In a tense rhythm of everyday worries a woman does not immediately react to changes that occur with her body. Not immediately she notes that menstruation became more abundant, longer, and the interval between them decreased.
Pelvic pain, constipation, frequent exacerbations of hemorrhoids remain for a long time without attention, until the patient at the scheduled examination at the gynecologist hears that she has a disease - a fibroid of the uterus.
Contents of
- 1 Uterine fibroid - what is it?
- 2 Causes of uterine fibroid disease
- 3 Symptoms of uterine fibroid
- 4 Diagnosis of uterine fibroid
- 5 Treatment of uterine fibroid
- 6 Uterine fibroid in pregnancy
- 6.1 Complications and prognosis
- 6.2 Prevention of uterine fibroid
Uterine fibroid - what is it?
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors of the uterine wall, consisting of muscle fibers with the inclusion of connective tissue tissues. This rounded, dense, slowly growing formation - the beginning of its growth goes unnoticed - is often detected only when surgical intervention is required.
Dimensions of uterine fibroid - from pea to 30 cm
It never develops after menopause and in adolescent girls, before puberty. The most common fibroma is found in 30-40-year-old women.
The tumor does not tend to degenerate into a malignant one, but, nevertheless, it disrupts the natural cycles of the life of a woman. So what is this - fibroid uterus, and is it dangerous?
Types of fibroma
Depending on the location of the nodes, three types of fibroids are distinguished:
- The most common fibromatous interstitial, it is also an intramural one. The form, when the nodes are located in the muscular tissue of the uterine wall.
- Superserous nodes are located under the outer shell of the uterus, irritating the peritoneum and exerting pressure on adjacent internal organs.
- Less common submucose fibromatous form, in which the nodes are facing the uterine cavity, preventing fetal growth and causing dangerous profuse bleeding associated with delamination of the uterine mucosa.
Causes of fibroid uterus
The main reason for the development of this tumor in the heyday of reproductive age is an excess of estrogen - the hormone of the ovaries. During pregnancy, when the level of estrogen rises, they are provoked by a faster growth of fibroids. In order to protect against pregnancy and in the treatment of menopause, pills with estrogen are used, which can also cause the formation of fibromatous nodes.
Tumor growth can also be caused by:
- with complex traumatic births;Caesarean section of the
- ;
- frequent abortions;
- by frequent diagnostic curettage;
- by ingrown intrauterine contraceptives;
- chronic gynecological problems.
Factors contributing to the development of fibroids are:
- later onset of the menstrual cycle;
- absence or irregular sexual life;
- late( after 25 years) first birth.
Such pathological conditions as obesity, diabetes, hypodynamia, stressful situations are considered a possible background for the development of fibroids.
In 40% of cases, a genetic predisposition was noted.
Signs and symptoms of uterine fibroid
Symptoms of uterine fibroid in women manifest themselves as:
- painful prolonged menstruation and bleeding between them;
- feeling of heaviness in the abdomen;
- pain in the lower back, groin and pelvic area;
- discomfort during sexual intercourse;
- abdominal enlargement;
- increased urge to urinate;
- constipation and hemorrhoids.
Fibroids of the uterus have symptoms and signs, characteristic of many pathological processes in the small pelvis, this makes it difficult to diagnose.
When infertility and miscarriages, doctors must conduct a survey of the uterine wall, suspecting the development of fibroids.
Diagnosis of uterine fibroid
Following palpation of the uterus and appendages, the following diagnostic methods can be used:
- of the pelvic ultrasound;
- Biopsy - examination under a microscope of a piece of uterine tissue;
- Hysteroscopy - visual examination of the inner shell of the uterus by an optical device;
- Laparoscopy - examination of the outer wall of the uterus using optics through a small incision of the abdominal wall;
- Contrast radiography differentiates the tumor with uterine sarcoma and ovarian cystoma;
- Magnetic resonance therapy is a painless and safe detection of nodes by creating a magnetic field and radio waves.
Treatment of uterine fibroid
When uterine fibroid is diagnosed, surgery is not the only means of getting rid of the tumor.
If a small formation is found, the woman is put on dispensary supervision, visiting the doctor once a quarter. She may be prescribed conservative treatment of fibroids, in which the main role is given to hormonal drugs in order to reduce the level of estrogen.
will complement its anti-inflammatory and restorative therapy. With severe anemia, due to regular blood loss, in addition to vitamin complexes, iron preparations are prescribed.
If the fibroid reaches a size of 10 cm, multiple fast-growing nodes or a submucosal node are found, if endometriosis or necrosis of the node has developed - the doctor considers several options for surgical treatment:
- Embolization of arteries feeding fibroids;
- FUS - destruction, removal of uterine fibroids by ultrasound;
- Myomectomy - fibroids are removed from the wall, the uterus is retained;
- Hysterectomy - complete or partial amputation of the uterus.
After removal of the uterine fibroid the woman continues to be under the supervision of specialists.
In the treatment of fibroids of the uterus, folk medicine can be used as anti-inflammatory, analgesic, in the form of infusions for ingestion, and for syringing - but, to consider them as a substitute for drug treatment is not necessary.
Fibroma of the uterus during pregnancy
Benign tumor of small size will not be an obstacle to pregnancy and childbearing. But sometimes the location of the fibroid is of great importance.
For example, if a fibromioma is formed at the mouth of the fallopian tubes leading to the ovaries, then a mechanical obstruction to the movement of the egg and related infertility may appear.
If the fibroid is next to the cervix, it can cause miscarriage or make it difficult for the baby to progress during labor and cause severe bleeding.
Large interstitial or submucosal nodes can squeeze the embryo, hindering its development, or prevent it from taking the correct position, making it difficult to deliver.
Therefore, the presence of fibroma in a pregnant woman requires particularly careful observation of the course of pregnancy.
Complications and prognosis
What is the danger of uterine fibroid disease?- As a result of regular blood loss the woman develops anemia with all signs( fatigue, decreased performance, shortness of breath, pallor, a tendency to fainting).
When the tumor is squeezed by a tumor feeding its arterial vessel, there may be necrosis with symptoms of an "acute abdomen" that require emergency surgery.
After a conservative treatment, relapses may occur, but the fibroid does not pass into a malignant tumor.
Prevention of fibroma of the uterus
It is necessary to prevent inflammatory diseases of the childbearing sphere, this requires:
- to monitor the hormonal background of your body,
- to use contraception to exclude abortions,
- during sexual contacts avoid infection with both banal microflora and specific that causes venereal diseases,
- regularly monitored by a gynecologist.
These simple measures will reduce the risk of developing fibroids.
