health- care professionals. You can use this list of medical abbreviations and acronyms written by our doctors the next time you can't understand what is on your prescription package, blood test results, or medical procedure orders. Examples include:
- ANED: Alive no evidence of disease. The patient arrived in the ER alive with no evidence of disease.
- ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
- cap: Capsule.
- CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure. A treatment for sleep apnea.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease. Another term for osteoarthritis.
- DM: Diabetes mellitus. Type 1 and type 2 diabetes
- HA: Headache
- IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease. A name for two disorders of the gastrointestinal (BI) tract, Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis
- JT: Joint
- N/V: Nausea or vomiting.
- p.o.: By mouth. From the Latin terminology per os.
- q.i.d.: Four times daily. As in taking a medicine four times daily.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature. Temperature is recorded as part of the physical examination. It is one of the "vital signs."
How Do Fibroids Affect Pregnancy?
What are fibroids, and how do they affect pregnancy? Learn the signs of fibroids, what causes them, how doctors diagnose them, and what you can do to treat them during your pregnancy.How Long Does a Hysteroscopy Take?
Hysteroscopy is a procedure performed by a gynecologist to inspect inside of the uterine cavity using a thin tube with a light and camera attached to it. Hysteroscopy can take anywhere between 5 to 30 minutes or longer if a surgical procedure is being performed at the same time. Surgical procedures to treat uterine pathologies can take between 30 minutes to 2 hours as well, depending on the procedure.IUD (Intrauterine Device for Birth Control)
An IUD (intrauterine device) is a birth control method designed for a woman. The IUD is a small "T" made of molded polyethylene plastic coated with barium so that, if need be, it can be seen on X-ray.
There are two types of IUDs 1) Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) including the ParaGard, Copper 7, and Mini-7; and 2) Intrauterine system (IUS) including Progestasert and Mirena.
Side effects of the IUD include spotting, infection, infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, and heavy menstrual bleeding. Risks and complications of the IUD are miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, pelvic inflammatory disease, and increased menstrual bleeding.
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What are uterine fibroids? Who gets uterine fibroids, and how can you prevent them? Learn about uterine fibroid treatments, from endometrial ablation to hysterectomy, find out what if any foods can ease symptoms of uterine fibroids, and discover what cancer risks fibroids present.Uterine Fibroids: Test Your Medical IQ
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Uterine fibroids are benign (noncancerous) growths in the uterus that often occur during childbearing years. It’s also called leiomyomas, myomas, or just fibroid. They rarely develop into cancer and do not increase the risk of cancer.Uterine Growths
Benign uterine growths are tissue enlargements of the female womb (uterus). Three types of benign uterine growths are uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and uterine polyps. Symptoms include abdominal pressure and pain, pelvic pain, pain during intercourse, and pain during bowel movements. Diagnosis and treatment of benign uterine growths depend upon the type of growth.What Happens If Fibroids Go Untreated?
Fibroids can cause womens’ issues like excessive bleeding and infertility. Learn more about fibroids and your options for treatment.What Is Laparoscopy in Gynecology?
Laparoscopy in gynecology (gynecological laparoscopy) is a less invasive alternative to open surgery. The procedure involves using a laparoscope (a long, thin tube with a light connected to a camera) to look inside the pelvic area to diagnose gynecological disorders or to perform surgery to treat gynecological conditions.