An alternative treatment for uterine fibroids

Dr. Andrew J. Lawson - Good news for Namibian women is that uterine fibroids - noncancerous growths of the uterus - can now be treated at the Welwitschia Hospital in Walvis Bay after FibroidCare extended its service to the country. Also called leiomyomas (lie-o-my-O-muhs) or myomas, uterine fibroids aren't associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer.Uterine fibroids develop from the smooth muscle tissue of the uterus (myometrium). A single cell divides repeatedly, eventually creating a firm, rubbery mass distinct from nearby tissue. The growth patterns of uterine fibroids vary – they may grow slowly or rapidly, or they may remain the same size. Some fibroids go through growth spurts, and some may shrink on their own.Fibroids range in size from seedlings, undetectable to the human eye, to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus. They can be single or multiple, in extreme cases expanding the uterus so much that it reaches the rib cage. As many as 3 out of 4 women have uterine fibroids sometime during their lives, but most are unaware of them because they often cause no symptoms. Your doctor may discover fibroids incidentally during a pelvic exam or after having had an ultrasound. CausesNobody knows what causes fibroids and why they develop. We do however know that they are more common in the African, African-American and Afro-Caribbean populations. These patients tend to have many, very large, fibroids that often grow back if surgically removed. Although fibroids are also common in the Caucasian population, they tend to be smaller and less in number.Fibroids commonly cause symptoms between the ages of 20-55 years. It is well known that after menopause, the symptoms related to fibroids go away. The medical community believe this is due to the reduced levels of oestrogen after menopause.SymptomsCommon symptoms caused by fibroids include:• Heavy or prolonged periods;• Pressure or pain in the pelvis;• Constipation and needing to urinate frequently.Treatment optionsTreatment options include: • Symptomatic treatment with medication for the pain. There is no medication that can cure fibroids, and unfortunately there are also no specific lifestyle changes that would reduce the chance of developing fibroids or limiting how they affect your health.• Surgery: A hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) can be done abdominally with a cut on the abdomen, or through the vagina if the uterus is not too big, and with keyhole surgery. The advantage is that there will be no recurrent symptoms but the disadvantage is that the whole womb is removed.A myomectomy is an operation where the myoma (fibroid) is surgically removed. This can be done with open surgery (cutting open the abdomen), with keyhole surgery (laparoscopy) or vaginally depending on the location and size of the fibroid. This is only an option if there are a few fibroids. Fibroids may reoccur with this type of surgery.• Uterine artery embolization: This is a minimally-invasive procedure which is performed under X-ray guidance via a small puncture of a blood vessel in the groin. The large uterine arteries that supply the fibroids are identified and the blood flow to the fibroids is cut off by injecting small particles. The fibroids then shrink and are reabsorbed by the body.AlternativeEmbolization is safe and has been performed on hundreds of thousands of women. The procedure is done via a small puncture of a blood vessel in the groin so there is no surgery or scar and the recovery is very fast. Usually women spend one night in hospital after the procedure and they can go back to their usual daily activities within a few days. The uterus is not removed which is important to most women. Embolization does not only treat the large fibroids but it also treats the small fibroids that are often not even visible and may grow if not treated. The chances of fibroids growing back are extremely low.Visit www.fibroidcare.co.za for more information or email Dr Andrew Lawson at drajlawson@gmail.com, or go to facebook.com/fibroidcare to see comments from patients who have already been treated.

An alternative treatment for uterine fibroids

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Republikein 2025-06-18

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An alternative treatment for uterine fibroids

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Republikein 2025-06-18

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