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What are fibroids?

Fibroids are abnormal growths that develop in or on a woman’s uterus. Sometimes these tumors become quite large and cause severe abdominal pain and heavy periods. In other cases, they cause no signs or symptoms at all. The growths are typically benign, or noncancerous. The cause of fibroids is unknown.

Fibroids are also known by the following names:

  • leiomyomas
  • myomas
  • uterine myomas
  • fibromas

According to the Office on Women’s Health, up to 80 percent of women have them by the age of 50. However, most women don’t have any symptoms and may never know they have fibroids.

子宫肌瘤的类型女人发展取决于它s location in or on theuterus．

Intramural fibroids

Intramural fibroids are the most common type of fibroid. These types appear within the muscular wall of the uterus. Intramural fibroids may grow larger and can stretch your womb.

Subserosal fibroids

Subserosal fibroids form on the outside of your uterus, which is called the serosa. They may grow large enough to make your womb appear bigger on one side.

Pedunculated fibroids

Subserosal tumors can develop a stem, a slender base that supports the tumor. When they do, they’re known as pedunculated fibroids.

Submucosal fibroids

These types of tumors develop in the middle muscle layer, or myometrium, of your uterus. Submucosal tumors aren’t as common as the other types.

It’s unclear why fibroids develop, but several factors may influence their formation.

Hormones

Estrogenandprogesteroneare the hormones produced by theovaries．他们导致子宫内膜再生during each menstrual cycle and may stimulate the growth of fibroids.

Family history

Fibroids may run in the family. If your mother, sister, or grandmother has a history of this condition, you may develop it as well.

Pregnancy

Pregnancyincreases the production of estrogen and progesterone in your body. Fibroids may develop and grow rapidlywhile you’re pregnant．

Women are at greater risk for developing fibroids if they have one or more of the following risk factors:

  • pregnancy
  • a family history of fibroids
  • age of 30 or older
  • African-American
  • a highbody weight

Your symptoms will depend on the number of tumors you have as well as their location and size. For instance, submucosal fibroids may causeheavy menstrual bleedingandtrouble conceiving．

If your tumor is very small or you’re going throughmenopause, you may not have any symptoms. Fibroids may shrink during andafter menopause．This is because women undergoing menopause are experiencing a drop in their levels of estrogen and progesterone, hormones that stimulate fibroid growth.

Symptoms of fibroids may include:

For a proper diagnosis, you’ll need to see agynecologistto get apelvic exam．This exam is used to check the condition, size, and shape of your uterus. You may also need other tests, which include:

Ultrasound

Anultrasounduses high-frequency sound waves to produce images of your uterus on a screen. This will allow your doctor to see its internal structures and any fibroids present. Atransvaginal ultrasound, in which the ultrasound wand is inserted into the vagina, may provide clearer pictures since it’s closer to the uterus during this procedure.

Pelvic MRI

Thisin-depth imaging testproduces pictures of your uterus, ovaries, and other pelvic organs.

Your doctor will develop a treatment plan based on your age, the size of your fibroids, and your overall health. You may receive a combination of treatments.

Home remedies and natural treatments

Certainhome remedies and natural treatmentscan have apositive effecton fibroids, including:

  • acupuncture
  • yoga
  • massage
  • Gui Zhi Fu Ling Tang (GFLT), a traditional Chinese medicine formula
  • applyingheatfor cramps (avoid heat if you experience heavy bleeding)

Dietary changes can help as well. Avoid meats and high-calorie foods. Instead, opt for foods high in flavonoids, green vegetables,green tea, and cold-waterfishsuch astunaorsalmon．

Managing your stress levelsandlosing weight if you’re overweightcan also benefit women with fibroids.

Medications

Medications to regulate your hormone levels may be prescribed to shrink fibroids.

Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, such as leuprolide (Lupron), will cause your estrogen and progesterone levels to drop. This will eventually stop menstruation and shrink fibroids.

GnRH antagonistsalso help to shrink fibroids. They work by stopping your body from producing follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). Examples include:

  • ganirelix acetate, an injectable drug
  • cetrorelix acetate (Cetrotide), an injectable drug
  • elagolix, which is present in the oral drug elagolix/estradiol/norethindrone acetate (Oriahnn)

Other options that can help control bleeding and pain, but won’t shrink or eliminate fibroids, include:

Surgery

Surgery to remove very large or multiple growths may be performed. This is known as a myomectomy. An abdominal myomectomy involves making a large incision in the abdomen to access the uterus and remove the fibroids. The surgery can also be performedlaparoscopically, using a few small incisions into which surgical tools and a camera are inserted. Fibroids might grow back after surgery.

If your condition worsens, or if no other treatments work, your physician may perform ahysterectomy．However, this means that you won’t be able to bear children in the future.

Noninvasive or minimally invasive procedures

A newer and completely noninvasive surgical procedure is forced ultrasound surgery (FUS). You lie down inside a special MRI machine that allows doctors to visualize the inside of your uterus. High-energy, high-frequency sound waves are directed at the fibroids to ablate, or destroy, them.

Myolysis procedures (such as Acessa) shrink fibroids using heat sources like an electric current or laser, while cryomyolysis freezes the fibroids.Endometrial ablationinvolves inserting a special instrument into your uterus to destroy the uterine lining using heat, electric current, hot water, or extreme cold.

Another nonsurgical option isuterine artery embolization．In this procedure, small particles are injected into the uterus in order to cut off the fibroids’ blood supply.

Your prognosis will depend on the size and location of your fibroids. Fibroids may not need treatment if they’re small or don’t produce symptoms.

If you’re pregnant and have fibroids, or become pregnant and have fibroids, your doctor will carefully monitor your condition. In most cases, fibroids don’t cause problems during pregnancy. Speak with your doctor if you expect to become pregnant and have fibroids.