Benign Tumour of Uterus
Uterine fibroids are common non-cancerous tumours of women. About one half of Black women and one fourth of White women eventually develop fibroids that cause symptoms.
Symptoms:
No symptoms or…
Abnormal uterine bleeding
Pressure or pain in the pelvis
Sometimes constipation
An urge to urinate frequently
Infertility
Pregnancy complications such as: Miscarriage, pre term (early) labour, abnormal positioning (presentation) of the baby before delivery, excessive blood loss after delivery (postpartum haemorrhage)
Diagnosis:
You may need one or combinations of the following investigations
Physical examination
Ultra sound scan
MRI pelvis
Blood test to check anaemia
If you have abnormal bleeding, such as very heavy or prolonged menstrual periods or bleeding between periods, you may need the following:
A biopsy of the uterine lining (endometrial biopsy)
Hysteroscopy
Treatment
Medications used to treat fibroids may be hormonal or non-hormonal.
Hysterectomy: The uterus is removed. Hysterectomy is done only for women who do not wish to become pregnant.
Myomectomy: Only the fibroid or fibroids are removed. However, after myomectomy, new fibroids may grow, and about 25% of women have a hysterectomy about 4 to 8 years later.
Uterine artery embolization: A thin, flexible tube (catheter) is used to block the small arteries supplying the fibroid. As a result, the fibroid dies, then shrinks. Most of the rest of the uterus appears to be unaffected.