Uterine fibroids are one of the most common problems in women, which is faced by almost 70-80% of women at some point in their lives. However, it is not every uterine fibroid that requires treatment or medical intervention. One of the most common questions that women wonder about upon diagnosis is whether the fibroid can go away on its own. The answer, however, is not that simple and straightforward. Whether the fibroid will resolve on its own or not depends on the particular case. Uterine fibroids can be of different sizes and occur at different locations. Their type and behaviour greatly vary from patient to patient. While some of the fibroids grow large enough to cause severe symptoms like heavy bleeding, pain in the pelvic region, or frequent urination, others might not cause any specific or visible symptoms and might be present inside the body of a woman silently, so much so that they go unnoticed. In some cases, fibroids might shrink after menopause, since the hormonal levels drop in women, but how effective this change in size will be depends on a lot of conditions. In this article, we will discuss in detail the problem of uterine fibroids, when they need uterine fibroids treatment, and how to deal with them.
What are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are growths or lumps made of muscle and tissue that are formed inside the uterus of a woman. These lumps are usually non-cancerous. Uterine Fibroids are a fairly common phenomenon in women, making them the most common non-cancerous tumors in females. These fibroids can cause a wide range of symptoms in females, including heavy blood loss during periods. The treatment option required for a patient depends on their specific case and the severity of the symptoms being faced by them.
Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids:
As discussed above, uterine fibroids that are comparatively smaller in size don’t cause any specific symptoms and don’t need any treatment apart from being regularly monitored by uterine fibroid specialists. However, the fibroids that have grown larger in size can cause a wide range of symptoms, including:
- Heavy and painful bleeding during periods
- Bloating or a feeling of fullness in the belly
- Vaginal bleeding in between the periods
- Painful sex and pain in the lower back
- Chronic or long term vaginal discharge, and frequent urination
- Increased size of the abdomen
- Not being able to empty the bladder completely
As a woman goes through menopause, her hormonal levels fall, as a result of which, the symptoms caused by uterine fibroids might subside or be reduced in intensity. The pain caused by uterine fibroids can generally be felt as back pain, stabbing pain, abdominal pain, or even pain during sex.
How to know if someone is at risk of developing uterine fibroids?
There are a few risk factors that can increase the chances of a woman developing uterine fibroids. These include:
- Obesity and being overweight increase the risk of developing uterine fibroids. Hence, every woman should try to maintain a healthy weight as per the BMI standards.
- Women who have a family history of fibroids are at a higher risk of developing them at some point in their lives.
- The cases of uterine fibroids are also common in women whose menstruation started at an early age. Hence, they should be extra cautious for the same.
- Women whose menopause is delayed might also develop uterine fibroids.
What are the complications that can be caused by uterine fibroids?
Most of the time, uterine fibroids do not cause any serious symptoms. However, when they do, these symptoms can be very severe in intensity. Some of the symptoms that can be caused by uterine fibroids include:
- Severe pain that becomes very difficult to manage and treat.
- Swelling in the abdomen and pelvic area, so much so that it might make the patient look pregnant.
- Very heavy and severe blood loss and Anemia
- Uterine Fibroids can also result in infertility, however, such cases are rare.
Treatment for Uterine Fibroids
The treatment option that is chosen for uterine fibroids depends on the location, size, and symptoms caused by the fibroids. Based on a particular case, the gynecologist can recommend certain medications, Iron supplements, birth control, oral therapies, etc, to alleviate the symptoms of uterine fibroids. In case the medications and other options don’t seem to work, the patient can also be provided relief through uterine fibroid removal surgery. With the modern technological advancements in the field of medicine, minimally invasive and highly effective technologies have been developed to carry out the surgeries for the treatment of uterine fibroids. With the advent of robotic technology, these surgeries have now been made easy, minimally invasive, and highly effective, requiring minimal downtime.
If you are looking for the best gynecologist in mohali and the best doctor for uterine fibroids, Sohana Hospital might just be the right choice for you. Sohana Hospital Mohali boasts of the world’s most advanced technology and North India’s most experienced and trusted Gynecologists who provide the most comprehensive and holistic care for all the female-health related needs of the patients in the region. Book your appointment today and take the first step towards a healthier and happier society with healthier women!