Treatment For Fibroids

12 November, 2009 No Comment

Fibroids are perhaps the most common type of tumors known to invade a woman’s pelvis. Although fibroids are mostly benign, they can cause various complications, particularly if they grow very large. Women falling in the age group of 35-45 years are highly susceptible to the development of fibroids.

How are fibroids treated?
There are various types of treatment methods that are applicable to fibroids but they differ from woman to woman and the complications caused by the tumor.

Many women do not even require any treatment and if the fibroids are small and cause no problems only a physical examination every six months is required to ensure that they aren’t growing.

Surgery: When a fibroid begins to cause serious problems, surgery becomes inevitable. The type of surgery to be performed is dependant on various factors such as the type of symptoms being caused by the fibroid, the age of the patient and whether she intends having any children in the future. The two types of surgeries performed to get rid of fibroids are myomectomy and hysterectomy.

Myomectomy: This surgical process involves the removal of the tumor without causing any damage to the uterus. The success rate of this type of surgery is quite high and it doesn’t depend on the size, location or number of fibroids. A myomectomy is performed on women who intend becoming pregnant in the future.

A myomectomy is based on the idea of removing as many tumors as possible while making minimal surgical cuts. Some tumors can be removed through the vagina but in most cases an abdominal incision needs to be made.

Though the surgery carries a possibility of blood loss, various medications and procedures are available that help control post-surgery bleeding.

Women with a tendency to develop fibroids can go on to have another tumor even after a myomectomy. 2-3 myomectomies can be performed but may result in other medical complications.

Hysterectomy: This type of surgery is performed when a fibroid begins to cause serious complications and the removal of the uterus becomes inevitable.

It is recommended for women who do not intend getting pregnant in the future and whose uterus has expanded to the size of being able to accommodate a 3 month old fetus causing serious problems.

A hysterectomy is also performed when the fibroids begin to interfere with the normal functioning of other organs. Menopause does not automatically occur post-hysterectomy as it leaves the ovaries intact.

Non-surgical options:
Laser treatment is being sought by a number of women that helps get rid of a fibroid or reduces its size. A drug known as Leupride acetate (Lupron) helps contract the size of a fibroid to half its original size.

This drug does not interfere with a woman’s capacity to become pregnant but on the flip side once its ingestion is stopped, the tumors grow back quickly. More research is required to determine the exact benefits and side effects of this medication.

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