What are uterine fibroids, and should you be worried about them? Many women of childbearing age are at risk of developing uterine fibroids. But that doesn’t mean you need to worry about them.
In this article, we will cover the definition of uterine fibroids, symptoms to look for, whether they can cause cancer, and how to treat them. Use the quick links below to jump ahead.
In this article, we will explore
- What are uterine fibroids?
- What causes uterine fibroids?
- What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?
- Which size of fibroids are considered dangerous?
- How are uterine fibroids diagnosed?
- Treating uterine fibroids
- When should you speak to a doctor?
What are uterine fibroids?
Uterine fibroids, also known as leiomyomas or myomas, are noncancerous growths of the uterus. They typically appear during a woman’s childbearing years.
Fibroids are made up of muscle cells and other tissues. They grow within the uterus wall and can vary in size, number, and location.
The types of fibroids
There are four types of uterine fibroids. They include:
Itramural Fibroids
The most common type is intramural fibroids, which are embedded into the muscular wall of your uterus.Submucosal Fibroids
Submucosal fibroids grow under the inner lining of your uterus.Subserosal Fibroids
Subserosal fibroids grow under the lining of the outer surface of your uterus, can become quite large, and grow into your pelvis.Pedunculated Fibroids
The least common type is pedunculated fibroids. These mushroom-like fibroids attach to your uterus with a stalk or stem.
What causes uterine fibroids?
The exact cause of fibroids is not yet known. Having said that, we do believe hormonal fluctuations (an increase in progesterone and estrogen), genetic predispositions, and certain growth factors can influence their development.
The most common risk factors for developing uterine fibroids include:
- age (women in their 30s and 40s)
- family history
- not having had children
- getting your first period at a very young age
- entering menopause late
- obesity
What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?
Not all women who have uterine fibroids experience symptoms. Many only learn they have fibroids during a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound.
However, when symptoms do occur, they may include:
- Menstrual changes such as heavier or prolonged bleeding
- Pelvic pain or pressure in the lower abdomen
- Frequent urination or difficulty emptying the bladder
- Backache or leg pains
- Pain or discomfort during intercourse
- Constipation
- Abdominal protrusions making you look pregnant
Which size of fibroids are considered dangerous?
Fibroids can range in various sizes from as small as 1 mm to over 20 mm. Anything over 5 mm is considered dangerous and should be monitored regularly. The location of the fibroid can also be a cause for concern.
How are uterine fibroids diagnosed?
When confirming whether you have fibroids, your physician will ask questions about your symptoms, menstrual history, and overall health.
They will likely take blood to test foranaemia and to rule out other possible causes.
They will then perform a pelvic exam to check for abnormalities, such as the size and shape of the uterus. The use of radiology imaging tools is key to early and accurate detection of uterine fibroids. The information the following four diagnostic methods reveal is crucial for developing an appropriate treatment plan.
Remember, every treatment plan must be tailored to your needs and circumstances.
1. An Ultrasound
A radiologist will almost always begin with an ultrasound. Ultrasounds are the go-to imaging test when diagnosing uterine fibroids.
To get a clear image of the uterus and an accurate diagnosis, your gynaecologist may recommend a transvaginal ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound.
- During a transvaginal ultrasound, the gynaecologist or sonographer will insert a wand-like transducer into your vagina. It transmits real-time images to a monitor, aiding in detecting fibroids.
- An abdominal ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce an image of the internal walls of the abdomen. It’s a non-invasive procedure.
Together, they can pinpoint the size, number, and location of the fibroids. Ultrasounds are recommended for monitoring the growth of uterine fibroids.
History: 4 years of heavy, painful and prolonged menses (7-8 days).
2. CT Scans
When conducting an ultrasound, submucosal fibroids are known to distort the smooth uterine cavity. Doctors may recommend using a CT scan to enhance the imaging of the uterine cavity and conclusively identify these fibroids.
You will be asked to lie down on a flat bed-like surface, and a sonographer will inject sterile saline into the uterus. Once this salt solution has had time to move through your system, the sonographer will conduct a pelvic ultrasound.
3. MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
If your specialist requires a further study of your uterine fibroids, they may recommend an MRI scan. It can provide a far more detailed image of the uterus and fibroids than an ultrasound.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging is often used for pre-surgical planning and pre-embolization workup. Remember, it can show how many fibroids you have and their exact location and size. This allows the doctor to reduce the trauma during surgery.
4. A Hysteroscopy
Hysteroscopy is a medical procedure that allows doctors to visualise the inside of the uterus and detect the presence of fibroids. During this procedure, a hysteroscope, or a thin, lightable tube, is inserted through the cervix into the uterus.
It can be used to aid doctors in removing not only fibroids but also polyps and adhesions.
Treating uterine fibroids
Unless you are experiencing adverse symptoms, you may not need to have your uterine fibroids removed.
But if doctors deem the size and location of the fibroids to likely impact your overall health and reproductive plans, In that case, they may recommend any of the following options:
- Medications such as ibuprofen to help ease discomfort or pain
- Birth control to help reduce the symptoms of heavy bleeding during menstruation
- Radiofrequency ablation, which uses microwave-like energy to treat the fibroids. This treatment is completely safe and works best for women who haven’t reached menopause
- MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery to remove the uterus and uterine fibroids
- Myomectomy (removing the fibroids while preserving the uterus).
- Hysterectomy to remove the uterus and the unwanted uterine fibroids. This is only recommended if you no longer wish to have children. To prevent you from going into early menopause, doctors can leave your ovaries.
- Fibroid artery embolization, procedure to shrink uterine fibroids – minimally-invasive alternative to hysterectomy or myomectomy.
When should you speak to a doctor?
If you’re experiencing heavy bleeding, the constant need to urinate, or a distended belly, arrange a check-up with your gynaecologist. It may be nothing, but a quick examination can help a doctor determine whether you need further testing.
Don’t wait. While uterine fibroids are not dangerous, they can be uncomfortable. Your reproductive health and well-being is important.
ERAD Radiology have five practices located throughout Namibia. Contact ERAD for all your Radiology and Medical Imaging Needs.
Sources:
- Header Image by brgfx on Freepik
