Uterine fibroma: what it is, symptoms, causes and treatment

Uterine fibroid, also known as uterine myoma, is a benign tumor formed by muscle tissue, which is located in the uterus and can have different sizes.

Fibromas generally do not cause symptoms, but in some cases they can lead to abdominal pain, heavy bleeding and even cause complications during pregnancy.

Treatment varies greatly depending on each case, and can be carried out with medications that relieve pain and reduce bleeding and/or with surgery to remove the fibroid or uterus, depending on whether the woman still intends to become pregnant or not.

Main symptoms

Most of the time, uterine fibroids do not cause symptoms, however, when they do appear, they include:

• Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding;
• Bleeding between periods;
• Pain, pressure or heaviness in the pelvic region during menstruation;
• Urge to urinate frequently;
• Infertility;
• Abdominal swelling.

Furthermore, in pregnant women, fibroids can, in some cases, cause complications during childbirth.

Possible causes

It is still not known for sure what causes uterine fibroids, but it is thought to be related to genetic and hormonal factors, as estrogens and progesterone promote their development and growth factors produced by the muscle cells themselves promote the growth of uterine fibroids. fibroids.

However, there are some risk factors that appear to contribute to the development of uterine fibroids, such as age, family history, obesity, diet rich in red meat, alcohol intake, caffeinated drinks, early menarche, being black, suffering from high blood pressure and never having gotten pregnant.

How to confirm the diagnosis

The diagnosis of fibroma can be made through a physical examination, which in some cases allows the gynecologist to palpate the fibroids. However, some diagnostic tests can also be used, such as pelvic ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging or hysteroscopy, for example. See how the hysteroscopy exam is performed.

How the treatment is carried out

The treatment of fibroids must be individualized taking into account the symptoms, size and location, as well as the woman’s age and whether or not she desires to become pregnant.

The doctor may recommend the administration of medication and/or advise surgery. The most commonly used medications to treat fibroids are estrogen and progesterone inhibitors, such as contraceptives, which can help control bleeding. In addition, the use of tranexamic acid, anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen or nimesulide, and vitamin supplements may also be indicated to compensate for blood loss. Find out more about the medicines used to treat fibroids/fibroids.

In some cases, it may be necessary to resort to surgery, which involves removing the uterus or just the fibroids, if performed on women who still intend to become pregnant.