By TOM JOSEPH, M.D.
For most women, monthly menstruation becomes a regular part of life by the late teens, but not every woman experiences the same symptoms — or at the same severity.
While the variance in symptoms has a variety of causes, one symptom in particular may be caused by an underlying condition that is generally treatable with a straightforward and safe procedure.
Uterine fibroids develop in half of all women by age 50, but they are common at younger ages as well, particularly by the mid-30s. Many women, though, are not familiar with their symptoms, which include heavy and painful menstruation, a frequent need or urgency to urinate, lower-back pain and even fertility problems.
A uterine fibroid is an irregular growth of tissue that develops from the uterine wall. they are almost entirely non-cancerous — only 1 in 1,000 will develop into cancer — and can vary in size. Smaller fibroids can cause no symptoms and go entirely unnoticed, but larger fibroids can cause severe symptoms and require treatment.
Discovering and treating fibroids
Without the presence of related symptoms, uterine fibroids will usually go unnoticed without consequence. when patients experience symptoms, though, your doctor may order an ultrasound or MRI to pinpoint the size, placement and number of fibroids.
In the past, hysterectomy — the surgical removal of the uterus — was the treatment of choice for patients with problem-causing uterine fibroids. Today, however, several less-invasive options are available; and, for some patients, it is even possible to have a normal pregnancy and delivery after treatment.
One of the newest treatment options, called uterine fibroid embolization, helps shrink fibroids by cutting off their blood supply without affecting the surrounding tissue.
The treatment requires a single 6mm incision and has a low risk of complication and comparatively short recovery time. in fact, most women are able to go home the same day.
Other treatment options include medications, varying surgical options (including hysterectomy), and a procedure called ablation — which uses high-frequency sound waves to destroy the fibroid tissue. Medications, however, only offer temporary relief from symptoms.
If your physician diagnoses you with uterine fibroids, the treatment options he or she offers will depend on your specific case, but most women can choose from a variety of treatments. Fortunately, fibroids generally grow slowly. however, treatment shouldn’t be avoided or put off.
Dr. Tom Joseph is an interventional radiologist specially trained in uterine fibroid embolization. He is affiliated with Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley.