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Fibroid Tumor Facts and Standard Medicine Solutions
Fibroid Tumors causes?
How common is it?
What are symptoms?
How is it diagnosed?
Can it cause infertility?
Can it be treated without surgery?
Can this disease reoccur?
Also known as leiomyomas, myomas or fibroids, these tumors are by far the most common benign uterine tumor. They are usually diagnosed upon examination. They may be subserosal, intramucosal, or submucosal in location. They can occur as a single tumor but often are multiple; their consistency ranges from hard and stoney to soft and rubbery.
The first thing you have to know about fibroids is that they are almost always benign. It is extremely rare that uterine fibroid tumors are cancerous.
In a study cited by the ACOG, sarcomas or cancer is present in only about .002 to .003 percent of cases of leiomyomas. Leiomyomas that are cancerous are called leiomyosarcomas.
Approximately 25 to 50 % of all women have fibroids. This figure may even run higher than that- up to 70%. Fibroids are the most common indication for hysterectomy in the United States. But most women with fibroids need no surgery at all, and those who do require surgery certainly do not need hysterectomies.
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What causes Fibroid Tumors?
The cause of fibroids is unknown. There is evidence of increased incidence within families. Hormonal influence is significant, particularly estrogen, which stimulates fibroid growth. Uterine fibroid tumors or leiomyomas are estrogen independent - they thrive on estrogen. Fibroids have the potential to enlarge during pregnancy, as well as to regress after menopause.
The Different Kinds of Fibroids
Types of Fibroid Tumors
Submucous Fibroids
These fibroids occur just below the lining of the uterus and can cause menstrual problems, including pain as they grow and move around the pelvic area.
Intramural Fibroids
A round fibroid most often within the uterine wall which can cause enlargement of the uterus as they grow.
Subserous Fibroids
This fibroid grows on the outer wall of the uterus and usually causes no symptoms until it grows large enough to interfere with other organs.
Pedunculated Fibroids
These fibroids develop when a subserous fibroid grows a peduncle (stalk), as they grow larger they may become twisted and cause severe pain.
Interligamentous Fibroid
A fibroid which grows sideways between the ligaments which support the uterus in the abdominal region. This type of fibroid is especially difficult to remove without the possibility of interfering with the blood supply or other organs.
Parasitic Fibroid
The rarest form of fibroid tumor occurs when a fibroid attaches itself to another organ.
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How common are Fibroid Tumors?
Fibroids are the most common gynecological tumor in women. Clinical studies show that 20-25% of women of reproductive age have fibroids. Post-mortem studies show the incidence in all women is as high as 75%. Although these tumors are for the most part benign, there can be a malignancy rate of 0.1-0.2%. Studies show that these benign tumors (also known as fibroids, leiomyomas, fibromas or myomas) are 4-6 times more common in African American women that in Caucasian women, which suggests a possible genetic predisposition.
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What are the symptoms of Fibroid Tumors?
Symptoms vary greatly. Some women are fortunate enough to be completely asymptomatic, but their fibroids are usually insignificant in size. Most women experience at least one of the following complaints or side effects:
- Pelvic Pain
- Increased menstrual cramps
- Increased menstrual flow
- Clots
- Irregular or painful periods
- Increased urinary frequency
- Constipation
- Bloating
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How are Fibroid Tumors diagnosed?
Fibroids are frequently diagnosed when an enlarged, irregularly shaped uterus is identified during a pelvic exam. This is confirmed most commonly by ultrasound and less frequently by CT scan.
Diagnosis of Fibroid Tumors
Diagnosis of fibroids is generally made by your physician during your annual gynecological exam when your physician feels a mass, they often are found when your physician is looking for something else or may never be discovered if you do not experience symptoms. However larger fibroids may make examination of your ovaries impossible if they grow near your ovaries.
An ultrasound scan is often ordered when such masses are felt by your physician to determine the cause of the mass, however some fibroids appear on sonograms as ovarian tumors and surgery is the only way an accurate diagnosis can be made.
Although most fibroids cause no symptoms, the estimated 25 percent of women who do have symptoms may have abnormal bleeding, pain during menstruation, and as the fibroid tumors grow larger, women will often experience a swollen abdomen.
Larger fibroids may cause frequent urination or an inability to control your bladder, either the ability to control the urge or in severe cases, a women may find that she is unable to urinate at all. If a fibroid extends towards a woman's back it may push on the bowels, causing constipation and a backache.
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Can Fibroid Tumors cause infertility?
3-12% of fibroids are attributed as the primary cause of infertility. Complications or loss of pregnancy can occur in women with fibroids, although most afflicted women have uncomplicated pregnancies and delivery. Fibroid tumors can block the fallopian tubes, which can lead to primary infertility. However, studies support the fact that if conception is successful, only 10-15% of women will have complications during pregnancy.
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Can Fibroid Tumors be treated without surgery?
There is no way to completely remove fibroids successfully without surgery. We know that menopause has an effect on fibroids by decreasing their size, but the fibroids never completely disappear.
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Can Fibroid Tumors reoccur?
As noted in multiple sections in this Website, recurrence rates in traditional myomectomy patients range from 12-64%. With FAS, we are reporting a 1-3% recurrence rate. Age plays an important role because the closer the patient is to menopause the lower her rate of recurrence. Reduced estrogen levels in post-menopausal women have a negative effect on future fibroid growth.
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How can Female Alternative Surgery help?
Traditional gynecological treatment follows two courses. The first, for small or asymptomatic tumors, is a "wait and see" approach including annual ultrasounds to watch for any changes. The second traditional avenue, usually for larger and more symptomatic disease, is a myomectomy for the superficial tumors and a hysterectomy for the more invasive fibroids. Depending on the philosophy of your gynecologist, the ovaries may or may not be removed
At the Institute for Female Alternative Medicine our approach is much more patient-friendly. Female Alternative Surgery removes fibroid tumors safely and effectively using a multi-laser technique, generally eliminating the need for blood transfusions. Additionally, the endometrial cavity is examined for any and all potential tumors or polyps, something that is not addressed in a traditional myomectomy procedures.
Remember: Every form of treatment should be tried before a hysterectomy is ever considered.
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