GeneralA Quick Guide to Common Fibroid Treatments

Fibroids are an incredibly common but still widely misunderstood health issue faced by thousands of women around the world. It is estimated that up to 80% of women will experience fibroids at least once in their lifetime, with many not even knowing they have them. For those with very serious fibroid issues, the side effects of the condition can be debilitating and cause numerous complications in a woman’s life.

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growth that occur in the muscular tissues surrounding the womb. Almost always benign, with only around 1 in every 1,000 becoming cancerous, these growths can be as small as a pea or orange seed or as large as a melon. Smaller fibroids usually have little to no effect on a woman’s quality of life and often go undetected.  Larger fibroids can have devastating effects for those suffering from them, including infertility and premature birth.

The most common symptom of fibroid growth is heavy menstruation and increased pain during menstruation. In the worst cases, the blood loss during menstruation for those with large fibroids can cause dangerous levels of anemia. Other common symptoms in those with very large fibroids can include frequent urination and constipation from the pressure of the mass.

Doctors diagnose fibroid growth in those who are suffering from symptoms in several different ways. Physical exams can be used during routine gynecological visits, but this is generally only reliable in cases of larger fibroids. Other diagnostic tools used to discover fibroids include ultrasound scans and MRI images, often employed when fibroids are smaller or are in harder to examine locations of the uterus.

Doctors are uncertain exactly what causes fibroids to grow but studies have shown that genetics as well as hormone levels are two of the largest contributing factors. Black women are predisposed to this condition and the percentage of women with fibroids in this demographic are much higher than in white women. Hormones are also a key cause of fibroid development; women in their childbearing years are most likely to develop these benign growths.

Access to good quality gynecological care is key to diagnosing and treating the growth of fibroids before the symptoms and side effects become debilitating. Although this condition is still not fully understood, research and studies have discovered new treatment options for women suffering with fibroid growth. What was once only treatable through a hysterectomy can now be treated using far less invasive procedures that reduce the damage to the reproductive organs and preserve a woman’s fertility.

Smaller fibroids, especially those that go undetected and do not cause debilitating side effects, can generally be managed with over the counter pain medicine and iron supplements to prevent anemia. Larger fibroids that result in extreme pain or even prolapse that would require surgical intervention to repair often necessitate more advanced treatment to prevent complications or damage. In the past, the only option for treating these fibroids was a full hysterectomy, which is the removal of a woman’s uterus and reproductive organs.

Now, due to advances in medical knowledge and technology as well as research into the condition, far less invasive procedures are available to help women overcome their struggles with fibroids. This allows women, especially younger women, the chance to treat the condition and go on to lead fulfilling lives free from the symptoms of this condition. Treating fibroids while preserving fertility is one of the greatest advances in the options available today.

For smaller fibroids that do not cause extremely debilitating symptoms, recent studies have revealed a positive effect from hormone treatment such as low-dose birth control and hormonal IUDs. Because of the correlation between hormone levels and fibroid growth, these medications can slow and sometimes even reverse the growth of the masses within the uterus, thus lessening the symptoms. For larger fibroids, a number of new options can help treat the symptoms and improve the quality of life without sacrificing fertility.

Uterine artery embolization is the practice of using a catheter to inject small particles into the arteries of the uterus in the area affected by the fibroid, thus preventing blood flow to the fibroid. This minimally invasive procedure is a cost-effective and permanent solution to fibroids, robbing it of the blood flow that helps the tissue to grow and shrinking the fibroid. Hormone treatment is effective as long as it continues.  However, the fibroids return when treatment is stopped, making embolization a great permanent option for treatment.

Another common fibroid treatment is radiofrequency ablation which is used to reduce pain as well as the size of uterine fibroids. Another minimally invasive procedure that preserves fertility for women with fibroids, radiofrequency ablation delivers heat and electric shock to kill the nerves in the fibroid and reduce the overall size of the mass.

Myomectomy is another possible treatment. Although more invasive than the other options, this surgical procedure to remove the fibroid tissue while leaving the uterus intact is an option available to women whose fibroids did not respond well to other treatment options. Removing fibroids can help relieve the painful and difficult symptoms of the condition while allowing women to retain their fertility if they wish to have children in the future.

Despite the lack of understanding about what exactly causes fibroids and how to prevent them from developing, these advances in the treatment of the condition have offered hope and relief. The studies and research continue to expand, bringing new and potentially life-changing options for treatment to the world as scientists discover more about this complex condition. These new advances broaden the horizons for those suffering from uterine fibroids, giving them an increased number of options for treatment.

Given the prevalence of fibroids in the population, you or someone you know likely suffers the symptoms of this condition. Finding support and understanding the options available can help you or your loved ones recover a better quality of life. Hope continues to grow as the medical community discovers new options, promising relief for thousands of women worldwide.

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