Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are frequently found incidentally during a routine pelvic exam. Your doctor may feel irregularities in the shape of your uterus, suggesting the presence of fibroids.

Diagnosis of Uterine Fibroids:
If you have symptoms of uterine fibroids, your doctor may order these tests:

Ultrasound: If confirmation is needed, your doctor may order an ultrasound.
A doctor or technician moves the ultrasound device (transducer) over your abdomen (transabdominal) or places it inside your vagina (transvaginal) to get images of your uterus.

Lab tests: If you have abnormal menstrual bleeding, your doctor may order other tests to investigate potential causes.

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.

Hysteroscopy: For this, your doctor inserts a small, lighted telescope called a hysteroscope through your cervix into your uterus.

Hysterosalpingography: This uses a dye to highlight the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes on X-ray images.

Treatment:
• Medications like Gonadotropin releasing harmones, IUD
• Non invasive procedure like MRI guided ultrasound surgery
• Minimally invasive procedure like uterine artery embolization, radio frequency ablation, laproscopic or hysteroscopic myomectomy
• Regular surgical methods like Abdominal Myomectomy, Hysterectomy

Symptoms

• Heavy menstrual bleeding

• Menstrual periods lasting more than a week

• Pelvic pressure or pain

• Frequent urination

• Difficulty emptying the bladder

• Constipation

• Back-ache or leg pains

Causes

Doctors are not sure what causes fibroids. But the female hormones estrogen and progesterone seem to make them grow. Your body makes the highest levels of these hormones during the years when you have periods.

Your body makes less of these hormones after you stop having periods (menopause). Fibroids usually shrink after menopause and stop causing symptoms.

FAQ

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