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Uterine Fibroids

Uterine Fibroids

Definition

Uterine Fibroids also called uterine polyps or myomas are non-cancerous tumors that grow in the walls of women’s uterus. These fibroids usually vary in size and women can have a single fibroid or in clusters. Small or tiny tumors may not cause any symptoms, whereas if these fibroids expand, they increase pressure on the bladder and lead to symptoms like pain and abnormal menstruation.

Fibroids are also known by the following names :

  • Leiomyomas
  • Myomas
  • Uterine myomas
  • Fibromas

Types of Uterine Fibroids

The type of fibroid a woman develops depends on its location in or on the uterus .

  1. Intramural fibroids - Intramural fibroids are the most common type of fibroid. These types appear within the muscular wall of the uterus. Intramural fibroids may grow larger and can stretch your womb.
  2. Submucosal - These types of tumours grow in the innermost layer of the uterus. These types of tumors develop in the middle muscle layer, or myometrium, of your uterus. Submucosal tumors aren’t as common as the other types.
  3. Subserosal- These fibroids grow on the outer wall of the uterus. Subserosal fibroids form on the outside of your uterus, which is called the serosa. They may grow large enough to make your womb appear bigger on one side.
  4. Pedunculated - These fibroids are attached to a stalk either outside or within the uterine cavity. Subserosal tumors can develop a stem, a slender base that supports the tumor. When they do, they’re known as pedunculated fibroids.
  5. Cervical These are developed in the cervical tissue.
  6. Inter-ligamentous These fibroids are developed between the uterine broad ligaments.

Symptoms

  • Pelvic pain
  • Frequent urination due to increased pressure
  • Heavy and prolonged menstruation with severe cramping heavy bleeding between or during your periods that includes blood clots
  • Spotting between periods
  •  pain during intercourse
  • menstruation that lasts longer than usual
  • pressure or fullness in your lower abdomen
  • swelling or enlargement of the abdomen
  • Lower back pain
  • Prolonged menstrual blood loss for a week
  • Abdominal pain and pressure
  • Increased urinary frequency
  • Incomplete urination
  • Backache and leg cramps
  • Constipation
  • Difficulty to conceive or at times infertility

Causes

  1. Genetic changes - Many fibroids contain changes in genes that differ from those in normal uterine muscle cells.
  2. Hormones - Estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that stimulate development of the uterine lining during each menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy, appear to promote the growth of fibroids.
  3. Fibroids contain more estrogen and progesterone receptors than normal uterine muscle cells do. Fibroids tend to shrink after menopause due to a decrease in hormone production.
  4. Other growth factors - Substances that help the body maintain tissues, such as insulin-like growth factor, may affect fibroid growth.
  5. Extracellular matrix (ECM) - ECM is the material that makes cells stick together, like mortar between bricks. ECM is increased in fibroids and makes them fibrous. ECM also stores growth factors and causes biologic changes in the cells themselves.
  6. Family history - Fibroids may run in the family. If your mother, sister, or grandmother has a history of this condition, you may develop it as well.
  7. Pregnancy - Pregnancy increases the production of estrogen and progesterone in your body. Fibroids may develop and grow rapidly while you’re pregnant.

Risk factors

There are few known risk factors for uterine fibroids, other than being a woman of reproductive age.Factors that can have an impact on fibroid development include:

  • Race. Although any woman of reproductive age can develop fibroids, black women are more likely to have fibroids than are women of other racial groups. In addition, black women have fibroids at younger ages, and they're also likely to have more or larger fibroids, along with more-severe symptoms.
  • Heredity. If your mother or sister had fibroids, you're at increased risk of developing them.
  • Other factors. Onset of menstruation at an early age; obesity; a vitamin D deficiency; having a diet higher in red meat and lower in green vegetables, fruit and dairy; and drinking alcohol, including beer, appear to increase your risk of developing fibroids.

Complication

Complications with pregnancy to include placental abruption, decreased fetal growth, or preterm delivery. they can cause discomfort and may lead to complications such as a drop in red blood cells (anemia), which causes fatigue, from heavy blood loss. Rarely, a transfusion is needed due to blood loss.

Diagnosis

Other imaging tests

If traditional ultrasound doesn't provide enough information.

  1. Ultrasound

    An ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of your uterus on a screen. This will allow your doctor to see its internal structures and any fibroids present. A transvaginal ultrasound, in which the ultrasound wand is inserted into the vagina, may provide clearer pictures since it’s closer to the uterus during this procedure.

  2. Lab tests

    If you have abnormal menstrual bleeding, your doctor may order other tests to investigate potential causes. These might include a complete blood count (CBC) to determine if you have anemia because of chronic blood loss and other blood tests to rule out bleeding disorders or thyroid problems.

  3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

    This imaging test can show in more detail the size and location of fibroids, identify different types of tumors and help determine appropriate treatment options. An MRI is most often used in women with a larger uterus or in women approaching menopause (perimenopause).

  4. Hysterosonography

    Hysterosonography also called a saline infusion sonogram, uses sterile saline to expand the uterine cavity, making it easier to get images of submucosal fibroids and the lining of the uterus in women attempting pregnancy or who have heavy menstrual bleeding.

  5. Hysterosalpingography

    Hysterosalpingography uses a dye to highlight the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes on X-ray images. Your doctor may recommend it if infertility is a concern. This test can help your doctor determine if your fallopian tubes are open or are blocked and can show some submucosal fibroids.

  6. Hysteroscopy

    For this, your doctor inserts a small, lighted telescope called a hysteroscope through your cervix into your uterus. Your doctor then injects saline into your uterus, expanding the uterine cavity and allowing your doctor to examine the walls of your uterus and the openings of your fallopian tubes.

HOMOEOPAHIC MEDICINES FOR UTERINE FIBROIDS

  1. Sepia

    It is one of the best choices in homeopathic treatment for uterine fibroids when the main symptoms are low back pain, discomfort of abdominal region, and a feeling of ball in the vagina. Patient also has repeated urinary tract infections. Patient sits in cross-legged position for relief. Pelvic pain or discomfort, low back pain, frequent urinary tract infections and recurrent yeast infections, vaginal or uterine prolapse. Reserved, tired, depressed.

  2. Thlaspi Bursa Pastoris

    This is yet another wonderful remedy in homeopathic treatment for uterine fibroids in patients who have frequent menses at very short intervals. The patient experiences severe cramps and pain in the lower abdomen and back.

  3. Aurum Muriaticum

    The sodium salt of the gold chloride decrease fibroids size by treating congestion and in duration of female genital organs. The woman may also suffer from depression, high blood pressure, palpitations.

  4. Bufo rana

    It is a palliative remedy of uterine fibroid for controlling pains and other symptoms including menorrhagia and metrorrhagia. However, it could be prove curative in uterine fibroids if given to a female who have strong sexual desire that can be satisfied with coition and females are indulge in masturbation.

  5. Calcarea phos

    This bio chemic salt remedy is highly efficacious for uterine fibroids on the basis of constitution of patient. Females are lean, thin, and anemic with weak bones, too early, excessive, and bright menses.

  6. Lycopodium

    Lycopodium is a constitutional remedy for many ailments prescribed on the basis of mentality and physical appearance. Lycopodium proved to be highly efficacious remedy in case of females with loss of confidence who suppress their Youngers and is suppressed by their elders and who have marked emaciation particularly of upper body parts.

  7. Carcinocin

    Carcinosin is a nosode and given in all cases of malignant outgrowths, although, uterine fibroids are mostly benign but sometimes cancerous predisposition in family history of patients of uterine fibroids necessitates the administration of Carcinocin as an inter-current remedy .

  8. Thuja

    Fibroid of any type with enlargement of uterus. Heaviness of the lower abdomen .

  9. Medorrhinum

    Hypertrophy and fibroids with clotted, dark, offensive, profuse menstruation stains difficult to wash out, urinates frequently during menses .

  10. Calcarea carb

    A very good remedy in homeopathic treatment for uterine fibroids in females who are fat, fair and flabby. Patient has abnormal heavy menstrual bleeding which lasts for many days. This remedy is used for uterine fibroids on the basis of constitution of patient along with local symptoms of cutting uterine pains. This is a suitable remedy in fatty, flabby and mostly fair females who have early, profuse and long lasting menstruation. The complaints are mostly aggravated after hard work and strain. Calcarea carb is highly efficacious in those cases where constitution of the patient and local symptoms match. Fibroids in menopause with heavy menstrual bleeding Chilly, stout and slow woman, easily tired by exertion.

  11. Calcarea flour

    This bio chemic salt remedy is highly efficacious in restoring the lost elasticity of smooth muscles and remove hard tumors of any smooth muscle. Uterus, being a smooth muscle organ, is a main target of action of this remedy. If uterine fibroids are of stony hardness and there are indurated swellings in uterine region, this remedy is highly recommended for treatment of uterine fibroids. Moreover, if uterine fibroid with bearing down pains are presented, this remedy could cure the case. Stony hard and multiple fibroids, fibrocystic breast disease. The woman is also prone to joint pain or bone spurs, hemorrhoids, varicose veins.

  12. Phosphorus

    Phosphorus is a remedy for highly sensitive, intelligent and long slender females having uterine fibroids along with marked stitching pains in uterine region. This is a suitable remedy in lean thin heighted females who have early, scanty and long lasting menstruation. Fibroids with heavy uterine bleeding, Anemia. Tall and slender woman. Open, friendly, anxious and fearful.

  13. Apis mellifica

    Apis is a remedy for females who develop uterine fibroid due to suppressed sexual desire, jealousy with local symptoms of marked tenderness over uterine region. This is a suitable remedy in females who have painful menstruation with stinging burning pains.

  14. Conium

    Conium is a remedy for any kind of tumors including uterine fibroid that are caused by suppression of unsatisfied sexual desire, from excessive indulgence or from effects of some sort of injury. It is suitable for uterine fibroids with dysmenorrhea and pain in thighs .