Are you experiencing menstrual irregularity? That may be a warning sign of uterine fibroids. Did you know that about 25 percent of women age 35 and older and 1 in 3 women of childbearing age are found uterine fibroids? Uterine fibroid is another common and prevalent disease in women. What is worrying is that many women do not know they are in the risk group or unaware that they have this disease.
How Do You Know That You Have Uterine Fibroid
Since the uterine fibroids do not have any obvious symptoms, they are often discovered by chance during annual health check-ups or consultation with a doctor regarding other diseases. The exact cause is still unknown but it is not related to any infection. But, heredity is one of the factors. It is found that hormone estrogen in the ovaries is related. This is why women of childbearing age have a high incidence of uterine fibroids and they tend to atrophy after menopause. The uterine fibroids are often detected in women after had period for 3, 5 and 10 years.
Uterine Fibroid Types
Uterine fibroids can be both common and cancerous. Most of them arise from the muscle layer of the uterus that is more common than the uterine fibroids which has 2 major type.
- First type can be caused by the muscles or caused by having other meat inserted into the muscle of the uterus.
- Second type is endometriosis in which there are many polyps together in a larger group.
Symptoms of Uterine Fibroid
Menstrual irregularity is an indication or warning signs of uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids can cause menstrual periods to last longer. Patients can find the blood clot come out with the menstruation. There may or may not be abdominal pain. Abdominal pain is usually caused by changes of uterine fibroids, such as enlargement and insufficient blood supply to the tumor. Because the tumor presses and squeezes other organs, it causes pain and feel like having a heavy lump in the stomach and causing frequent urination, constipation, and abdominal pain while having intercourse as well.
Uterine Fibroid Diagnosis
Uterine fibroids can be diagnosed by palpation and ultrasound.
How can Uterine Fibroid be Treated
The treatment of uterine fibroids can be done in several ways depending on the symptoms, the character of the tumor and overall patient factors such as age, need for fertility and pregnancy. Some patients can be treated with medication. In some cases, doctors may consider surgical treatment. This includes both standard abdominal surgery methods and laparoscopic surgery, which is popular and has many advantages; the incision is small; the patients lose less blood, less pain, and take less time to recuperate; faster recovery and help reduce the incidence of postoperative complications.
Uterine Fibroid Prevention
To prevent the uterine fibroid, you should have an annual internal check. If you are having any of these symptoms and wondering if you have uterine fibroids, you should go to consult with doctor to evaluate the symptoms.