Women’s issues Fibroids

Leiomyomas, commonly referred to as fibroids are mostly benign growth of the uterine tissue. They are very common and vary in size, shape and location.

Common symptoms of fibroids:

• Heavy period flow
• Painful periods
• Painful sex
• Increased frequency of urination

Risk factors include

• Young menarche
• Birth control pills
• Family history
• Alcohol
• Not eating enough green vegetables and fruits and instead eating a lot of red meat

Tests your doctor might do on you:

• Ultrasound
• Lab workups like your Full Blood Count and Coagulation profile
• MRI
• Hysterosalpingography
• Hysterosonography
• Hysteroscopy

Treatment

If you have very small or few fibroids and they cause little to no symptoms, your physician will recommend waiting. Sometimes, your fibroids might not grow much and can also shrink after menopause.

Medications only alleviate your symptoms like a heavy flow or pain but do not make your fibroids go away.

Surgery is done when you have moderate to severe symptoms.

• Myomectomy is when they remove the fibroids but leave healthy uterine tissue if you plan on getting pregnant in the future.
• Endometrial ablation is when the destroys the lining of your uterus.
• Hysterectomy is when your surgeon will remove your uterus completely. This is the only way to completely get rid of fibroids.