[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Uterine Fibroids can be defined as the abnormal yet noncancerous growth that form inside or on a woman’s uterus. Most often seen during the woman’s childbearing years, such fibroids are also known by various other terms like leiomyomas, myomas, uterine myomas or fibromas. There could be a single fibroid or even multiple ones and as for the size, fibroids can be as tiny as a seedling or large enough to distort and enlarge the uterus. Sometimes fibroids can even grow so large that they extend to the rib cage even but these growths are usually benign.
Uterine fibroids are actually more common than you think. Most women will have them at some point of their lives and even never be aware of this. The reason for this is that uterine fibroids may not cause much symptoms unless when their massive size could lead to heavy periods or severe abdominal cramping. Uterine fibroids can be seen during a pelvic exam or in a prenatal ultrasound.
The symptoms of Uterine Fibroids are affected by the location, the size and the number of fibroids. Some of the common signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids can include heavy menstrual bleeding, periods that last more than a week sometimes with blood clots even, pelvic pressure or pain, frequent urination, difficulty emptying the bladder, constipation, backache or leg cramps, increased menstrual cramping, increased frequency of urination, pain during intercourse, menstruation that lasts longer than usual, pressure or fullness in lower abdomen and swelling or enlargement of the abdomen.
The actual causes of uterine fibroids are yet to be studies in detail. But some possible reasons could be genetic changes because the fibroids often contain changes in genes that differ from those in normal uterine muscle cells, the hormonal changes in the woman’s body can be another cause. The hormones Estrogen and progesterone that are responsible for stimulating the development of the uterine lining in the menstrual cycle as preparation for pregnancy have been found to promote the growth of fibroids. Fibroids have seen to shrink after menopause when hormone production is reduced. Certain substances that aid the body to maintain tissues like the insulin-like growth factor can lead to fibroids.
Based on the location of the uterine fibroids there are about five types of fibroids. Submucosal fibroids are those that bulge into the uterine cavity precisely the middle muscle layer, or myometrium, of the uterus, intramural fibroids are the most common type of fibroids and these can appear within the muscular wall of the uterus. Intramural fibroids might even grow larger and stretch the womb, subserosal fibroids are those that are formed on the outside of the uterus, which is called the serosa. They can grow large enough to make the womb seem bigger on one side, when the subserosal tumors develop a stem, which is like a slender base that supports the tumor then they’re known as pedunculated fibroids. While every other fibroid type is common, the submucosal tumors are not as common as the other types.
For enquiries and online appointments, send a message to www.DivakarsHospital.com/contact
You can seek 2nd opinion with Dr Hema Divakar and other specialist doctors through the Divakar’s Hospital app which can be downloaded from Google Play Store or ios
You can watch videos on Fibroids – their causes, treatment options etc by visiting the ‘Health for Her’ youtube channel and checking the playlist on Fibroids – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOB76panemc&list=PLd6XczAJceEHsOUzz_ity2ZTksMzjuJuK
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
