Uterine Fibroids All FAQ

In most cases, fibroids do not have any significant adverse effects on fertility or the woman’s ability to carry the child. However, in severe cases, fibroids can increase the risk of miscarriages, C-sections and premature deliveries.

Following are some of the major risk factors for uterine fibroids: ||-Belonging to the reproductive age group ||-Ethnicity (Black women are at elevated risk that too at a younger age) ||-Women with a family history of the condition ||-Dietary and lifestyle choices like excessive meat consumption, alcohol intake and smoking

Smoking can act as a major risk factor and contributor to the development of uterine fibroids. And if you already have uterine fibroids, smoking can make the condition worse and aggravate the symptoms. Therefore, to avoid any complications due to uterine fibroids, you must quit smoking.

Uterine fibroids usually do not cause any major health risks but when proper curative measures are not taken, fibroids may grow in size or number and cause other health risks. Severe cases of uterine fibroids can cause the following health risks: ||- Anemia due to heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding ||- Fatigue ||-Infertility issues due to irregular periods

As uterine fibroids grow in size, their weight also increases. This weight is often reflected in the woman’s body weight as well.

In severe cases, it is possible that the blood vessels in the fibroids may break and the fibroid may rupture. This can cause internal bleeding and intense abdominal pain.

For permanent treatment, uterine fibroids require surgery. The choice of surgical procedure (myomectomy or hysterectomy) usually depends upon the size of the fibroids. According to experts, fibroids smaller than 10 cm can be removed through myomectomy but if the fibroids are large and clustered, hysterectomy is preferred.

If you opt for the conventional surgery, you may have to stay in the hospital for atleast 2-3 days and the stay can prolong depending upon the condition of the patient. However, the modern laparoscopic surgery for uterine fibroids do not require long hospital stays and you can return home the next day.

The modern laparoscopic myomectomy and hysterectomy procedure are 100% safe and there is no risk of complications during or after the surgery. Thus, through the laparoscopic procedures, you can undergo the treatment of uterine fibroids without any worries.

If a fibroid grows large enough, it can press against the urinary bladder. Due to excessive pressure, you may notice urinary problems like frequent urge to urinate or inability to void the bladder.

In some cases, uterine fibroids are too small to cause any significant symptoms and thus go unnoticed. However, if you are experiencing the symptoms, you should seek medical advice to prevent the condition from getting severe.

If you want to get fibroids removed without affecting your ability to carry a child, you can undergo the laparoscopic myomectomy procedure. Laparoscopic myomectomy involves the removal or fibroids only and the uterus is left unaffected.