Uterine Fibroids - Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatments
Statistics show that as many as twenty percent of all women have fibroids in their uterus at some point of their lives. So, this phenomenon is quite common.
Fibroids are tumors that develop in the uterus. They occur most in women who are over the age of 30, but they can also occur in women who are younger than 20. Some of the symptoms of this condition include: heavy periods, abdominal pain, increased need to urinate and cramps in the pelvic region.
Women who are experiencing any of those symptoms need to be evaluated by a doctor. It is important to seek treatment early on because if uterine fibroids are left untreated, they can lead to other complications.
Untreated fibroids can lead to severe gynecological bleeding, urinary tract infection, and anemia, just to mention a few. In some cases even infertility can be caused by fibroids, even though this is very uncommon.
Having fibroids during pregnancy may also increase the risk of complications, but this is quite rare. Most women with this condition have normal pregnancies, but they are at increased risk of needing a C-section. However, health experts say that fibroids do not increase a woman's risk of developing uterine cancer and the tumors very rarely develop into cancer.
A doctor can perform various tests which may include: a pregnancy test and checking for ovarian tumors and inflammation in the pelvic region. Once a doctor has confirmed that a woman is suffering from fibroids, he or she has a variety of treatment options available. Some of those options include: birth control pills, an IUD, GNRH agonists and surgery to remove the uterus.
If a woman experience pain and cramps due to fibroids, birth control pills can relieve these symptoms. They can also help if a woman's periods are unusually heavy. IUD (intrauterine device) can also be helpful by easing the pain and reducing menstrual bleeding of the patient.
A doctor may also prescribe a medication that is in the class of GNRH agonists. They help shrink the fibroids and reduce the pain, swelling and inflammation that they cause.
More radical option is hysterectomy. This procedure removes the whole uterus. Hysterectomy is the only operation that surely prevents the fibroids coming back. However, after hysterectomy a woman is not able to have babies anymore. Also, there are always some risks involved when it comes to surgery. That is why this operation should always be the last option.
There are also many natural remedies for uterine fibroids to get relief from the symptoms. Many women who have uterine fibroids are able to live normal lives with the right treatments. Doctors are not sure about what exactly causes this condition, so there is no sure-fire way to prevent it.
About the Author
There are many different uterine fibroids treatment options available for those women who suffer from the condition. Visit http://www.PCOSandFibroids.com to find some natural remedies for fibroids.
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