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What are fibroid tumors?
Uterine Fibroid tumors are the most common benign
tumor of the female genital tract. They occur in at least 20% of Caucasian
women over the age of 40 years. Fibroid tumors occur even more frequently,
and often at an earlier age in black women. Fibroids can result in an
increase in uterine size. The presence of uterine fibroids is sometimes
associated with heavy menstrual bleeding, pain, fullness, and pressure.
Uterine fibroids most often cause few or no symptoms.
What are the symptoms most frequently associated with
fibroid tumors?
The symptoms that can be associated with fibroids are: an increase in
menstrual flow (heavy menstrual bleeding and the passing of clots); pain;
and pressure, heaviness and discomfort. Other symptoms associated with
fibroid tumors may include urinary urgency and frequency, constipation and
discomfort during sexual intercourse.
What are the options available for treating
fibroids?
Your gynecologist probably has
discussed many of the treatment options with you. Five of the options are
described below:
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A myomectomy is the surgical removal of the
fibroids but not the uterus. The procedure id often done for women who still
want to have children. A hysterectomy may still be required following a
myomectomy. Regrowth of the fibroids occurs in approximately 50% at five
years.
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A hysterectomy is the complete surgical removal
of the uterus. The woman becomes unable to have children after a
hysterectomy.
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There are several hormonal therapies available.
The hormonal therapy can decrease the symptoms and the tumor size. However,
rapid regrowth of the fibroids usually occurs when the hormone therapy is
stopped.
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Uterine fibroid embolization is the selective
blocking of arteries supplying blood to the fibroids. This procedure has
only been done for fibroids since 1991. At least 14 normal term pregnancies
and births have occurred following uterine artery embolization. However, the
affects of the procedure on the ability to become pregnant and have a normal
pregnancy are not known. Therefore, most physicians recommend against future
pregnancies after the embolization procedure. Having made this statement, a
few women who have been told that they could not become pregnant because of
the fibroids have become pregnant after the embolization
procedure. Therefore, we recommend that you have "protected" sex following
the procedure.
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Do Nothing. You and your doctor decide that
your symptoms are not related to the fibroids or that you can tolerate your
symptoms.
What is Uterine Artery Embolization?
Uterine artery embolization is a
procedure that has been used for approximately 20 years to stop severe
bleeding after a child birth, thereby eliminating the need for a
hysterectomy. Since 1991, physicians in Paris, France have used the uterine
artery embolization procedure to decrease the symptoms associated with
uterine fibroid tumors. The uterine artery embolization involves the
selection of arteries feeding the fibroid with a small tube (catheter) and
then blocking the arteries with tiny particles the size of grains of sand.
Symptoms such as heavy bleeding, pain and discomfort usually improve
following the procedure. About 90% of women who undergo uterine artery
embolization have resolution or enough improvement in their symptoms that
they do not have to undergo a hysterectomy. About 5-10% of patients have
persistent symptoms. Less than 1% of patients have a complication requiring
a hysterectomy. After the embolization procedure, the fibroids decrease in
size by an average of 50-60% and the uterus an average of 40% by 6 months.
Who are candidates for
the procedure?
Patients with fibroids and associated
symptoms are potential candidates for the embolization procedure.
Who are not candidates for the procedure?
Patients with chronic salpingitis or
other chronic pelvic infections are not good candidates for the procedure.
Patients who desire to become pregnant should not currently undergo the
procedure. Patients wishing to preserve their child bearing potential should
consider myomectomy. Patients with a suspected cancerous tumor of the
uterus, cervix, or ovaries should not undergo the procedure until the
concern for cancer has been resolved. Further
information
can be found at
www.ask4ufe.com,
or contact Terri Haviland, RN at 455-5488.
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