How to recuperate from uterine fibroids?

Written by Hou Jie
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 15, 2024
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Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors of the female reproductive organs, composed of smooth muscle and connective tissue. Treatment varies depending on the patient's age, childbearing requirements, presence of symptoms, location and size of the fibroids, and their number. For asymptomatic fibroids, treatment is generally not necessary, especially for women nearing menopause. After menopause, fibroids often shrink or gradually disappear. In such cases, it is recommended to follow up every three to six months, or consider pharmaceutical treatment. Medication is suitable for those with mild symptoms, near menopausal age, or those who are not suitable for surgery. If there are complications such as heavy menstrual bleeding, resulting anemia, ineffective drug treatment, severe abdominal pain, or conditions like fibroid torsion or acute abdomen, surgical treatment is recommended.

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Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Uterine fibroids are classified into several types.

Uterine fibroids are classified by location into two types: myometrial fibroids and cervical fibroids. Based on the relationship between the uterine fibroids and the muscular wall, there are three kinds of uterine fibroids: intramural fibroids, subserosal fibroids, and submucosal fibroids. Intramural fibroids, primarily located within the uterine wall and enclosed by a muscular layer, are recommended for surgical treatment once the fibroid's diameter exceeds four centimeters, as they tend to grow rapidly. Similarly, subserosal fibroids grow towards the peritoneal surface of the uterus and are on the exterior of the uterus. If subserosal fibroids also exceed four centimeters in diameter and are accompanied by menstrual changes, surgical treatment is advised. Furthermore, submucosal fibroids, regardless of their size, require timely surgical intervention due to their association with heavy bleeding and a high risk of anemia.

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Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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How to check for uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids can primarily be diagnosed through ultrasound and gynecological examinations. Uterine fibroids are relatively easy to diagnose; an ultrasound can reveal irregular masses on the uterus or solid echoes, with a fairly intact capsule, which could be either solitary or multiple, confirming the presence of uterine fibroids. During a gynecological examination, an irregular uterine shape with localized protrusions can be felt, which are fairly mobile and typically not associated with significant pain, further confirming the presence of uterine fibroids.

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Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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What should I do about uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids first require examining the location and size of the fibroids. Uterine fibroids can be classified into subserosal fibroids, submucosal fibroids, and intramural fibroids. If it is a submucosal fibroid, no matter the size of the fibroid, it is necessary to promptly perform a hysteroscopic submucosal fibroid surgery. If the submucosal fibroid is large, it may be necessary to perform a hysterectomy through abdominal surgery. For intramural and subserosal fibroids, if the fibroid's diameter exceeds five centimeters or if the fibroid is growing rapidly, surgical treatment is recommended at that time, because there is a chance of malignant transformation in uterine fibroids, which ranges from 0.2% to 0.3%. Therefore, once such a situation occurs, surgical treatment is required.

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Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Malignant symptoms of uterine fibroids

If uterine fibroids become malignant, they can increase significantly in size in a short period. Patients may feel a lump in the abdomen, and this lump grows rapidly and is tender to pressure. Additionally, there may be symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual periods, and irregular vaginal bleeding, as well as pain in the lower abdomen. Other symptoms include compression effects such as frequent urination, urgency to urinate, and difficulty defecating. Therefore, it is necessary to re-examine uterine fibroids every six months to a year. If uterine fibroids are found to be growing rapidly, timely surgical treatment should be conducted to prevent malignant transformation.

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Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
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Are uterine fibroids likely to recur?

Firstly, uterine fibroids are prone to recurrence in women of childbearing age. The main cause of uterine fibroids is usually an excessively high level of estrogen in the body, along with an uneven distribution of estrogen levels, which leads to the development of fibroids. Once a woman is of childbearing age and has regular menstrual cycles, uterine fibroids tend to recur. If uterine fibroids occur, it is necessary to go to the hospital for a color ultrasound examination to check the location of the fibroids. Uterine fibroids can be categorized into cervical fibroids and corpus fibroids. If cervical fibroids are found, timely surgical treatment is required because they become more difficult to treat and more prone to bleeding as they grow larger. Additionally, for corpus fibroids, it depends on whether they are intramural or submucosal. If submucosal uterine fibroids are present, they also require timely surgical intervention due to the risk of prolonged bleeding and potential anemia.