One of the most common problems among women are fibroids 1, and most only discover them incidentally when the doctor orders routine exams. In other cases, they only find out about the fibroid during pregnancy, when they start undergoing prenatal exams requested by the obstetrician. In this article, we will cover the following topics:
- What are the causes of fibroids?
- What symptoms can fibroids cause?
- How can fibroids be detected during pregnancy?
- How are fibroids treated?
Usually, fibroids are found during pelvic ultrasounds and women often get frightened when they receive the diagnosis because they don’t understand what it is or imagine it could be a malignant tumor. In reality, fibroids are benign tumors that can grow up to 20 centimeters in diameter. It is extremely rare for them to become malignant tumors.
What are the causes of fibroids?
Also known as leiomyomas, uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that develop in the uterus, more specifically in the myometrium, one of the layers of the uterus, which plays an important role especially during pregnancy. Although the exact cause of fibroids is unknown, some factors may contribute to their development:
- Hormonal influence: Fibroids are sensitive to estrogen and progesterone, which are female hormones. These hormones can stimulate the appearance and growth of fibroids, which is why they tend to occur mainly during a woman’s fertile years.
- Genetic predisposition: If there are already cases of women with fibroids in the family, there is a familial tendency and the risk of developing a fibroid increases.
- Age group: Although they can appear at any time during a woman’s reproductive years, fibroids are more common in women between 30 and 40 years old.
- Other factors: There are other risk factors that can contribute to the appearance of nodules, polyps, and fibroids in the uterine wall. Factors such as obesity, early onset of menstruation, never having been pregnant, excessive alcohol intake, and a diet high in red meat are associated with a greater risk of developing fibroids.
What symptoms can fibroids cause?
The symptoms of a fibroid located in the uterine wall can vary according to size, location, and each woman’s profile. Some women may have very clear symptoms, while others may be almost asymptomatic.
However, symptoms like abnormal bleeding and pelvic pain may be present. In addition, uterine fibroids can also cause pressure on the bladder or intestine, increased urinary frequency, and even infertility.
It is important to highlight that fibroids are benign tumors and are not related to uterine cancer.
How can fibroids be detected during pregnancy?
But the issue here is fibroids in pregnancy, and this condition can bring complications to the pregnancy if not properly monitored. Symptoms that normally do not appear may show up during pregnancy.
Abdominal discomfort is a common complaint among women who have fibroids in pregnancy, and depending on the fibroid’s location in the uterus and its size, it can affect the baby’s development, possibly resulting in a miscarriage.
In addition to miscarriage, other occurrences that can happen due to fibroids during pregnancy are preterm birth, persistent bleeding throughout pregnancy, and early placental abruption, as well as several discomforts that can occur during the period, such as painful urination, constipation, and discomfort during intercourse.
If you notice any of these symptoms during pregnancy and have questions, do not hesitate to seek medical advice.
How are fibroids treated?
As for treatment, the woman’s age and the fibroid’s situation must be considered. Often, it is only necessary to monitor the progress, but treatments involving anti-inflammatory drugs or hormones may also be recommended. If surgery is needed, the fibroid is removed along with the uterus.
During pregnancy, the treatment for fibroids is basically painkillers and as much rest as possible. Surgery to remove a uterine fibroid is only indicated in cases where there is life-threatening risk to the mother or baby, as it is a delicate surgery that can pose risks to the pregnancy.
Fibroid surgery is called myomectomy 2 and there are three different procedures to perform it:
- Laparoscopic myomectomy: The procedure is performed through tiny holes made in the abdominal area, through which a tiny camera and the necessary surgical instruments are inserted to remove the fibroid. This procedure is only recommended for easily removable fibroids located on the external walls of the uterus.
- Abdominal myomectomy: This is a more invasive surgical procedure, where an incision is made in the pelvic region to reach the uterus, allowing the removal of the fibroid.
- Hysteroscopic myomectomy: In this procedure, a surgical instrument called a hysteroscope is inserted through the vaginal canal and into the uterus to remove the fibroid. This procedure is done without cuts and only for fibroids located inside the uterus.
All the procedures mentioned above preserve the uterus, except if there is bleeding during or after surgery that requires complete removal of the uterus, which obviously does not apply to fibroids in pregnancy.
Regarding recovery from myomectomy procedures, if the procedures involve incisions, recovery will take an average of four weeks, and the woman should remain on absolute rest, avoid lifting any weight whatsoever, and maintain a healthy, balanced diet.
In the case of a myomectomy performed vaginally, the woman may return to her routine within hours after the procedure since there is no need to worry about incision healing.
For a proper diagnosis of these conditions, it is necessary to consult a specialist. That is why it is important to have regular check-ups to make sure everything is all right! Also, if you experience any of the listed symptoms, seek medical advice so all discomfort can be treated in the best way possible.
