Approaches to Managing Uterine Fibroid

Fibroid has become a very common condition in women, we hear stories of fibroid all the time and it has become more common at this time than it used to be before now. During the early pregnancy stage, some patients get diagnosed with conditions that may result in some concerns during the next months of being pregnant.

wikimedia

High blood pressure and diabetes happen to be some of the most common conditions that come with pregnancy, expectant mum also experience uterine fibroid which are noncancerous tissue growths in the uterus. Based on estimation, 40-60% of women have fibroid at the age of 35, and up to 80% get fibroid by age 50.

Fibroid grows during pregnancy, the growth can be fueled by the extra progesterone and estrogen produced in pregnancy, During the first trimester, the mother may experience bleeding and pain, and miscarriage is also a strong possibility at this early stage especially if the fibroid is large or in it's multiple's.

During the second trimester, the uterus expands, giving more room for the baby to grow. At this point, it could push against the fibroid, creating pain, which happens to be the most common symptom of fibroids, especially if it is large. In some situations, the fibroid outgrows its supply of blood, turns red, and dies eventually. This process is called red degeneration, and it may cause serious stomach pain. Sometimes, it may cause miscarriage.

flickr

Pregnant women who have fibroid have also been found to have a higher chance of experiencing placental abruption compared with other pregnant women who do not have fibroid. Placenta abruption means the placenta has torn away from the uterine wall before the baby is delivered, it is a serious case because it means the baby will not get sufficient oxygen, heavy bleeding will be experienced, and the mother may also go into shock.

Fibroid is a strong leading cause of preterm delivery. After the three trimesters have been passed successfully, a cesarean section is most likely going to be the delivery option, this is because the fibroids can prevent the uterus from contracting, and it will block the birth canal, slowing down the labor process. Having the baby in a breech position is also very likely with the presence of fibroid. A lot of people with fibroid usually talk about how it shrinks after pregnancy.

Most times, a pregnant woman who has fibroid may have to remain in the hospital for some time so doctors may watch over both mother and child, and help the mother handle bleeding, pain, and threatened preterm labor. So many women are usually scared about how fibroid can reduce fertility and it can in some of these ways, by changing the shape of the uterus and decreasing the number of places that an embryo can implant successfully when uterine fibroid blocks the Fallopian tubes, it could make the journey of a fertilized egg to implantation difficult or impossible.

The removal of fibroid in a woman who is not pregnant has been proven to be safe generally, after pregnancy, patients are advised to wait for at least 6 months before engaging in the removal procedure. Treatment options could be in the form of medications that can help manage symptoms or shrink fibroid.

Myomectomy is another treatment option which is a surgical procedure where fibroid are removed and the uterus is reconstructed. Myomectomy is advisable for women who plan to get pregnant in the future. Uterine fibroid embolization is a procedure aimed at starving fibroid of blood and making them shrink to a reasonable extent over time. Hysterectomy can be carried out on women who do not desire to have a child later in the future.