|
You have fibroids and need a hysterectomy,
right?
Fibroids are smooth muscle growths of the uterus or other
female organs that are present in 50 – 80% of women.
They can cause bleeding, pain, pressure and/or painful sex.
Sometimes they do not cause anything. They are often associated
with POLYPS which are growths from the lining of the uterus.
Fibroids are rarely cancer. Unlike fibroids, polyps may have
a greater chance of being associated with cancer and/or precancerous
changes.
Problem fibroids may often be treated without hysterectomy.
If they are not bothering you and are not excessively large,
nothing may need to be done for them although regular exams
are encouraged.
A directed ultrasound evaluation to find out where your fibroids
are located (inside the lining, in the muscle or on the outside
of the muscle) and if polyps or polypoid endometrium (irregular
thickening of the lining) are present should be done to decide
your best treatment. If the lining is irregular, that tissue
should be checked out with tissue testing. If the lining is
normal, hormonal therapies may be helpful. Sometimes an intrauterine
device can be used to help with bleeding if the cavity has
a normal shape.
If fibroids are inside the cavity of the uterus, they may be
able to be removed which can often control pain and/or bleeding.
If the uterus has a large amount of fibroids, they may be able
to be removed with an operation called multiple myomectomy
which preserves the uterus. Patients who undergo myomectomy
may have fibroids recur 5 – 25% of the time. However,
most of the time, patients experience long term relief of their
fibroids. Another treatment option is uterine artery ablation
which blocks the uterine arteries that feed the uterus and
therefore the fibroids. This procedure has drawbacks because
it can increase pregnancy complications in patients who wish
to have children, affect ovary function or cause other problems
of the female organs.
A procedure called endometrial ablation which removes uterine
lining can be used to control bleeding and sometimes pain problems
that may occur with fibroids.
Bottom line? You have options
<< Previous
Page
|
