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  • Uterine Fibroids
    Fibroids are non-cancerous, ie harmless tumours that grow in the smooth muscle layers of the wall of uterus (womb). About 70% of Asian women develop fibroids at some point in their lives, many of them asymptomatic. The incidence of symptomatic fibroids is lower among Asians.  
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 20 December 2015

Types of Uterine Fibroids:

Submucosal: These fibroids are located just underneath the lining of uterus, protruding into the uterus. They cause heavy bleeding, long periods and irregular bleeding between the cycles.

Subserosal: These fibroids are located outside the uterus either in the muscle or hanging outside the uterine wall. They cause bulk symptoms, such as pain and pressure in the pelvis, abnormal and excessive menstrual bleeding, pressure on spinal cord.

Intramural: These fibroids are located in the muscle of the uterus, either protruding into the uterine cavity or outside the uterine cavity. They put pressure on the spinal cord, rectum and pelvis, but are asymptomatic unless they grow in size.

Pedunculated: These fibroids are outside the wall of the uterus, attached to the uterus through a stalk. It puts pressure on the spinal cord, thus causing lower back pain.

Cervical: These fibroids are located in the neck of the uterus. They may cause excessive and abnormal bleeding.

Complications 

Women with fibroids can have the following problems:

  • Heavy period
  • Fatigue
  • Depression
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Constipation
  • Premature birth
  • Miscarriage
  • Infertility: fibroids may prevent implantation, restrict growth of embryo; block or distort the fallopian tube; prevent passage of sperms from the cervix to the fallopian tube
  • Leiomyosarcoma: A form of cancer that develops inside fibroids

 

Condition

Stories

  • Uterine Fibroids Treatment
    The doctor may suggest some of the following: Medication: to reduce symptoms Tranexamic acid: Tranexamic acid helps in clotting of blood in the uterus, thus reducing bleeding.  Anti-inflammatory drugs : These drugs reduce the production of progesterone. Progestrone contributes to the heavy and abnormal menstrual bleeding. They don’t shrink the fibroids but they reduce the symptoms of fibroids.  LNG-IUS (Levonorgestrel intrauterine system): A plastic device is placed in the uterus…
  • Tests for Uterine Fibroids and Diagnosis
    Your doctor may suggest one or more ofthe following diagnostic tests: Blood test: Complete blood picture to check for anaemia Ultrasound: This is done when the patient has heavy bleeding or any of the other symptoms associated with fibroids.  Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Helps in identifying the location and size of fibroids.  Trans vaginal scan: A small scanner is inserted into the patient’s vagina to view the uterus. Hysteroscopy: A small telescope is introduced into the…
  • Signs and Symptoms of Fibroids
    Depending on the location and type of fibroids, the sympoms may vary. Submucosal: cause heavfibroiy bleeding, long periods and irregular bleeding between the cycles. Subserosal: cause bulk symptoms, such as pain and pressure in the pelvis, abnormal and excessive menstrual bleeding, pressure on spinal cord.  Intramural: put pressure on the spinal cord, rectum and pelvis, but are asymptomatic unless they grow in size.  Pedunculated: puts pressure on the spinal cord, thus causing lower…
  • Types of Fibroids and Complications
    Types of Uterine Fibroids: Submucosal: These fibroids are located just underneath the lining of uterus, protruding into the uterus. They cause heavy bleeding, long periods and irregular bleeding between the cycles. Subserosal: These fibroids are located outside the uterus either in the muscle or hanging outside the uterine wall. They cause bulk symptoms, such as pain and pressure in the pelvis, abnormal and excessive menstrual bleeding, pressure on spinal cord. Intramural: These fibroids are…
  • Causes of Fibroids and Risk Factors
    The exact cause of fibroids is not known.  Our body is made-up of cells that regularly undergo turnover i.e production of new cells and removal of old and damaged cells. Sometimes, this regular process is disturbed causing more cells to be produced than destroyed. This results in the formation of abnormal mass of tissue, which is called tumour. The tumour can be benign or malignant. Fibroids are a kind of benign tumour. Normal cell production and destruction may be disturbed by genetic,…
  • Uterine Fibroids
    Fibroids are non-cancerous, i.e. harmless or benign tumours that grow in the smooth muscle layers of the wall of uterus (womb).  Synonyms: Uterine fibroids, Myomas, Fibromyomas Fibroids grow singly or appear in clusters. They are slow growing and may be as small as a peanut to as large as a melon. They are most common among women in their 30s or 40s, with four out of every five women developing fibroids.  About 70% of Asian women develop fibroids at some point in their lives…
  • 43% of Heart Attack Patients Had Anaemia
    India and South-east Asia has high incidence of anaemia. Family practitioner Dr Gita Mathai tells you all you need to know about this often-silent threat that can pose many complications.  What is anaemia? Anaemia (or Anemia) is a generic term for low haemoglobin in the blood from any cause. It is not a disease by itself. It can occur in different forms and be caused by many factors.  Anaemia is diagnosed when the haemoglobin value checked in the laboratory is…