What Do Fibroids in Menopausal Women Tell Us?

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What Do Fibroids in Menopausal Women Tell Us?
May 13, 2024 by admin

Women often feel scared when they find out that they have fibroids in their uterus. Most uterine fibroids are not cancerous. However, they are classified as tumours. According to researchers, 70 to 80 per cent of women will have fibroids at some point in their lives. Some women may never be aware of uterine fibroids as they may not experience any symptoms. However, they may accidentally come to know about the presence of fibroids while undergoing other procedures. On the other hand, women with uterine fibroids will suffer from abnormal menstrual cycles, pain, and infertility issues. If you are a resident of Chennai and have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, you must consult with the best gynecologist in Chrompet.

Fibroids often develop because of hormone fluctuations during the childbearing years of a woman. Many women experience a decline in fibroid problems after menopause. However, some others may not see a decline in fibroids for various reasons. Menopausal women who are on hormone therapy or continue to have high levels of oestrogen may not experience a reduction in the size of their fibroids. Different treatment methods are available for such patients, but the line of treatment will be decided based on the size of their fibroids and the severity of their symptoms.

Irrespective of the reasons for the development of fibroids, many treatment options are available today. In this post, we will discuss the symptoms of fibroids in menopausal women, the risk factors, and available treatment options.

Symptoms of Fibroids in Menopausal Women:

Irrespective of whether you are young or at the stage of menopause, fibroid symptoms will be the same. The common symptoms include:

  • Abdominal cramping
  • Enlarged Abdomen
  • Low back pain
  • Fatigue
  • Anaemia
  • Pressure or pain in pelvic region
  • Pain on the backside of the legs
  • Pressure on the bowels or bladder, resulting in more frequent bathroom visits

Fibroids can grow in various places – in the lining or the outer layer of the uterus, the muscle layer around it, or float freely on the outside of the uterus which is connected by a stem and resembles a stalk. Fibroids are made up of fibrous tissues and muscles which vary in size. The fibroids’ size depends on the body’s oestrogen hormone levels and the rate of their growth. This is because its growth is triggered by oestrogen. Most fibroids shrink after menopause when the oestrogen levels decline. However, this may not be the case for some women.

Risk Factors:

If you ask the gynecologist specialist in Chennai, he/she will be able to give you all the details you want. In general, the factors that increase the development of fibroids during and after menopause include:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Obesity
  • Vitamin D deficiency
  • High-stress levels
  • History of fibroids in the family
  • No history of pregnancy

Treatment:

When it comes to fibroids, the doctor will decide a complete treatment plan based on your condition. Treatments for fibroids often range from a “wait and see” approach if you don’t have any symptoms to a hysterectomy (complete uterus removal) and have severe symptoms. Some of the factors that your gynaecologist will take into consideration for treatment include the following:

  • Size of your fibroids
  • Location of the fibroids
  • Your age
  • Symptoms are experiencing

Unless you are experiencing symptoms and the fibroids are very large, you do not normally need any treatment after menopause.

“Wait and See” Treatment:

Many women do not need any kind of treatment for fibroids as they tend to shrink and often go away after they attain menopause. However, it is very important to visit your gynaecologist and undergo regular check-ups to find out if they have grown in size.

Medication:

If you have fibroids and are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms, your doctor may recommend certain medications such as:

  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs (ibuprofen or acetaminophen) relieve pain and minimize the symptoms associated with fibroids.
  • Iron supplements – If you are experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding. Iron supplementation helps prevent anaemia caused by excess blood loss.
  • Low doses of birth control tablets and progesterone-only contraceptives to control your heavy bleeding.
  • Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists like Lupron help shrink fibroids and make them easier to remove if it is possible to perform surgery in your case. However, Lupron is known to cause severe side effects, such as bone loss. Therefore, it is generally prescribed only for a period of fewer than six months.

Surgery:

If you have large fibroids or severe symptoms, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Hysterectomy:

Hysterectomy, a surgical treatment for severe cases of uterine fibroids, involves the removal of your uterus. If you are in menopause or about to go into menopause, your surgeon may remove your ovaries as well. A hysterectomy will completely relieve your symptoms of uterine fibroids. That’s why it’s a good option if you have severe symptoms and you do not want to have or already have children. A hysterectomy is performed surgically or through laparoscopy, a method of minimally invasive surgery.

Endometrial ablation:

In this type of treatment, the lining of your uterus is removed in order to control your symptoms. You will not be able to become pregnant after an endometrial ablation procedure. This means that this treatment is best suited for postmenopausal women.

Myolysis:

This is a procedure wherein your doctor will insert a needle into the fibroids and destroy the tissues by passing either a freezing mechanism or an electric current through the needle.

Uterine artery embolization:

If you have severe symptoms but do not wish to undergo a hysterectomy, you may be an ideal candidate for uterine artery embolization. In this procedure, your doctor will block the blood vessels that supply blood to your fibroids. This causes your fibroids to shrink. However, it also prevents you from becoming pregnant later on.

Myomectomy:

Myomectomy is a surgical procedure wherein the fibroids are removed, but the uterus is left untouched. This surgery is best suited if you want to have children later on in life. Generally, doctors will not recommend this procedure if you are already at the stage of menopause. In the case of a normal abdominal myomectomy, your surgeon will make a large incision in the lower part of your abdomen, remove the fibroids, and then close the wound. If you opt for a laparoscopic myomectomy, your surgeon will make four small incisions for inserting the medical instruments and removing the fibroids.

Sugam Hospital:

Sugam Hospital is one of the best hospitals with a blood bank in Chennai and offers both surgical and laparoscopic treatments. We have a team of qualified gynaecologists and laparoscopic surgeons who are also highly trained and experienced in performing various surgeries. We have an operation theatre complex comprising three state-of-the-art operation theatres, including an emergency operation theatre. All the operation theatres are well equipped with the most modern lighting and anaesthesia equipment. The theatres, equipped with heap filters and laminar airflow systems, are all subjected to continuous microbiological surveillance in order to maintain a very high standard of sterility. Besides, we have one of the top diagnostic labs in Chennai at the hospital, and it functions round the clock.