Parent and Baby

Written on February 6, 2009 – 8:18 am | by Staff |

Fibroids, popularly known as myomas are benign growths or tumors on the muscular part of the uterus. The good news in this is that they are not cancerous. Myomas can be very small or bigger than a grapefruit and can grow in various portions of the uterus. The symptoms that you will experience will depend on the number, size and location of the fibroids.

Twenty-five to 40 % of women who are of child-bearing age have fibroids. They are more common in women who are overweight or having trouble becoming pregnant. Most myomas are often discovered when women have their cevical smear done or during a pregnacy exam.

It is not known what causes myomas but they are more likely to grow if the estrogen levels in the body are high. This explains why fibroids tend to grow during pregnancy when estrogen levels increase and to shrink at menopause when estrogen levels are low. Family history also plays a role in having myomas.

Many cases of myomas have no symptoms but others may have like:

• Heavy or irregular menstruation: Fibroids are often the cause of heavy or irregular menstruation in women 30 years old and above. The heavy flow can cause tiredness and anemia.
• Painful periods: These are caused by the contractions of the uterus that is trying to expel the fibroids.
• Pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis or back: Myomas can cause pain by pressing on internal organs or by being connected to other organs by scar tissue.
• Passing urine frequently or difficulty in bowel movement: Fibroids can press on the bladder or bowels and sometimes the pressure can be uncomfortable or painful.
• Swelling of the lower abdomen: This can happen if the fibroids are large.

If you are having any of these symptoms, consult your doctor so that he can recommend the appropriate treatment.

Not all growths in the uterus are fibroids. If you show no symptoms or have few and small fibroids, you may not need treatment. For numerous and bleeding ones, treatment is very necessary. Fibroids on a pregnant woman do not need special treatment unless it interferes with the pregnancy. Myomas can be diagnosed through the following:

1. Pap/cervical smear: Regular screening will reveal your reproductive conditions and several anomalies and diseases can be detected and treated early because of this.
2. Ultrasound scan: This is an effective way of diagnosing fibroids and anything abnormal. An ultrasound of the reproductive organs can be done transabdomenally or transvaginally. Often times, both methods are used to get a more thorough picture and assessment.
3. Hysteroscopy: This is an invasive procedure to look inside the uterus which is done under local, general or epidural anesthesia. The uterus is filled with gas or liquid to expand the uterus thereby allowing a better view of the walls and fallopian tubes. A tiny telelescope with a camera is used and a video is shown on a monitor. A small tissue sample of the lining of the uterus will be taken for biopsy.
4. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and computed tomography (CT) scan: These scans will give the detailed look of the tissues of the body. These are used in case the ultrasound scan has not given a clear result or when more information is needed.

There are now various treatment used for fibroids. The treatment will depend on the number, type and the symptoms exhibited by the patient. Myomas can be treated with drugs, surgical removal or both. There are also new treatments that are developed like myolysis, cryomyolysis, embolization and intrauterine system. Surgical treatments includes hysterectomy, hysteroscopic resection and myomectomy.