Uterine fibroids
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids (pronounced: yoo-ter-in fahy-broidz), also known as leiomyomas (pronounced: lay-oh-my-oh-muhs) or myomas (pronounced: my-oh-muhs), are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. The etymology of the term "fibroid" comes from the Latin word "fibra" meaning fiber and the Greek suffix "-oid" meaning likeness.
Causes
The exact cause of uterine fibroids is unknown, but they tend to develop from the smooth muscular tissue of the uterus (myometrium). Each fibroid starts from a single muscle cell that continuously divides until it forms a firm, rubbery mass.
Symptoms
Many women with uterine fibroids have no symptoms. However, when symptoms do occur, they may include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual periods, pelvic pressure or pain, frequent urination, difficulty emptying the bladder, constipation, and backache or leg pains.
Diagnosis
Uterine fibroids are often found incidentally during a routine pelvic exam. Imaging tests such as ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and hysterosonography may be used to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Treatment for uterine fibroids depends on the individual's symptoms, the fibroid's size and location, and whether the person is pregnant or plans to become pregnant in the future. Options may include watchful waiting, medication, noninvasive procedures, minimally invasive procedures, or traditional surgeries such as hysterectomy or myomectomy.
Related Terms
- Myometrium: The middle layer of the uterine wall, consisting of smooth muscle cells and connective tissue.
- Hysterectomy: A surgical operation to remove all or part of the uterus.
- Myomectomy: A surgical procedure to remove fibroids without taking out the healthy tissue of the uterus.
- Hysterosonography: A type of ultrasound that uses sterile saline to expand the uterine cavity, making it easier to get images of the uterus and the endometrium.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Uterine fibroids
- Wikipedia's article - Uterine fibroids
This WikiMD article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski