Healthy Habits: Fibroids and Pregnancy

Did you know that 40% of women are affected by fibroids? Fibroid tumors are benign (non-cancerous) growths that appear on the muscular wall of the uterus and are the most common tumors of the female genital tract. Fibroids can cause the uterus to change shape, which can decrease fertility. Fibroids can lead to problems with fertility and sometimes may lead to miscarriage. Traditional treatments of hysterectomy and myomectomy procedures destroy a woman’s fertility.

I had a chance to email Dr. McLucas, who has pioneered a non-surgical treatment to provide relief from fibroids. For more information you can visit fibroids.com, where you can even see the procedure performed in a brief video.

1)    What exactly are fibroids, and what causes them?

Fibroids are  benign growths within the uterus [or the womb, the part of the woman’s anatomy which holds a pregnancy]. They are the most common benign tumors in men and women. Fibroids affect 40-50% of women over the age of 40, and are the cause of approximately 280,000 hysterectomies performed annually in the United States. In addition, about 250,000 myomectomies [removal of fibroids, leaving the uterus intact]. The cost of these surgeries, including the procedure cost, time off work, and subsequent surgeries needed is estimated to be about 20 billion dollars each year. The cause of fibroids is not known, but they under the influence of estrogen.

2)    How might a woman find out she has fibroids?

Common symptoms of fibroids are heavy vaginal bleeding, pain in the pelvic area, and pressure on the back and bladder. Pain may be constant, of accompanying sex, or menstrual periods. The uterus is normally the size of your fist, but when it enlarges to the size of a cantaloupe, pain and pressure are also regular complaints. These symptoms may also be caused by other diseases, some cancers included. It is important to see your health provider as soon as you notice any of them.

3)    How does embolization work?

Fibroid embolization  [UAE] s a procedure performed through the arteries supplying the fibroids. Under direct vision, the uterine arteries are identified. Next, small particles, the size of grains of sand are injected into the artery. The body forms a clot around the particles, and the blood supply to the fibroids is blocked. Without the oxygen carried in the blood cells, the fibroids wither and atrophy over a period of six months. Once the fibroids shrink, they never recur-this is a huge advantage of myomectomy, where recurrence rates of 50% are common.

 

4)    How successful is the procedure?

UAE relieves symptoms 90% of the time. Permanently, without the risk of major surgery. No blood loss, no scar tissue formation, no recurrence. Moveover, UAE is an out patient procedure, unlike major surgery with its 4 day hospital stay. Women are back with their families in a few hours, and back to work in a week.

5)    How can a woman find a doctor able to perform this procedure?

Women can contact their local hospital to find out who performs UAE. Another source of information is our web site, fibroids.com. The Fibroid Treatment Collective is the only group in the US who have a gynecologist qualified to perform UAE.