Fibroids
• Definition
· Uterine Fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the wall of the uterus.
• Overview
· Uterine Fibroids are very common and some studies show up to 80% of women will have some form of uterine fibroids.
• Types
· Uterine Fibroids are made up of uterine muscle and collagen.
• Symptoms
· Most women with uterine fibroids have no symptoms.
· Women with Uterine Fibroids may complain of:
· Pressure or fullness in the pelvis
· Excessive menstrual bleeding
· infertility
• Complications
· Uterine Fibroids may cause uncontrolled uterine bleeding.
· Excessive menstrual blood loss leads to iron deficiency anemia.
• Treatment
· Treatment of the uterine fibroid is a myomectomy (surgical removal of the fibroid from within the uterus.)
· Hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus, with or without the ovaries.
References
Guarnaccia MM, Rein MS: Traditional surgical approaches to uterine fibroids: abdominal myomectomy and hysterectomy. Clin Obstet Gynecol 44:385, 2001 [PMID: 11345000]
Posted on September 24, 2008
