Fibroids: Signs and symptoms
EIGHT out of every 10 black women are affected by fibroids, and while many women experience mild to severe pains associated with the condition, other women present with no symptoms at all.
Fibroids are abnormal growths made up of muscle tissue and fibres which can be found in or around a woman’s uterus, and obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Daryl Daley says in most cases they are harmless in the absence of pain and/or discomfort.
“Uterine fibroids are an abnormal growth in the muscles of the womb. They are often referred to as hormone-dependent tumours because their growth is dependent on the production of oestrogen, a hormone which maintains and regulates the female reproductive system,” Dr Daley explained.
These tumours, which are usually non-cancerous, may cause pain and discomfort to some women because of their size, location and quantity. Apart from the associated pain, Dr Daley said that there are several symptoms that could indicate that you have fibroids. These include:
•Heavy bleeding during periods.
•Your periods last longer than a week.
•Terrible back pains.
•Spotting between periods.
•Cramps before and after periods.
•Constipation (usually when fibroids rest on the uterus).
•Pelvic pain or pressure.
•Urinary problems (increase in the desire to pass urine).
•Increased abdominal growth.
•Infertility.
To be sure that these symptoms are linked to fibroids, Dr Daley said that a medical investigation is first required.
“The symptoms that a patient presents, while they may point in the direction of fibroids, cannot be the basis upon which a diagnosis is made. This medical investigation will include a physical examination as well as an ultrasound before there can be a diagnosis,” Dr Daley said.
Once the diagnosis is confirmed, Dr Daley said that one of two approaches may be taken to inhibit the growth of the tumours in the uterus – medical or non-medical.
“Patients get the opportunity to choose the type of treatment that they prefer if they decide that they are ready to remove the fibroids. There is a list of medical and non-medical treatments that can be chosen, but the location, size and number should first be considered before a decision is made.”
The surgical options available include the myomectomy – a procedure which involves the surgical removal of fibroids from the uterus; the hysterectomy – which involves the removal of the entire uterus and all uterine fibroids; or open abdominal surgery – where an incision of five to seven inches is made by a surgeon on the belly of the patient and the fibroids (and/or the uterus) are then removed through the incision.
Non-medical methods include:
• Use of oral contraceptives: These may contain a combination of oestrogen and/or progesterone in the tablets.
• Watchful waiting – this is anticipating the shrinking of fibroids naturally.
• Lupron: This is a treatment used to stop the menstrual pain and shrink fibroids. This treatment is more commonly used for patients before they do surgery.
• Painkillers: Used to control the pain associated with the fibroids.
