Fibroma
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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Fibroid tumors are the most common gynecological disease and are benign formations of connective tissue. Fibroma can develop in any organ that has smooth muscles, but most often affects the uterus. Having the appearance of a single node or their congestion, tumors can have a size of several millimeters to 30 cm or more.
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How is fibroids manifested?
Often the growth of fibroids occurs asymptomatically and is suspended with the onset of menopause, without requiring special intervention. In women of childbearing age, the early diagnosis of fibroma allows for drug treatment or a reduction in the traumatism of surgery to a minimum, and thus maintain reproductive function. By location on the surface of the uterus, the fibroid may have subserous, submucous and intramural nodes. The first type of fibromatous nodes appears on the outer layer of the uterus, does not affect the menstrual cycle, but can interfere with the nearby organs.
Submucous fibroids are less common, it develops under the uterine mucosa and is dangerous with heavy bleeding. Intramural nodes are located on the inner surface of the uterus, causing severe pain in the pelvic region. There is reason to believe that the appearance of fibroid tumors directly depends on the hormonal background. Reception of contraceptives and the production of estrogen, associated with pregnancy, provoke the appearance and growth of nodes. The onset of menopause, when the level of hormones decreases naturally, can lead to a decrease or complete disappearance of the tumor. Actively growing fibroma causes certain symptoms, when the appearance of which visit to the doctor should not be postponed.
What to look for first of all:
- Change in the menstrual cycle, bleeding prolonged and painful.
- The increased urge to urinate, due to the fact that the fibroids presses on the bladder.
- Feeling of heaviness and pain in the lower abdomen, pain in intimate proximity.
- Bloating, flatulence during menstruation.
- Drawing pain in the lower back, the appearance of constipation.
How is the fibroid recognized?
The presence of all or several symptoms may indicate that the patient develops a fibroma that requires treatment. To confirm the diagnosis, the gynecologist prescribes ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging or computed tomography. In some cases, hysteroscopy is used - the most accurate study conducted with the use of anesthesia.
How is fibroids treated?
Depending on the growth rate and tumor size, medicamentous and surgical treatment of uterine fibroid can be used.
Medication includes taking painkillers, supplements with a high iron content, preventing the development of anemia and non-steroid drugs. Hormonal therapy has a number of side effects and is used rarely.
If it is possible to achieve the result only in an operative way, a hysteroscopic resection is a low-traumatic method. Fibroma in this case is removed by a surgical instrument through the cervix, leaving the woman to subsequently become pregnant. A radical method of treating a fibroid tumor is a hysterectomy. If the fibroid is complicated by an ovarian tumor or endometriosis, the uterus is completely removed. Sometimes, in order to prevent the ovarian tumor from degenerating into a malignant neoplasm, one or both ovaries can be removed along with the uterus. In young women, this operation requires further hormonal therapy.
It should be said that fibroids are not healed by alternative means and conspiracies, but timely access to a specialist will help to choose the optimal method of treatment.