Uterine fibroids are benign or noncancerous growths in or on the uterus. They grow from the muscle of the uterus and are made of fibrous connective tissue and smooth muscle cells. They range in size from as small as a grain of rice to as big as a melon.
There are different types of uterine fibroids based on where they are found, these are:
Intramural fibroids
Submucosal fibroid
Subserosal fibroids
Pedunculated fibroids
There are no known exact causes of uterine fibroids but there are several factors that have been associated with uterine fibroids, these are:
A majority of women with uterine fibroids do not experience any symptoms, but for those that do, the symptoms are as follows:
Some women with uterine fibroids experience back pain, menstrual pain, sharp and intense abdominal pain, and pain during sex.
Women with the following factors are at an increased risk of uterine fibroids:
Most of the time, uterine fibroids are discovered by chance.
Uterine fibroids can be diagnosed in the following ways:
The treatment for uterine fibroids depends on their size, where they are located, and what symptoms they are causing. If uterine fibroids are small and not causing any symptoms, they can be left untreated. They will be monitored at follow-up appointments to ensure they are not growing, and no other changes are occurring.
If your uterine fibroids are big, growing, or causing symptoms then the following treatment options are available:
Medications
Surgery
Uterine fibroid embolisation: a catheter is placed in the artery of your uterus to block blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink, hence reducing symptoms.
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