• Uterine Fibroids Uterine Fibroids
  • Abnormal Pap Smears Abnormal Pap Smears
  • Fertility Management Fertility Management
  • Hysterectomy Hysterectomy
  • Laparoscopy Laparoscopy
  • Abdominal Utrasound Abdominal Utrasound
  • Hysteroscopy Hysteroscopy
  • Endometrial Ablation Endometrial Ablation
  • Tubal Ligation Tubal Ligation
  • Menopausal Care Menopausal Care
  • Menstrual Disorders Menstrual Disorders
  • Pregnancy Scans Pregnancy Scans
  • Childbirth Childbirth
  • Prenatal Care Prenatal Care
  • Recurrent Miscarriage Recurrent Miscarriage
  • Prenatal Emergencies Prenatal Emergencies

Management and Treatment of Uterine Fibroids

Although most uterine fibroids are considered to be harmless, a few are still known to be painful. In these cases, the proper management and treatment of uterine fibroids often become challenging, but necessary.


Uterine fibroids refer to growths that are found on the uterus. Dr Kwabena Essel, an obstetrician and gynaecologist in the East Rand, South Africa, believes that there are a few important points for the management and treatment of uterine fibroids.


Uterine fibroids occur from a stem cell in the smooth muscular tissue of the uterus, called the myometrium. The growth patterns of the uterine fibroids range from growing slowly or growing rapidly, or they just remain the same size. Some fibroids go through growth sprouts whilst some may shrink on their own. Uterine fibroids that are present during pregnancy shrink or disappear after giving birth, as the uterus goes back to its normal size.


Dr Essel will develop a treatment plan according to your age, the size of the uterine fibroid and your overall health. You may also receive a combination of treatments such as medication and surgical procedures.


The type of medication you may receive include:

  • Androgens
    These are commonly called 'male hormones' and are able to alleviate the symptoms of uterine fibroids.
  • Oral Contraceptives
    These could help in the control of bleeding associated with fibroids. But, this will not reduce the size of the uterine fibroids.
  • Gn-RH Agonists
    These would act at the same sites that are acted upon by Gn-RH.

There are a number of surgical procedure that can be used to remove uterine fibroids, from options such as destroying the uterine fibroids without doing it through surgery, to removing the uterine fibroids using surgery and incisions.


The different surgical procedures include:

  • Hysterectomy
    This is the procedure done for removing the uterus through surgery. This can be trans-abdominal, transvaginal and laparoscopic. This is considered as the definitive treatment for females who don't wish to maintain their fertility.
  • Myolysis
    This is the in-situ demolition of uterine fibroid tumours by using heat, laser or cryotherapy. The advantage of this procedure includes the ease and speed of the treatment
  • Uterine Artery Embolization
    This is an interventional radiologic treatment for uterine fibroids. This is performed to occlude the uterine arteries.

FAQ


Even the tiniest fibroids can cause substantial blood clots and severe bleeding during your period.

Untreated uterine fibroids may have specific potentially serious side effects. Ignoring uterine fibroids can have several negative consequences, including pelvic pain, increased irregular bleeding, and anaemia. Fibroids can also make it difficult to conceive.

If fibroids are making it difficult for you to get pregnant or if you have other symptoms affecting your quality of life and other treatments have failed, you may want to consider surgery. If you wish to have a family, removing just the fibroids may help you become pregnant.