| General
Illness Information |
Medical Term: |
FIBROID TUMORS OF THE
UTERUS |
|
Common
Name: |
None Specified |
| Description: |
A fibroid is a benign growth of cells in
the muscular wall of the uterus. Cells are composed of
mainly muscle cells, but with varying amounts of
fibrous connective tissue. They may be present as solitary or
multiple tumors. The size of the tumor may range from size of a pea
to as large as a small melon.
It is a common condition, and is not
cancerous. It may be present in 20 to 25% of women of
child-bearing age.
|
| Causes: |
The cause is unknown. However, they
need estrogen for maintenance, as they are extremely rare before
puberty or after menopause, and they sometimes grow rapidly in
pregnancy and with use of oral estrogen , and with estrogen
producing tumors. Fibroids regress after pregnancy and after
menopause.
|
| Prevention: |
Cannot be prevented at present.
|
| Signs
& Symptoms |
|
|
| Risk
Factors |
 |
Use of estrogen replacement therapy and use of
oral contraceptives with high estrogen content. |
|
Genetic factors. Fibroid tumors are 3 to 9
times more common in black women than
Caucasian women. | |
| Diagnosis & Treatment |
| Diagnosis is usually made during a pelvic exam and
confirmed by ultrasound. Other diagnostic tests may include
laboratory blood studies, MRI, laparoscopy; or
hysterosalpingogram. |
| General
Measures: |
|
For minimal symptoms, no treatment
may be needed. Follow-up every 6-12 months. |
|
Treatment will be individualized
depending on symptoms, diagnostic tests, age of the patient
and desire for future pregnancy |
|
Record dates of bleeding and number
of pads used each day. |
|
Surgery may be recommended for
certain situations and several different surgical procedures
are possible. If surgery is recommended, be sure you
understand all aspects of it before making a decision. Surgery
to remove a fibroid (myomectomy) may be necessary if the
fibroid increases in size or produces unacceptable symptoms.
In some instances, a hormone may be prescribed for a few weeks
prior to surgery to shrink the tumor.
Removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) may be
necessary if menstrual bleeding is very heavy, symptoms such
as pressure or severe pain develop, a fibroid is growing
rapidly, or a large fibroid gets twisted or
infected. | |
| Medications: |
|
If you have a small fibroid, don't
take contraceptive pills with a high estrogen content.
Estrogen may cause fibroids to enlarge. Consider other forms
of contraception, such as a diaphragm, cervical cap, IUD,
condom, or contraceptive foam, sponge or jelly. |
|
Iron supplements if you are anemic
from excessive blood loss. |
|
Estrogen must be used with caution
in post-menopausal women with
fibroids. | |
| Activity: |
|
No restrictions unless surgery performed. Then
you may need bed rest for a period of time, some restricted
activity, and no sexual intercourse for approximately one
month. | |
| Diet: |
|
No special
diet. | |
| Possible
Complications : |
|
Malignant change in the fibroid
tumor (occurs in less than 0.5%). This rare complication is
usually signaled by very rapid growth. |
|
Complications can occur in
pregnancy such as spontaneous abortion and premature
labor. |
|
Fibroids may return following
surgery to remove them. | |
| Prognosis |
| If surgery is not
necessary prior to menopause, these tumors usually decrease in size
without treatment after
menopause.
Hospitalization, if surgery is
necessary. Fibroids are generally removed
surgically if they cause excessive bleeding, become
malignant, or produce symptoms that interfere
with conception or pregnancy.
Fibroids can often be removed surgically
without removing the entire uterus. The ability to conceive
continues as long as the uterus
remains. | |
| Other |
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