Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are the most common non-cancerous tumors in women of childbearing age. Fibroids are made of muscle cells and other tissues that grow in and around the wall of the uterus, or womb. The cause of fibroids is unknown. Risk factors include being African-American or being overweight.

Many women with uterine fibroids have no symptoms. If you have symptoms, they may include

Heavy or painful periods or bleeding between periods
Feeling "full" in the lower abdomen
Urinating often
Pain during sex
Lower back pain
Reproductive problems, such as infertility, multiple miscarriages or early labor

Most women with fibroids can get pregnant naturally. For those who cannot, infertility treatments may help. Treatment for uterine fibroids includes medicines that can slow or stop their growth, or surgery. If you have no symptoms, you may not even need treatment.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Uterine Fibroids on Wikipedia

'''Uterine fibroids''' ('''leiomyomata''', singular '''leiomyoma''') are the most common neoplasm in females, and may affect about of 25 % of white and 50% of black women during the reproductive years. They are a major indication for a

Pathology and histology

Leiomyomas grossly appear as round, well circumscribed (but not encapsulated), solid nodules that are white, or tan whorled. The size varies, from microscopic to lesions of considerable size. Typically lesions the size of a grapefruit or bigger are felt by the patient herself through the abdominal wall. Microscopically, tumor cells resemble normal cells (elongated, spindle-shaped, with a cigar-shaped nucleus) and form bundles with different directions (whirled). These cells are uniform in size and shape, with scarce mitoses. There are three benign variants: bizarre (atypical); cellular; and mitotically active.

Estrogen dependence

Leiomyomas are estrogen sensitive and have estrogen receptors. They may enlarge rapidly during pregnancy presumably due to increased estrogen levels. As estrogen levels decline with menopause, fibroids tend to regress after menopause. Hormonal therapy takes advantage of the fact that lack of estrogens leads to shrinkage of fibroids.

Symptoms

Fibroids, particularly when small, may be entirely asymptomatic. Generally, symptoms relate to the location of the lesion and its size. Important symptoms include abnormal gynecologic hemorrhage, pain, infertility, dysuria and urinary frequency. During pregnancy they may be the cause of miscarriage, bleeding, premature labor, or interference with the position of the fetus.

Location

Fibroids may be single or multiple. Most fibroids start in an intramural location,- that is the layer of the muscle of the uterus. With further growth, some lesion may develop towards the outside of the uterus (subserosal or pedunculated), some towards ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Uterine Fibroids - United States National Women's Health Center cite on Uterine Fibroids, including some information on FDA approved ultrasound treatment.

Uterine Fibroids - Information Uterine Fibroid treatment using Focused Ultrasound Surgery (operated by InSightec Image Guided Treatment Ltd.)

Centinela Radiology Medical Group - Information on practice resources and areas of expertise which include Vertebroplasty, Uterine Fibroid Embolization and Varicose Vein Therapy. (Inglewood and Los Angeles, California)

James Newman, M.D., Interventional Radiologist - Interventional radiologist in Cleveland, Ohio. Contains biographical and contact information, and information for patients considering uterine fibroid embolization.

Fibroid Embolisation - Information available on the condition and the forms of non surgical treatment of uterine fibroids.

UFEInfo - Patient education information on a non-surgical treatment alternative for symptoms caused by uterine fibroid tumors. Offering video, patient comments, articles and brochures.

Radiology Specialists of Denver - Interventional procedures including embolization of varicoceles and uterine fibroid tumors and teleradiology expertise. (Colorado)

Northside Radiology Associates - Home site for Northside Radiology Associates, Northside Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia. Subspecialized group offering wide range of diagnostic and interventional radiology, including Uterine Fibroid Embolization and Neurointerventional procedures.

Rosenthal Clinical Projects: Women's Health and Chinese Herbal Medicine - Columbia University's NIH/Complementary Medicine center for Women's Health research, clinical trials and projects. Projects include the following areas. Menopausal Hot Flashes: Effect of a Chinese Herbal Preparation on hormones, estrogen balance, lipid levels and hot flashes; clinical trials treating uterine fibroids and symptoms with Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture. Surveys on the multi-ethnic perspective of Chinese, Caucasian, Latino, and African American women using herbs in treating women's health problems.

Alternatives in Gynecology - A gynecologist discusses causes, diagnosis, and treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding, hysterectomy and alternatives, fibroids and myomectomy, endometrial ablation, and other advances and options in gynecology.

Related Pages on HealthTales.com:

Uterine Cancer
Uterine Diseases