Uterine Fibroids: Prevention and Treatment

Uterine Fibroids: Prevention and Treatment
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Popularly known simply as “fibroid” instead of its medical name, uterine fibroids are common noncancerous (benign) growths that develop in or just outside a woman’s uterus (womb).

They are basically normal muscle cells of the uterus that start growing abnormally. They are very common and it’s being said that many women have fibroids at some point in their lives, however small or unnoticeable. They can be as small as a quarter of an inch (or the size of seeds) or big enough to weigh tens of pounds (or the size of a watermelon).

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As said earlier, they are generally benign, and they have no major symptoms, but might cause discomforts like pains, and heavy menstrual bleeding in some women, based on the location of the fibroid. In extreme cases, uterine fibroid can prevent some women from getting pregnant.

Other symptoms can include, back or leg pains, pelvic pain, constipation, pain during sex, extended menstrual periods, and so on.

There’s no cause tied directly to uterine fibroids, but they’ve been observed to grow depending on the level of the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone. Other factors, like genetic changes and “substances that help the body maintain tissues” have also been identified as causes of uterine fibroids.

Uterine fibroids are usually classified by their position in the uterus. Those that grow within the muscular uterine walls are Intramural fibroids, those that bulge into the uterine cavity are termed Submucosal fibroids, and finally, Subserosal fibroids project to the outside of the uterus.

Prevention of Uterine Fibroids

Even though, just like the causes, the exact ways to prevent uterine fibroids are still largely unknown, few significant measures that may aid the prevention of fibroids have been found.

Here are few ways uterine fibroids can be prevented:

1. Managing weight

Estrogen production generally tends to increase with body weight, and this might aggravate fibroid growth (10-20% increased risk).

To prevent uterine fibroid, try to maintain a normal body weight, especially when you’re above 18.

2. Exercising regularly

Studies have shown that regular exercise might help women prevent fibroids. Just like many other ailments, to prevent fibroids, you should have a regular exercise routine. The study goes further to prove that the more vigorous you exercise, the more you’ll prevent fibroids.

3. Eating healthy

Eating healthy definitely has countless health benefits. And it could be a great way to prevent uterine fibroids.

While red meat consumption is linked to increase in fibroid risk, green vegetables are linked to a reduced risk.

You should also increase your Vitamin D intake and drink more green tea. Both have been found to reduce your risk of developing fibroids by a good percentage – and even shrink the size of existing fibroids.

Treatment Options for Uterine Fibroids

It’s important to note that most uterine fibroids don’t need treatment, and that’s because they don’t have symptoms or cause problems.

However, where there are uterine fibroid problems, treatment options range from surgical to non-surgical. You should see an ob-gyn to discuss the various treatment options and whichever suits your particular situation.

Whatever you do, ensure you choose a reputable and professional medical practitioner to administer your uterine fibroid treatment. Few professionals, like Sound Vascular & Vein, have truly distinguished themselves as reliable and reputable experts in the area of uterine fibroid treatment.

Below are the best treatment options for uterine fibroid:

1. Waiting

With time, most fibroids would naturally shrink by themselves, without any need for external treatments. If you’re not having serious problems with the fibroid, and you can live with it, you can wait and watch it shrink – especially after menopause. They’re not cancerous, and they rarely interfere with pregnancy.

2. Medications

There are medications that regulate hormones responsible for menstrual cycle – same hormones responsible for fibroids. Using these medications to treat symptoms like heavy bleeding may shrink uterine fibroids, even if they don’t totally eliminate them. These include Lupron, Synarel, iron tablets, and even oral contraceptives (birth control pills).

Pain relievers can also be used to reduce any pains associated with uterine fibroids.

3. Traditional Surgical Treatments

The two major surgical treatment options for uterine fibroids are Myomectomy and Hysterectomy.

Myomectomy removes uterine fibroids while leaving the uterus in place. Hysterectomy is done to remove the uterus and all its fibroids. While the former still gives room for the possibility of new uterine fibroid growths, the latter prevents them from ever returning. However, hysterectomy isn’t right for women who still want a future pregnancy.

4. Noninvasive Treatment Options

This is basically MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery (FUS). It requires no incision and preserves the uterus.

It’s performed while the patient is in an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanner that shows doctors the precise location of the fibroids. The high-energy ultrasound transducer of the scanner then heats and destroys small areas of fibroid tissue by focusing sound waves on the targeted fibroid.

So far, this procedure has been proven safe and effective.

5. Minimally Invasive Procedures

These are select procedures that can effectively treat uterine fibroids without actual surgery.

They include Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE), which involves injecting small particles into the arteries supplying blood flow to the fibroids, thereby causing them to shrink and die. Also includes myolysis, where an electric current is used to shrink and destroy the fibroid and the blood vessels that feed them, or cryomyolysis where the fibroids are frozen.

Conclusion

As advised earlier, before settling for any uterine fibroid treatment option, take the time to discuss with your gynecologist or family physician, so you can understand the risk and benefits associated with each option.

For most people however, the best option for treating uterine fibroids is Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE), as it’s safer, highly effective, and leaves no surgery scars. And this is the option Interventional Radiologists at Sound Vascular & Vein specialize in.

In their own words, “At Sound Vascular, we offer women a minimally-invasive, safe and effective way to treat uterine fibroids as an outpatient, using uterine fibroid embolization”.

This advanced treatment through intervention radiology offers women the best alternative to surgery. If you ever need to treat uterine fibroid, choose Sound Vascular & Vein for a safe procedure.

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