Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah, experienced gynecologist of Saavi Women's Hospital, Ahmedabad offers treatment for uterine fibroids, including minimally invasive surgical options such as laparoscopic myomectomy. Schedule a consultation today!
Fibroids are a common type of growth in the pelvis. About 40-80% of people have fibroids.
Uterine fibroids are benign growths of the uterus that often appear during pregnancy. Uterine fibroids are also called leiomyomas.
Uterine fibroids are not associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and rarely progress to cancer. Fibroids vary in size from seedlings that the human eye cannot detect to large masses that distort or enlarge the uterus. You can have single or multiple fibroids. In extreme cases, multiple uterine fibroids can enlarge the uterus and reach the rib cage.
The cause of uterine fibroids is unknown. Generally, uterine fibroids occur in women of childbearing age. People of reproductive age have higher levels of estrogen and progesterone. Fibroids can also occur during and after menopause. High estrogen levels make fibroids more likely to swell, especially during pregnancy. Low estrogen levels are associated with fibroid contraction.
Fibroids have different growth patterns. It can grow slowly, rapidly, or stay the same size. Some fibroids grow rapidly, while others may shrink spontaneously. Many fibroids disappear when the uterus returns to normal size after pregnancy.
Other possible causes of fibroids are:
You may experience various symptoms with fibroids, which may not be the same symptoms experienced by other women.
Larger fibroids can cause the following symptoms:
Fibroid symptoms usually stabilize or disappear after menopause.
Not all fibroids cause symptoms. If you do not feel any symptoms, it is called asymptomatic fibroids.
There are four main types of fibroids:
Intramural fibroids: Intramural fibroids arise in the muscular wall of the uterus. The intramural fibroids can grow and stretch the uterus due to their location. It can grow within body cavities.
Subserosal fibroids: These can become so large that one side of the uterus appears larger.
Pedunculated fibroids: Pedunculated fibroids occur when a subserosal fibroid develops a trunk. This stem turns into a thin base that can support the tumor. When this happens, pedicled fibroids grow here.
Submucosal fibroids: Submucosal fibroids grow in the myometrium or the middle muscular layer of the uterus. This type of fibroid is less common than the other three.
If Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah suspects fibroids, the doctor will first perform a pelvic examination to look for obvious signs. A pelvic examination can determine the number of fibroids, size, location if they grow over time, and treatment options. Some tests are also conducted to know more about fibroids:
Ultrasound: Ultrasound is the first diagnostic test Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah will order to confirm its presence. Ultrasound uses sound waves to reflect images of the uterus. This helps doctors identify, map, and measure fibroid size. The ultrasound can be done externally with a device placed over the abdomen or with a transvaginal ultrasound.
Blood tests: In addition to imaging tests, Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah may order blood tests to identify the cause of fibroid formation. Fibroids can also cause abnormal menstrual bleeding, indicative of anemia due to blood loss, bleeding disorders, or thyroid problems.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): If an ultrasound alone does not give a good view of your uterus and fibroids, Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah may order an MRI scan to diagnose the problem better. This test provides details about fibroids’ size, growth, and location.
There are several options for treating fibroids. Treatment strategy depends on factors such as the number, size, location, age, and other issues of the fibroids. Common treatments include:
This treatment is for fibroids causing problems such as heavy menstrual bleeding, irregular menstrual cycles, and pelvic compression. Medications prescribed byDr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah can help regulate your hormones and get your menstrual cycle back on track. Some drugs work by shrinking fibroids. Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah may prescribe a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. It blocks the body’s production of estrogen and progesterone, temporarily halting the menstrual cycle. As a result, uterine fibroids may shrink.
Another treatment Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah may prescribe is a progestin IUD to help reduce excessive bleeding caused by fibroids.
Other drugs that regulate the menstrual cycle can also be used. You may also be asked to take pain relievers, vitamins, and iron to help relieve symptoms.
Non-invasive procedures to shrink fibroids may be a therapeutic option. MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery uses an ultrasound transducer to pinpoint the exact location of a fibroid while the patient is in the MRI scanner, then focuses sound waves on that area to heat and contract the fibroid.
The technique is non-invasive, does not require an incision, is uterine-friendly, and can be performed on an outpatient basis.
Several minimally invasive surgeries can be considered to remove or reduce fibroids:
Uterine artery embolization is effective in shrinking fibroids. Blood flow to fibroids is stopped by injecting small particles of embolic agents into the arteries that supply blood to the uterus. This causes them to shrink and die and can also help treat other conditions.
Another procedure is radiofrequency ablation, which uses radiofrequency energy to constrict blood vessels into fibroids, effectively destroying them.
In laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy a small incision is made in your abdomen to remove fibroids.
Hysteroscopic myomectomy can be done for submucosal fibroids. In this procedure, instruments are inserted through the vagina and cervix to reach the uterus and remove fibroids.
Surgical treatments such as abdominal myomectomy and hysterectomy may also be considered when large, multiple fibroids continue to recur despite other treatments.
An abdominal myomectomy is a procedure that involves removing fibroids from the uterus through an abdominal incision.
A hysterectomy is the complete removal of the uterus and is the only permanent treatment of uterine fibroids. This procedure is permanent, so talk to your doctor before having a hysterectomy.
You can expect to feel better the day after the procedure. But you may get tired faster. You may have pain or cramps for many days after uterine fibroid embolization. But in some cases, pain can last for a couple of weeks.
There are potential risks associated with any surgical procedure, such as infection and bleeding. Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah will discuss the specific risks of uterine fibroid treatment during the consultation.
The cost of uterine fibroid treatment in Ahmedabad depends on the size and number of fibroids, as well as the chosen treatment option. Dr. Namrata Shah & Dr. Dhaval Shah will discuss the cost with you during your consultation.
THE INFORMATION ON THIS WEBSITE IS OBTAINED THROUGH ONLINE SOURCES AND MEDICAL LITERATURE. IT'S NOT MEANT TO REPLACE AN ACTUAL CONSULTATION WITH A DOCTOR BUT IS A STARTING POINT FOR YOUR OWN RESEARCH.
