Sex hormones are essential for women, as they promote the maturation of their genitalia and the appearance of secondary sexual characteristics, maintain normal sexual desire and reproductive function. However, excessive estrogen can easily trigger health problems, such as uterine fibroids. The uterus is the organ that produces menstruation and nurtures the fetus in women, and plays an extremely important role in women's health. If a woman's uterus has problems, her health will also be greatly compromised. So, what are the clinical manifestations of uterine fibroids? How should uterine fibroids be treated? Below, I will introduce it to everyone.
Uterine fibroids are one of the most common benign tumors in women. If the ovaries secrete too much estrogen, they are particularly prone to developing tumors, which are called uterine fibroids. It grows on the uterus and is mostly benign. Generally, after menopause, as the ovaries decline and the secretion of estrogen gradually decreases, the fibroids will gradually shrink and disappear.
Clinical manifestations of uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids are usually asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, and some patients may have obvious symptoms. The type of symptoms is usually related to the location of the fibroids.
①. Menstrual changes: the most common symptom of uterine fibroids. Often manifested as increased menstrual flow, prolonged menstrual period, and a few cases of vaginal bleeding before and after menstruation. Long term menstrual changes can lead to secondary anemia, symptoms such as fatigue and palpitations.
②. Pelvic pain or bloating sensation: including lower abdominal bloating, back pain, pain during sexual intercourse, etc. In rare cases, acute abdominal pain may occur due to twisting of fibroid pedicle or red like transformation. In addition, uterine fibroids may coexist with adenomyosis and/or endometriosis, leading to pelvic pain.
③. Compression symptoms: bladder compression by fibroids can cause frequent urination, dysuria or urinary retention; Fibroids compressing the rectum can cause symptoms such as lower abdominal bloating, discomfort, and constipation.
④. Increased vaginal discharge: Normal vaginal discharge is a small amount of slightly viscous white, watery or egg white like secretion, which may have slight changes with the menstrual cycle. Intramuscular fibroids may only present as increased vaginal discharge, while submucosal fibroids may exhibit bloody or purulent discharge due to ulceration, necrosis, and other factors.
⑤. Other symptoms: When the fibroids are large, they can cause an enlargement of the lower abdomen, which may be mistaken for weight gain or pregnancy, and a hard mass can be identified by abdominal touch. Submucosal fibroids and intramural fibroids that cause uterine cavity deformation can lead to infertility or miscarriage. If postmenopausal women with uterine fibroids experience new pain and/or bleeding, they should consider the possibility of malignant transformation of the fibroids.
Treatment methods for uterine fibroids
1. Follow up observation
Suitable for patients with small fibroids, no symptoms, and no complications, especially those close to menopausal age. Due to low estrogen levels after menopause, fibroids naturally shrink or disappear, and only need to undergo regular hospital check ups.
2、 Drug therapy
Suitable for patients with small fibroids, mild symptoms, or near menopause. For patients with symptoms and large fibroids, the effectiveness of drug treatment is limited, and long-term use of drugs can also cause damage to other organs.
3、 Surgical treatment
Surgery is currently the main treatment method for uterine fibroids, including myomectomy, uterine artery embolization (UAE), hysterectomy, and focused ultrasound ablation surgery.
1. Uterine fibroid removal surgery
A surgery that removes uterine fibroids while preserving the uterus, mainly used for women under 35 years old who wish to preserve their fertility. Including open abdominal myomectomy and laparoscopic myomectomy.
2. Uterine artery embolization
Injecting embolic agents into the blood supply artery of uterine fibroids to block its supply artery, causing ischemia, degeneration, necrosis, and absorption of uterine fibroids.
3. Hysterectomy
including subtotal hysterectomy and total hysterectomy. Suitable for patients with large and numerous fibroids, obvious symptoms, no fertility requirements, and suspected malignant transformation.
4. Focused ultrasound ablation surgery
Focusing ultrasound on the lesion of uterine fibroids inside the body from outside the body, relying on the transient high temperature generated at the focal point to cause necrosis of the lesion tissue, achieving the goal of local inactivation of fibroid tissue. The necrotic tissue can be gradually absorbed by normal uterine tissue, making the lesion smaller and reducing or relieving corresponding symptoms. It is a surgical treatment from outside the body to inside the body.
In short, when considering which treatment method to choose, it is important to consider one's own situation and the professional advice of a doctor. There is no single treatment plan that is suitable for all uterine fibroids, choosing the right one is the most important. Choosing what suits oneself is the best.