What are Fibroids?

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop on the walls of a woman’s uterus. They can vary in size and location within the uterus, and can occur singly or in clusters. Fibroids are the most common benign tumours in the female reproductive system and are found in up to 80% of women.

Fibroids are usually asymptomatic, meaning they show no symptoms, and can go undetected for a long period of time. However, if a woman has severe fibroids, she may experience pain, heavy menstrual bleeding and pressure in her pelvis. Fibroids can also be associated with fertility issues, and it is not known why some women are more prone to getting them.

What Causes Fibroids?

The exact cause of fibroids is not known, but the three main theories about the causes are hormonal changes, hereditary factors, and environmental factors.

Hormonal changes: It is believed that an increase in oestrogen and progesterone hormones can lead to an increase in the growth of fibroids.

Hereditary factors: Fibroids are more common in women whose mothers had fibroids, suggesting a genetic link.

Environmental factors: Smoking and diets high in red meat and low in green vegetables appear to be associated with an increased risk of fibroids, although this is not confirmed.

How are Fibroids Diagnosed?

The most common way to diagnose fibroids is a pelvic examination using an ultrasound. This is a non-invasive test that uses soundwaves to create an image of the inside of the uterus. If a fibroid is detected during the ultrasound, it is usually biopsied or removed for further testing. Blood tests and other imaging tests may also be used to diagnose fibroids.

Treatment Options for Fibroids

If a woman does not have any symptoms or is not experiencing any pain from the fibroids, she may not require any treatment. However, if a woman is experiencing severe symptoms, there are several treatment options available. These include medications, non-invasive procedures such as uterine fibroid embolisation (UFE), and surgical procedures such as myomectomy.

Medications: There are several medications, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, that can be used to reduce the size of the fibroids and treat symptoms such as heavy bleeding.

UFE: UFE is a procedure used to block the blood supply to the fibroids, which causes them to shrink over time.

Myomectomy: This is a surgical procedure used to remove the fibroids and is usually recommended if a woman is trying to become pregnant.

Conclusion

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop on the walls of a woman’s uterus. They are common and usually show no symptoms, however, if a woman does experience severe symptoms, there are several treatment options available.