Uterine fibroids are a disease that is a tumor—like benign formation located in the muscle tissue of the uterus. Symptoms of uterine fibroids can be aching abdominal pain, constipation, frequent urination, abdominal enlargement, and more. The causes of uterine fibroids are various chronic diseases of the female genital organs, unsuccessful abortions, prolonged use of hormonal contraceptives, as well as hereditary predisposition. In order to diagnose uterine fibroids, transvaginal and transabdominal ultrasound of the uterus, as well as hysterography, are performed. Treatment of uterine fibroids involves both conservative and surgical intervention. Conservative treatment involves the use of medications in the event that the size of the fibroids is small. If the uterine fibroids are more than 12 weeks old, then an operation is prescribed.
The content of the article:
Uterine fibroids — what is it?
Causes of uterine fibroids
Symptoms of uterine fibroids
Diagnosis of uterine fibroids
Pregnancy and uterine fibroids
Complications of uterine fibroids
Treatment of uterine fibroids
Prognosis and prevention of uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids — what is it?
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that occur in the muscle tissue of the uterus — the myometrium. Uterine fibroids occur as a result of spontaneous division of uterine cells. The reasons for this phenomenon occurring in the uterus have not yet been fully clarified. However, it has been established that the hormonal background of a woman has a great influence on the development of a tumor. It is known that the growth of uterine fibroids is stimulated by the hormones estrogens, while the hormone progesterone causes the depressing effect of the tumor. But this does not mean that the balance of estrogens and progesterone in a woman’s blood indicates the absence of uterine fibroids in her body. It is characteristic that the change in the level of estrogens in the uterus affects very little on the normal function of hormones in the blood.
Fibroids of the uterine body are quite common. According to the latest medical statistics, uterine fibroids are found in 20-22% of women aged no older than 30-33 years. Uterine fibroids are characterized by the appearance of not one, but several tumor nodes on its walls, their size may be different. Uterine fibroids can be of several types: one that is located directly in the wall of the uterus or a fibroid that protrudes into the abdominal cavity, as well as one that is located in the uterine cavity. Since the main cause of uterine fibroids is a hormonal shift, or to be more precise, an increased content of estrogens in a woman’s body, fibroids almost never occur in young girls and women during menopause. A high probability of uterine fibroids is observed in the period from 25 to 50-52 years. Pregnancy is another reason for increasing the likelihood of uterine fibroids. The presence of inflammatory processes occurring in the genitals and a general decrease in immunity also contributes to the appearance of uterine fibroids.
Causes of uterine fibroids
To date, the causes of uterine fibroids are still completely unknown. However, some factors contributing to the development of uterine fibroids are known for sure. Such factors should include a violation of the production of sex hormones by the ovaries, prolonged stress, backed up by hard physical work, the presence of chronic infectious diseases (tonsillitis, pyelonephritis), diseases of the endocrine glands (adrenal glands and thyroid gland), obesity, heredity.
However, there are also such reasons, the direct influence of which can be observed with the growth of the emerging node of uterine fibroids. Such reasons include abortions, chronic inflammatory diseases of the female genital organs, prolonged use of hormonal contraceptives, the harmful effects of direct sunlight, as well as the fact that by the age of 30 a woman has never given birth or breastfed.
Symptoms of uterine fibroids
The growth of uterine fibroids usually occurs at the age of 28-30 years, although the main manifestations of fibroids may be implicit for a long time. The symptoms of uterine fibroids depend primarily on the location of its myomatous node, the size and growth rate of uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids, the symptoms and signs of which first develop in women, starting from about 30 years old, are growing due to a reduced level of ovarian production of female sex hormones.
The main signs of uterine fibroids can be divided into several groups. One of these signs is an increase in the duration of menstruation, the appearance of more abundant menstruation, possibly even leading to menorrhagia. The appearance of uterine bleeding in the middle of the cycle can also serve as a symptom of the growth of uterine fibroids. In addition, a woman may feel pain in the lower abdomen, which can spread to the lumbar region or even to the legs. Uterine fibroids are a disease, the symptom of which can be aching abdominal pain, and as an exception — sharp severe pain.
Frequent urination can also serve as a sign of the growth of uterine fibroids in the direction of the bladder, gradually squeezing it. What is noteworthy: the larger the size of fibroids becomes, the more often a woman begins to suffer from constipation, which appear when the node of uterine fibroids grows towards the rectum, squeezing it, and thereby making it difficult to defecate.
On the part of other organs, symptoms of the appearance and growth of uterine fibroids may be pain in the heart, hot flashes, as well as headaches. Anemia is another possible symptom of a decrease in the amount of hemoglobin in the blood due to prolonged uterine bleeding.
Diagnosis of uterine fibroids
The main method in the diagnosis of uterine fibroids is gynecological examination, hysteroscopy, hysterography and ultrasound of the uterus. During a gynecological examination, a gynecologist can accurately determine the size of the enlarged uterus, as well as the size of the fibroid node. Ultrasound of the uterus can be transvaginal (when the ultrasound machine is inserted directly into the vagina) and transabdominal (when the study passes through the anterior abdominal wall). Ultrasound can detect not only an increase in the size of the uterus, but also the size of the node of uterine fibroids, even if the disease is at an early stage.
If it is difficult to diagnose the node of uterine fibroids using ultrasound, then doctors perform hysterography, in other words, the introduction of a contrast agent into the uterine cavity for the purpose of its radiography. Hysteroscopy is a special method of research, during which a drug such as a hysteroscope is injected into the uterine cavity, which allows the doctor to see the entire organ cavity.
Pregnancy and uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids, the causes and treatment of which we have identified above, need special treatment during pregnancy. Pregnancy and uterine fibroids are a difficult topic even for highly qualified doctors who cannot always tell about the nature of the interaction of nodes and the fetus. Pregnancy can be a period when the node of uterine fibroids can increase, and maybe vice versa — when the node decreases. According to statistics, even if the size of uterine fibroids decreased during pregnancy, after childbirth it returns to its previous state. Pregnancy with fibroids requires special attention from the woman and the doctor. Having discovered uterine fibroids, a pregnant woman should be registered as early as possible.
Women suffering from uterine fibroids during pregnancy are recommended to have a healthy full sleep, avoid any physical exertion, stress, as well as an additional ultrasound procedure to examine newly formed uterine fibroids.
Complications of uterine fibroids
Complications of uterine fibroids are associated, first of all, with the wrong way of life of a woman, with the wrong treatment or not treatment of this disease. With a violation of a woman’s nutrition, necrosis of uterine fibroids may begin, which is accompanied by a pronounced pain syndrome. It is known that with improper and insufficient blood supply to the node of uterine fibroids, structural changes can begin to develop, which will lead to complications in the future.
Another possible complication may be sagging of the vagina and eversion of the uterus, if the tumor is localized on the cervix. Often, as a complication, a woman develops anemia. The latter is a consequence of a disturbed menstrual cycle with prolonged bleeding that occurs if the node is located under the mucosa. This complication manifests itself in the form of increased fatigue, general weakness, pallor of the skin, shortness of breath, dizziness, tinnitus, etc.
Another complication with uterine fibroids can be ectopic pregnancy, as well as spontaneous abortions, premature birth and infertility. If the tumor is large, then pressure on the urethra, narrowing of the bladder and urodynamic disorders may be exerted as a complication. The latter leads to kidney diseases, which may not manifest clinically in the early stages. Such a negative effect of the tumor on the kidneys can be detected even after several years due to symptoms such as hypertension, anemia, swelling and itching.
The inflammatory process taking place in myomatous tissue can lead to complications such as parametritis, peritonitis and even septic process.
Treatment of uterine fibroids
Conservative treatment of uterine fibroids can prevent an increase in the size of fibroids in time. Timely conservative treatment allows you to save the organ. This type of treatment, as conservative, is used only if the size of the uterus, at the time of going to the doctor, does not exceed 12 weeks, with slow growth of uterine fibroids, as well as with the location of the uterine fibroids node itself in the muscular layer of the organ (the so—called interstitial fibroids), as well as under the superficial lining of the uterine organ (the so—called subserous uterine fibroids).
Uterine fibroids, the treatment of which is based on the use of various hormonal drugs, passes faster than other types. However, depending on the severity of the disease, the doctor may prescribe symptomatic treatment. As a rule, the treatment of uterine fibroids is based on the use of gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists and antigonadotropins. The first contribute to reducing the size of uterine fibroids, thereby preventing possible uterine bleeding and reducing pain. Treatment with drugs of this group allows you to reduce the level of female sex hormones in the blood. The second group prevents an increase in the size of uterine fibroids, but does not contribute to its reduction. A woman who has undergone conservative treatment of uterine fibroids should be registered with a gynecologist and undergo regular examinations at least once every six months.
If uterine fibroids reach large sizes (more than 12 weeks), as well as with a rapid growth rate of fibroids and in the presence of pronounced symptoms of uterine fibroids (heavy uterine bleeding and constant abdominal pain), surgery is prescribed.
Surgery for uterine fibroids can be of several types. So, for example, a laparoscopic type of myomectomy is prescribed when removing uterine fibroids using a laparoscope. The main advantage of this type of surgery is the possibility of preserving the uterus with the further possibility of becoming pregnant. This type of surgery allows you to quickly get back to normal after it. However, there are disadvantages to such surgical intervention. The main disadvantage is the possible occurrence of new uterine fibroids.
Laparotomy myomectomy is an operation that allows you to remove uterine fibroids using an incision on the anterior abdominal wall. This type of operation is very rarely applicable due to the long recovery after surgery.
However, it is not always possible to preserve the uterus as an organ. The operation of complete removal of the uterus is prescribed to those women whose uterine fibroids are very large, characterized by rapid growth and the presence of several large nodes.
Prognosis and prevention of uterine fibroids
After removal of uterine fibroids, doctors do not give a 100% forecast that the tumor will not resume over time. However, to prevent this from happening, it is necessary to follow simple rules of prevention, which will prevent the recurrence of uterine fibroids.
Prevention of uterine fibroids includes the rational use of contraception. It is better to use all contraceptive hormonal drugs after you consult with your doctor. Another rule of prevention is the correction of possible hormonal disorders, as well as timely treatment of gynecological diseases. In the cold season, it is necessary to monitor what kind of clothes and shoes you wear. You should dress according to the season, covering the lumbar region with a warm sweater and jacket, not allowing the body to overcool. A woman’s underwear should be made only from natural materials. Avoid tight trousers, as such clothing does not contribute to normal heat exchange.
Prevention of uterine fibroids is also a regular sex life, pregnancy and the birth of children. Attention should also be paid to nutrition, which should be rich in iron, copper, magnesium, iodine, vitamins C, A and E.
