Fibroids: What you should know?

What is a Fibroid?

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow inside the female reproductive system. It is made up of soft muscle cells which develop inside the uterus. It is also called as myomas or leiomyomas or fibromas. It can grow up to the size of a pea to the size of a grapefruit normally.

Are Fibroids Cancerous?

Fibroids are generally non-cancerous tumours made up of soft muscle cells. Neither it increases the risk of uterine cancer, nor does it lead to ovarian cancer. However, a very small percentage of fibroids may turn cancerous which is extremely rare.

Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids

Fibroids are very common in the woman during the mid years of life and close to Menopause, but hardly will it show any symptoms. The symptoms depend on size, location and the number of fibroids. It includes:

  • Prolonged menstrual periods lasting more than one week
  • Heavy or abnormal bleeding during menstruation
  • Pelvic pain and pressure
  • Constipation or difficulty in urinating
  • Pain during sexual intercourse
  • Swelling in the abdomen which happens only when the fibroids are large
  • Anaemia due to heavy bleeding
  • Pain in the legs

Sometimes, the fibroids can increase in the risks in your pregnancy and childbirth. It can also cause Infertility and repeated episodes of miscarriages.

Types of Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are mainly classified on the basis of the location in which it grows. They are:
  • Cervical fibroids: It is located at the neck of the womb.
  • Sub mucosal fibroids: It is found outside the uterine cavity. This type can grow in bigger size.
  • Subserosal fibroids: This type grows outside the uterus.
  • Intramural fibroids: This is located within the wall of the uteru

Risk factors of Uterine Fibroids

Although the causes of uterine fibroids are not traced yet, certain factors trigger the growth fibroids. You are at a higher risk of having fibroids in the following conditions.
  • Obesity: Women who have obesity have larger chances of fibroids growing inside the uterus.
  • Heredity factors: It has been noted that fibroids runs through the family. You are at a higher risk if your mother had fibroids.
  • Lifestyle factors: Certain food habits may also trigger fibroid growth.
  • Age: Fibroids growth can happen with age in the woman. Mostly woman who are approaching menopause are diagnosed with uterine fibroids.

Treatment for Uterine Fibroids

Fibroids treatment is mostly decided on the basis of the symptoms, the location of fibroids, its size, your choice of pregnancy in future, age, among other factors.

Fibroids treatment is not necessary if you do not have any symptoms given you are not pregnant. However, medications are suggested to bring down the pain and other symptoms.

Fibroid surgery is advised if you are suffering from severe symptoms. Myomectomy is a surgical procedure for fibroid removal in the uterus. This type of fibroid surgery can be done in a laparoscopic method. Hysterectomy, endometrial ablation and uterine fibroid embolization are different kinds of surgical fibroids treatment to get rid of the fibroids.