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Uterine Fibroids are benign lumps that grow in the wall of the uterus (womb) of females. These fibroids are primarily made up of smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue. The size of these fibroids may vary from as small as the size of a pea to as big as the size of a grapefruit. Depending on the severity of the condition, there can be a single or multiple fibroids in the uterus. Although they may not cause any signs and symptoms, in certain cases these tumors can become quite large and can lead to severe abdominal pain and heavy bleeding during your periods.
Although the exact cause of uterine fibroids is not known, studies suggest that hormones, genetics, and other insulin-like growth factors may play a part in fibroid growth. Doctors also believe that uterine fibroids develop from a stem cell that acts like a base in the smooth muscular tissue of the uterus. A single cell is divided repeatedly, which results in the formation of a firm, rubbery mass that is distinct from a nearby tissue. However, fibroids usually appear in females during their childbearing age, which is generally between the age of 30-40 years, but they can show up at any given age.
Blood test: You may be required to go for a blood test which will show your complete blood count in order to check for anemia, other blood disorders or thyroid issues.
Transvaginal Ultrasound: This is an imagery test that uses sound waves to produce images of the uterus. An ultrasound device called the transducer is placed inside the vagina to confirm the diagnosis and measure the fibroids.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This is another imagery test that can provide some detailed information regarding the size, location and type of the fibroid. Most often used in women with a larger uterus or in women approaching menopause, this test helps in determining the appropriate method of treatment.
Hysterosonography: Also known as saline infusion sonogram, this test uses sterile salt (saline) water to expand the uterine cavity, making it easier to get images of submucosal fibroids and the lining the uterus among women who experience heavy blood loss or in women who are attempting pregnancy.
Hysterosalpingography: This test uses a dye to make the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes easier to be viewed on an X-ray. Often recommended during concerns regarding infertility, this test helps the doctor to determine if your fallopian tubes are open or are blocked and can show the presence of submucosal fibroids.
Hysteroscopy: This test involves the insertion of a small telescope attached with a light into the uterus via the vagina and cervix. The doctor then injects saline into the uterus, expanding the uterine cavity, which allows them to examine the walls of your uterus and the openings of your fallopian tubes.
Fibroids in some women might not have any signs and symptoms and they would not even know that they have the condition. While, in certain conditions, these fibroids can cause severe symptoms that may include heavy menstrual cycles, heavy bleeding during periods, frequent spotting during periods, discomfort during urination and heaviness around the pelvic region. If you are going through some of the above mentioned symptoms, there might be a possibility that you are suffering from fibroids and consulting a doctor would be the right decision to make.
If you are suffering from any of the signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids and visit a gynaecologist, the doctor will carry out a pelvic examination, which would allow them to feel the size and shape of the uterus. The gynaecologist will check if your uterus is enlarged or shaped abnormally which would confirm the presence of fibroids. If the doctor finds out about the presence of fibroids after the examination, they might recommend you to go through several tests such as ultrasound, blood test, hysteroscopy and MRI in order to confirm the diagnosis and identify the options for treatment.
This is the initial stage where the fibroids are entirely within the uterine cavity. In this grade, the fibroids might cause certain symptoms but are easily removable.
This is the stage where the fibroids are 50-90% between and within the uterine cavity. The fibroids in this stage might cause certain problems but are mostly easily removable.
This is the stage where the leiomyomas are a bit complicated, making it the most difficult to be removed. In this stage, the fibroids are between 0 and 49% within the uterine cavity. The superficial blood vessels that fibroids contain often rupture at the time of menses and the resulting bleeding can be severe enough to require hospitalization and even blood transfusions in this grade.
In general, a fibroid removal surgery does not involve any serious problems. However, depending on the severity of their condition and the type of surgery that the patient choses, there might be a number of complications that include:
If fibroids are left untreated, they can continue to grow, both in size and number. Gradually, these fibroids will take over the uterus and the symptoms will keep on getting worse, causing severe pain, heavy bleeding and cramping. They can put additional pressure on the bladder resulting in incontinence or frequent urination, ultimately leading to infertility.
By far, there is no proven way to prevent the occurrence of fibroids. However, you might be able to lower the chances of attaining uterine fibroids by exercising regularly, eating fresh fruits and cruciferous vegetables like arugula, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, collard greens, and turnip greens. Including high amounts of fiber in your diet, and avoiding foods that are high in sugar can also help you lower the risk of the occurrence of fibroids to a higher extent.
Teresa Edwards
Former women’s basketball player and four-time Olympic gold-medalist Teresa Edwards suffered from fibroids and had developed anemia during her thirties due to genetic reasons. She had to undergo a procedure of myomectomy in order to get rid of her fibroids back in the year 2002.
Anoushka Shankar
Popular sitar player and daughter of Ravi Shankar revealed that she had to undergo a hysterectomy and had to completely remove her uterus in order to get rid of multiple large fibroids which made her uterus as big as a six-month pregnant lady, back in the year 2019.
Beverly Johnson
The first African-American model to appear on the cover of popular Vogue magazine had discovered that she was diagnosed with a condition of uterine fibroids while in her thirties. She had to undergo a hysterectomy as it was the only option to get rid of her uterine fibroids back in the 1980’s.
Bethenny Frankel
Popular American television personality had lost 10% of her blood as she was diagnosed with a fibroid. She had to immediately go for a myomectomy back in the year 2013, in order to get rid of the condition that had led her to excessive bleeding and doubled the size of her uterus.
Sara Bareilles
Popular American singer-songwriter through a social media post revealed that she had to undergo a minor-surgery to remove a fibroid from her uterus back in July, 2016.
Myth 1: Fibroids are cancerous growths in the uterus.
Fact: Certainly not. Fibroids are non-cancerous growths around the walls of the uterus and are not linked to uterine cancer.
Myth 2: Fibroids only affect women in their 30s and 40s.
Fact: Fibroids can affect women of all ages. However, between 20 to 80 percent of women will develop fibroids by the time they turn 50.
Myth 3: If you have fibroids, you can’t get pregnant.
Fact: Although there might be a link between fibroids and fertility, not all fibroids affect fertility. Fertility issues can be improved with proper treatment. Many women with fibroids go on to have healthy pregnancies.
Myth 4: You can find out if you have fibroids only if you experience heavy and painful periods.
Fact: Fibroids in certain cases may not cause any symptoms or cause menstrual bleeding or pelvic pain. The only way to properly diagnose the condition is by consulting a gynaecologist.
Myth 5: Fibroids that are once removed cannot come back.
Fact: Unfortunately not. New uterine fibroids may develop even after treatment. It is best to maintain regular follow ups and consultations with the doctor in order to avoid the complications and cut down the risks of recurrent fibroids.
Uterine fibroids are extremely common among women. In certain cases, these fibroids may not cause any symptoms or complications and can be left untreated. However, in some cases, they might cause problems such as irregular periods, heavy menstrual bleeding, persistent pelvic pain or pressure, and discomfort during urinary or bowel movements. If you experience any of these symptoms, you should consider seeking medical assistance and consult a doctor in order to prevent the condition from escalating into a severe medical complication.
Depending upon the severity of your condition, the gynaecologist may prescribe certain medications that may help in shrinking the fibroids. However, these medications may not necessarily eliminate them. The medications include:
Additionally, the doctor might prescribe certain iron and vitamin medicines in case of heavy menstrual bleeding and anemia.
There are certain non-invasive or minimally invasive procedures that can destroy uterine fibroids without actually removing them through surgery. The methods of Uterine fibroids treatment include the following:
There are a number of ways of performing a laparoscopic hysterectomy, which are as follows :
To get an estimated cost of a uterine fibroid removal treatment method, you can refer to the following:
The above mentioned approximate range of cost is subject to change depending on multiple factors such as:
All the above mentioned factors are taken into consideration while calculating the final cost of the uterine fibroids treatment.
The results of a uterine fibroid treatment are immediate as the benign lumps that are located in the wall of the uterus will completely be removed. However, the recovery time
may vary from person to person, it usually takes upto a 6 weeks to completely recover from the treatment. Gradually, the symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged periods, pelvic pain and back pain will also be treated permanently.
Uterine fibroids can cause a lot of problems if they are large in size and continue to grow in numbers. They can lead to symptoms such as pelvic pain, anemia, heavy, painful and prolonged periods. Its treatment is considered a medical necessity since it concerns a woman’s health. Therefore, most of the insurance providers in India including Pristyn care cover the cost of a uterine fibroids treatment. To learn more about the insurance policy, its coverage, the different payment options and the claim process, you can get in touch with us.
The usual recovery time of a laparoscopic hysterectomy depends on a number of factors, primarily concerning the general health of the patient. It might take about four to six weeks for a patient to recover completely and get back to performing daily activities. Whereas, in case of an open surgical procedure, it might take about six to eight weeks to recover fully. However, the rate of recovery varies from person to person, depending on the severity of the condition and the response of the patient’s body to the treatment and post-operative care also plays an important role in ensuring a proper and faster recovery.
The prognosis of a uterine fibroid removal surgery depends on the severity and number of the fibroids prior to the treatment and the procedure of the treatment that is performed. A hysterectomy is a safe and commonly performed surgical procedure that involves the partial or complete removal of the uterus. Since the entire uterus is removed, there are barely any chances of the fibroid growing back after a hysterectomy.
Like any other surgery, a hysterectomy also includes certain drawbacks that include the inability to carry a pregnancy and to have menstrual periods. In rare cases, an organ prolapse might also be prevalent after a hysterectomy, which can however be corrected by a pelvic organ prolapse surgery.
On 7th of July 2021, a 39-year-old woman visited Pristyn Care. She complained of facing deliberating and life-changing symptoms from her uterine fibroids. Her symptoms would include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged periods that lasted for about 2 weeks and passing of clots that made her use at least a full pack of sanitary pads everyday. Additionally, she would also suffer from painful cramps during her periods and her pelvic pressure as well as back pain was only getting worse.
After going through her medical history and carrying out certain a number of diagnostic tests, our specialist, Dr. Amol Gosavi recommended Uterine Fibroid Embolization as the best treatment option available to her. She was convinced by the treatment method approached by the doctor as it was convenient for her to undergo a day-care procedure that would involve minimal risks and complications. The recovery time as well would be a lot faster. On top of everything, what gave her a sense of relief was the fact that her treatment would be covered under health insurance, making the treatment method affordable for her.
A few days after she completed the procedure, her symptoms started to improve. As per her last follow-up visit, 6 weeks after undergoing the treatment, she was no longer passing clots, her menstrual cramps were much improved and her problems like pelvic pressure, as well as back pain were all resolved.
Females diagnosed with fibroids may feel symptoms such as heaviness or pressure in their lower abdomen or pelvis. The fibroids may lead to the enlargement of the uterus, making it difficult to lie down, bend over or perform daily activities.
In some cases, fibroids may go away on their own if the estrogen levels in the body decrease. This typically happens during menopause , but may also occur while taking certain medications, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or antagonists.
Uterine fibroids are generally harmless and often go away on their own. However, in certain symptomatic cases, untreated fibroids may continue to grow both in size and number, and can interfere with a person’s quality of life, leading to complications such as anemia.
Uterine fibroids and its treatment can cause changes to regular vaginal discharge. In rare cases, it can possibly pass the fibroid tissue and may carry a strong foul smell which might be a sign of infection.
Definitely not. Both the conditions are absolutely different. Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous muscular growths, whereas cysts is a fluid-filled cavity that develops in the ovarian region.