Uterine fibroids affect 3 out of 4 women (Mayo Clinic, 2014). They are non-cancerous but they can cause pain and discomfort. This paper will discuss who can be effected by Uterine fibroids and its effects on the female reproductive system. This paper will show the three types of fibroids that develop in or near the uterus. It will discuss the symptoms and when a diagnosis is needed. This paper will also look into the various forms of treatment including medications and surgery. Uterine Fibroids
Uterine Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develops in the myometrium layer of the uterus. A single cell divides repeatedly, eventually creating a firm, rubbery mass distinct from nearby tissue (EA, 2013). There are different types of growth patterns to uterine fibroids. Sometimes they are small and in some cases they are extremely large. Woman between the ages of 30-and 40 years old are more at risk of developing uterine fibroids. They develop mostly in the child bearing years of a woman’s life. African American women have a greater risk of developing uterine fibroids at a younger age than any other race. Uterine fibroids are also called leiomyomas or myomas. Uterine Fibroids can develop on the inside or outside of the uterus.
There are three different types of Uterine fibroids. One type is Submucosal fibroids. This type of fibroid grows into the inner cavity of the uterus. These are more likely to cause heavy menstrual bleeding and can have an effect on pregnancy (Mayo
In endometriosis, this endometrial tissue begins to grow in places outside the uterus. Typical sites include the fallopian tubes, intestines, vagina, and on scars that my form after abdominal surgery. The misplaced endometrial tissue thickens, engorges with blood and bleeds during the menstrual cycle, just like the normal tissue in the uterus. However, there is no place for the abnormally placed endometrial tissue outside the uterus to shed blood. This results in the formation of cysts, scars, and adhesions. This process can also block or affect the fallopian tubes so that conception and pregnancy are less likely to happen. It can also result in complete infertility. Other symptoms of endometriosis are often associated with heavy or painful periods. Risk factors for the development of endometriosis include having a mother or sister with the disorder, never having children, starting the menstrual period at an early age, and frequent or long periods. According to Dr. Camron Nezhat, Laparoscopic Surgeon at Stanford University, 5.5% of women in the U.S are infected with Endometriosis and 30% to 40% are infertile as a result of it.
Fibroids are becoming more and more common in women in the United States. It is estimated that 171 million women in the U.S. were affected by this condition in 2013(6). About 20% to 80% of women develop fibroids by age 50 (6). As many as three out of four women may have uterine fibroids in her lifetime (4). Fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyoma, are benign tumors that can be found in women of childbearing age due to its dependence on estrogen and progesterone (7). They are made of muscle cells and other tissues that can grow around or in the uterus or womb. With fibroids, a single cell divides repeatedly, eventually creating a firm, rubbery mass distinct from nearby tissue (2). Some fibroids even go through growth spurts where they grow and shrink on their by itself. There are women with fibroids who have no symptoms at all. If they do, it may consist of heavy or painful periods, frequent
Uterine leiomyoma also known as uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors in women during childbearing age. The tumors come from smooth muscle cells of the myometrium within the uterus that changes in size and cellular properties during the reproductive years of a woman. The change in size and cellular property with hypertrophy of the smooth muscle cells normally happen during pregnancy and also occur with uterine fibroids. The development of the tumors is dependent upon estrogen and progesterone and interaction with growth factors, cytokines and extracellular matrix components (Taylor, Holthouser,
The most common symptoms of endometriosis include a history of painful periods not relieved by oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS).
Uterine fibroids are very common, causing symptoms in about 25 percent of women. Fibroids are benign, or noncancerous, tumors that grow in the walls of the uterus. It's not understood why fibroids develop, but scientists and doctors believe that genetics may play a role.
The symptoms of endometriosis affect the women who suffer them in different ways. Most women notice an increase in symptoms as their menstrual period approaches and begins. In rarer cases the symptoms persist throughout the month. The discomfort and pain is normally localized in the pelvic, abdominal or lower back regions. The severity of the pain caused varies from woman to woman. Endometriosis can also cause heavy menstruation and in severe cases infertility.
Endometriosis is a painful disorder under which the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus starts growing outside the uterus. Endometriosis commonly involves ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue that linesthe pelvis.
Some of the risk factors associated with uterine fibroids are African American women, obesity, and socioeconomic status (SES) and health access (National Institute Health, 2015).
Women are mostly affected during the reproductive age about 2% to 22%, and 2% to 4% during menopausal age. The ectopic endometrial cells can be implanted in the abdominal or pelvic cavity, namely ovaries, uterine ligament, rectovaginal septum, and pelvic peritoneum. This abnormal cells goes through the process of proliferation, break down and sloughs off during normal menstrual periods. Inflammation and pain noted during the proliferation process cause fibrosis, scarring, and adhesion from the inflammatory process (Huether & McCance, 2012).
Scarring can be to blame. The great news is that medical treatments might help someone overcome fertility, and pregnancy itself may relieve some signs of endometriosis. Can it be fibroids? Endometriosis is one reason for severe pain. The pain may be due to another condition, such as fibroids, which can be growths of the muscular tissue of the uterus. Fibroids can cause bleeding and cramps. The pain of fibroids or endometriosis may flare up at times of the
Endometriosis affects 10% of reproductive-age women (Yale School of Medicine). It affects nearly 176 million women, ranging from 15-49, all over the world (World Endometriosis, 2011). “Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus (endometrial implant) (Mayo Clinic, 2013)” It most commonly involves your ovaries and the lining of the pelvis, but in extreme cases can spread to other parts of the body. The displaced tissue continues to act like it normally would in the uterus, thickening and breaking down with each menstrual cycle. Since the displaced tissue has nowhere to go, it becomes trapped with no way to get out (Mayo Clinic, 2013).
Uterine fibroids and hysterectomies are a hotly debated topic. What most agree upon if a woman with tumors is contemplating this surgical procedure is that she should make an informed decision after reviewing various alternatives including fibroid natural treatment options. Unless a woman 's life is in danger, hysterectomies should never be the first option. All other options should be considered first.
Uterine fibroids have an impact on loads of women who in most cases are of childbearing age and seldom show any malignant qualities. Fibroid growths are often identified inside the smooth muscles located in the uterine wall and can advance as an individual fibroid growth or as a group of fibroid tumors in or glued to the wall of the uterus.
Endometrial cancer is one of the most common forms of gynaecological cancer in the developed countries, and is the sixth most common cancer in the women.12 Endometrial cancer appears most frequently during perimenopause (between the ages of 50 and 65;13overall, 75% of endometrial cancer occurs after menopause.14 Women younger than 40 make up 5% of endometrial cancer cases and 10–15% of cases occur in women under 50 years of age. The prognosis is generally good, as the cancer is often diagnosed while the tumour is confined to the uterine corpus. The five-year survival rate for endometrial adenocarcinoma following appropriate treatment is 80%.15 Early diagnosis and treatment are important because the 5-year survival of patients varies from 90% to 100% in patients with little or no myometrial involvement, to 40% to 60% in patients with deep myometrial invasion.6
Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue, normally located inside the uterus, lines the outside. The condition most commonly affects the ovaries and peritoneum, and affects approximately 10% of women in the United States (Barnhart et. el. 2002). The misplaced endometrial tissue continues to act as it would in the usual situation; the tissue thickens, breaks down, and bleeds with the menstrual cycle. Since there is no exit path for the tissue to leave the body, the tissue becomes trapped inside the abdomen, causing severe pain (Mayo Clinic, 2013).