by Bobbi Hunter

Created on: April 23, 2008   Last Updated: May 14, 2008

Fibroid tumors are most often found in the uterus of women in between the ages of 35 to 45 years. They are typically benign and occasionally develop in other organs that contain soft muscle cells. They rarely occur before puberty and usually stop growing and may disappear completely after menopause.

Most Common Symptoms

Extremely heavy menstrual bleeding
Extreme fatigue

Pain located in the back of your legs
Pressure or pain in pelvis
Pain while having sex
A feeling of pressure on bowel
Enlarged abdomen
Rapid growth should sound an alarm!

Types of Fibroid Tumors

Interligamentous Fibroid is difficult to remove due to the possibility of messing with the blood supply or other organs. It grows sideways in between the layers of ligaments that support the uterus.

Parasitic Fibroid is the rarest and most dangerous fibroid. It appends itself to other organs.

Intramural Fibroid is usually found in the uterine wall, is round, and can cause enlargement of the uterus during its growth.

Submucous Fibroid is one of the most common. It can cause menstrual issues due to its growing below the lining of the uterus.

Subserous Fibroid has no symptoms until it grows so large it invades other organs. It grows on the outer wall of the uterus.

Pedunculated Fibroid begins when a subserous fibroid grows a stalk (peduncle). When they become larger, they can become twisted with severe pain.

Fibroid tumors vary in sizes. Some are so small they can only be seen by a microscope and others have been known to weigh as much as 50 pounds. The heaviest fibroid ever recorded being 140 pounds.

Treatment Options

The most common option is surgery. Surgery is usually only performed when the tumors cause severe problems. There are two forms of surgery to choose from hysterectomy or myomectomy.
A myomectomy is the procedure of choice for women still wanting to get pregnant. In some cases, the fibroid tumor itself can be hindering pregnancy. It just removes the fibroids while leaving the uterus intact.

A total hysterectomy removes all of the uterus and the cervix. A subtotal hysterectomy leaves the cervix intact. The down falls of having a hysterectomy is the recovery time, usually a few weeks or more and you will not be able to have children. The upside, at least in my opinion, is you will no longer have periods.

Physicians are beginning to prescribe birth control pills to control the bleeding associated with fibroids. Although, with taking birth control pills there are potential side effects, such as high blood pressure, liver disease, and heart disease.

GnRH Agonists can be prescribed as the first treatment option in controlling fibroid symptoms. It is used to decrease the production of estrogen in the ovaries, which may reduce the size of the fibroid.

Artery embolization, also known as uterine fibroid embolization, is a procedure that uses a catheter to distribute Embosphere Micropheres, which prevent blood supply to the fibroid. Benefits may include preserving the uterus, decrease in menstruation, decrease in urinary dysfunction, less pelvic pain, covered by most insurance, and outpatient procedure. 96% of patients have said that they are pleased with the result.

Information and Resources

http://ask4ufe.com. Ask for a physician near you. 1-877-Ask4UFE.
Advanced Women's Health, located at 661 East Altamonte Drive, Suite 318, Altamonte Springs, Florida 32701. 404-834-8111.
Mid-Florida Ob-Gyn, located at 1403 Medical Plaza Drive, Suite 102, Sanford, Florida 32771. 407-322-5313.

Learn more about this author, Bobbi Hunter.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.