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What are the signs and symptoms of fibroids? |
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Most women with fibroids are asymptomatic, that is they do not have any problems. In fact most do not know that they have this condition. However, some women develop heavy periods if the fibroids are large or located within the cavity of the uterus.Fibriods that enlarge quickly, especially during pregnancy can cause severe pain. Some other women may have difficulty to conceive if the fibroid distort the uterine cavity. |
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Is there a chance that this condition can be some cancerous? |
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The chance of fibroids becoming cancerous is very slim, in the region of 0.3%.However, if a fibroid enlarge quickly, one must be suspicious. |
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How do you diagnose fibroids? |
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Apart from physical examination, the most important tool is the ultrasound scan, which allows the doctor to view and assess the uterus. Sometimes, we may want to use more sophisticated imaging techniques such as the MRI or CT scan. |
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How do you treat this condition? |
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There is no necessity to remove fibroids unless they cause problems or they are very large. Women who have heavy periods may try some oral medicine first. The final treatment option depends on the individual patients; mainly her age and her desire for child bearing. Fibroids can be removed surgically, and this procedure is called myomectomy.Women who have completed their family may be advised to have the entire uterus removed. |
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What are the treatment options available? |
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Removal of fibroids is traditionally done with open surgery. This involves a cut on the tummy, and full recovery may take up to 6 weeks. We can now remove most fibroids using keyhole surgery or laparoscopic surgery. This type of surgery involves making 3 very small punctures on the abdomen. A morcellator is then used to chop the fibroids to small pieces before they can be removed through the keyhole. This operation is useful to minimize scarring within the tummy, and this is especially important if the woman wants to conceive again. Furthermore, the recovery period is much shorter, usually 1-2 weeks.
Apart from this there is also a new technique called embolization, which is a technique whereby the blood supply to the fibroid is cut off, causing the fibroid to shrink. However, there are some concerns that this technique affects the ability of the woman to conceive later. |
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Are there any risks involved in the surgery? |
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Like all surgeries, there are some risks involved. The commonest risk is the risk of excessive bleeding leading to blood transfusion. Sometimes when this happens, the doctor may need to convert a laparoscopic surgery to an open surgery. Very rarely, if the bleeding is uncontrollable especially when there are multiple fibroids involved, the doctor may elect to remove the entire uterus. Sometimes fibroids operation may cause scarring or distortion of the uterus cavity. So, fibroids should only be removed when necessary. |
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What can I expect after surgery? |
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If the fibroid is removed laparoscopically, most women recover quite quickly and can resume normal activities within a week or two. The discomfort associated with this type of surgery is minimal and can be relieved with painkillers. On the other hand, women who underwent open surgery take longer to recover. They should only carry weights or perform weight bearing exercise after 6 weeks. |
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Disclaimer |
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For Patients:
The health information provided in this website is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your own physician for your own specific medical condition.
For Health Professionals:
While efforts has been made to get the relevant experts in each topic to contribute, the views and opinions of authors expressed in this section do not necessarily reflect those of the OGSM.
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