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Hysterectomy Fibroids

Each year hundreds of thousands of women have hysterectomies to remove fibroids and eliminate the problems that accompany them; however, this radical surgical solution has come under increased scrutiny and even criticism by people both inside and outside of the medical community. Any woman who has been diagnosed with fibroids and told that hysterectomy is the only option might want to consider receiving a second opinion. It is important though when fibroids are present to remain under a doctor’s care and to keep careful watch on the situation. Issues of reproductive health should never be taken lightly or put off for any serious amount of time.

Fibroids of the uterus are made of smooth muscle and connective tissue. They are non-cancerous and may grow in any layer of the uterus. Fibroids may weigh only a few ounces although in some rare cases they tip the scale at twenty pounds or more. Although not malignant, uterine fibroids can cause life threatening events such as uncontrolled bleeding. Incontinence may also be a side effect of untreated fibroids. Large fibroids may even cause severe pain and inhibit sexual activity. Eventually fibroids may also lead to infertility.

Once a woman has been told she has uterine fibroids there are many types of therapy which can be used. Since the growth of fibroids is thought to be fueled by estrogen, doctors may sometimes prescribe birth control pills. In women who are approaching the age of menopause, some doctors suggest doing nothing at all. At the onset of the change of life many fibroids will stop growing and shrink. Some may disappear altogether. For younger women who want to preserve their ability to carry a child there are surgical procedures short of performing a hysterectomy.

The most common non-radical operation to eradicate fibroids is removing just the fibroids and then rehabilitating the uterus; this method is called a myomectomy. Quite often a doctor is able to perform this operation with a laparoscope (a small slender optical tube which is used to view the uterus). A laparoscopic myomectomy is minimally invasive and leaves little scarring. Inserting a needle into the fibroid and its blood supply (myoma coagulation) has also been used with some success. Recently a new procedure has appeared whereby the fibroid is deprived of blood flow (fibroid embolization) which causes it to gradually shrink.

Unfortunately, all of these options share the same disadvantage. In many cases fibroids reappear. Continually trying to eradicate them through methods like myomectomy will after a time damage the uterus itself. The damage can be so severe that the organ is no longer viable and must be removed. While this is not always the case, it does happen in a large number of instances. Many younger women choose to delay a fibroid related hysterectomy as long as possible. Sometimes in putting off the operation the fibroids cease to return. Since the underlying condition is not life threatening, many doctors are happy to work with a woman who seeks non-radical alternatives to treat her fibroids.

Hysterectomy is a life changing operation. Although not all hysterectomies cause menopause to begin, there is always that chance. Therefore, women who have non life-threatening aliments like fibroids may choose to investigate several other ways to deal with the problem. It is imperative though that any woman who has fibroids be constantly on the look out for signs that the original problem may have developed a more threatening nature.

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