Fibroid treatment available online today

The actual causes of fibroids are not known. Current research suggests that each fibroid growth begins as an abnormal muscle cell and can increase in size in response to estrogen hormone levels and activity.

The following factors are associated with uterine fibroids:

• Hormonal: Fibroid tumors are affected by both estrogen and progesterone. It has been observed that uterine fibroids tend to experience more rapid growth during pregnancy when hormone levels are high. Fibroids shrink in response to hormonal medications or when hormone levels decrease, such as after menopause.

• Age: Uterine fibroids can occur at any age after menarche (the first period), but tend to occur most often between 30 - 40 years of age. In older women, most fibroids tend to stop growing or even shrink once a woman reaches menopause.

• Genetics: Fibroids tend to run in families, which suggests there is a genetic cause or predisposition for developing fibroids.

Women with fibroids have symptoms that range from very mild to severe. Those who experienced symptoms of uterine fibroids report the following:

• Pain: The pain can range from dull to sharp, in the lower back, abdomen, or pelvis. Some also reported feeling menstrual pain or pain during sex.

• Changes in menstruation: This can include heavy bleeding, bleeding between periods, and prolonged period bleeding.

• Bladder symptoms, including frequent urination

• Bowel symptoms, including constipation

• Reproductive issues, such as infertility or miscarriage

• Anemia, or low blood levels, due to frequent and excessive blood loss

To help with anemia symptoms such as fatigue and lightheadedness (due to heavy menstrual bleeding), iron supplements may be recommended.

Your doctor may recommend NSAIDS such as ibuprofen or naproxen to help reduce menstrual bleeding caused by fibroids and provide pain relief.

• Birth control: Contraceptive hormones in pill, patch or vaginal ring form can help reduce heavy bleeding due to fibroids.

• Progesterone-containing IUDs: Intrauterine devices (IUDs) containing progestin, such as Mirena, Liletta, Kyleena, or Skyla, can be inserted into the uterus during an office visit to help thin the uterine lining and decrease pain and bleeding from fibroids.

• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRH analogs): GnRH analogs are medications that either increase or decrease the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, a naturally occurring substance, in the body. These are prescribed to shrink fibroids, by lowering the estrogen level in the body, mimicking menopause (also known as medical menopause). GnRH analogs are typically used for up to a year.

For patients who want to get pregnant, myomectomy is the recommended procedure. During myomectomy, the fibroids are removed but the uterus stays intact. There are three myomectomy methods:

Open myomectomy: This myomectomy is performed via an abdominal incision

Laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy: This is a minimally invasive procedure. The myomectomy is performed through small abdominal incisions and a laparoscope. This procedure results in less bleeding and shorter recovery time.

Hysteroscopic myomectomy: This is an outpatient procedure. A camera is inserted through the vagina and cervix, and the doctor removes fibroid tissue that has formed inside the uterine cavity.

The best treatment for fibroids depends on multiple factors:

• Severity of the symptoms

• Location and size of the fibroids

• Age

• Desire for pregnancy

If the patient is near menopause with small fibroids and minimal symptoms, the doctor may recommend careful monitoring. However, significant symptoms of uterine fibroids may require treatment, either with medications or surgery, or a combination of both.

Sometimes. Fibroid tumors are affected by both estrogen and progesterone. Fibroids can shrink in response to hormonal medications including the following:

• Birth control: Contraceptives in the pill, patch, implant, or vaginal ring can help reduce heavy bleeding due to fibroids.

• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogs (GnRH analogs): These medications help shrink fibroids, by lowering the estrogen level in the body, mimicking menopause.

• Progesterone-containing IUDs: Hormonal IUDs help thin the uterine lining and decrease bleeding and pain related to fibroids.

Adenomyosis is a condition in which the endometrial tissue (inner lining of the uterus) grows into the muscle wall of the uterus (the myometrium). Due to similar symptoms, adenomyosis is often misdiagnosed as uterine fibroids. Fibroids are typically benign tumors growing in or on the uterine wall.