Uterine Fibroids
Dr Amita Shah has more than 25 years of experience in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She has been the head of department at Columbia Asia Hospital, Gurgaon for the last 12 years and now heads the department of obstetrics and gynaecology at Apollo Cradle Hospital, Sector-14 and Miracles Mediclinic, Sector-56, Gurgaon.
Uterus is one of the most important reproductive organ in a woman’s body. It is the uterus in which the foetus grows. Any abnormal growth of tissues inside or on the surface of the uterus is called fibroid. This abnormal uterine growth can cause severe abdominal pain, heavy bleeding and can diminish your chances of getting pregnant. The best part about uterine fibroids is that they are mostly non cancerous and do not show any symptoms in many females. The fibroids are classified on the basis of their location in the uterus. Uterine Fibroids can run into family but are also caused by excess production of estrogen and progesterone hormones by the ovaries. Obesity is also linked with the fibroids so those with higher body weight have a greater chance of developing the fibroids. Keeping an ideal weight with balanced diet is one of the best ways to reduce chances of getting fibroids. If you are closer to menopause and have no or little symptoms then you can wait for some time as the fibroids tend to disappear after the menopause. The production of hormones on which these fibroids feed, tend to go down with the onset of menopause.
Ultrasound of the lower abdomen is one of the best test to diagnose the fibroids. For further evaluation your doctor or gynaecologist may order an MRI of the Pelvis though the test is significantly more expensive than the ultrasound scan. If the fibroids are not giving you any problem then they can be safely ignored and require no treatment. Though a periodic checkup by your gynaecologist is a good idea for women who know the presence of fibroids in their uterus.
Treatment Options
Since obesity is one of the reasons for the growth of uterine fibroids, as per Dr Amita Shah, gynaecologist in Gurgaon, doing regular exercise like walk and yoga can help. This would not only reduce your body weight but would also help in the management of uterine fibroids. In any case getting fitter is best for your mental and physical health leading to a happier you. Diet has a bigger role in reducing body weight than exercise. Changing your diet to include more of raw vegetables and fruits would go a long way in the treatment of uterine fibroids without resorting to medications. Medicines which control the production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone will also help. However gynaecologist would be able to take a call on the best line of treatment only after proper examination. These medicines would shrink the fibroids as the fibroids feed on these hormones. If you are trying to get pregnant then the fibroids can prevent your from doing so. In such cases your gynaecologist may perform a surgery to remove the fibroids from the uterus. This surgery is known as myomectomy and can be done either through the abdominal route or laparoscopically in Gurgaon.
If you have completed the family and the fibroids are causing significant problems then you can get removal of uterus done with laparoscopic technique. This is done through a surgical procedure called hysterectomy. If the gynaecologist suspects malignancy then radical hysterectomy may be done which involves the removal of the uterus, ovaries and the fallopian tubes. The hysterectomy surgery can be done either through the abdominal route or through the vaginal route and is known as Abdominal Hysterectomy and Vaginal Hysterectomy respectively. Lap Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH) is the most preferred surgery by Dr Amita Shah for this condition at her hospital in Gurgaon. Dr Amita Shah is one of the best exponents of laparoscopic gynae surgeries having being trained extensively in it.
In LAVH surgery the laparoscope entry point is through a small incision on the abdominal wall. However all the organs like the uterus, ovaries and the fallopian tubes are removed through the vagina. This means that the incision on the abdomen is extremely small and does not leave a visible scar.
Best Doctor and Cost
Dr Amita Shah is one of the most experienced laparoscopic gynae surgeon in India. She has been practicing Laparoscopy in Gynae Surgeries for the last 25 years. She has been managing Uterine Fibroids both medically and surgically for several thousand patients.
The cost of diagnosing the disease can be as low as Rs. 1500 for an ultrasound scan and can go up to Rs. 10,000 for an MRI scan and some blood investigations. The cost of treatment would be nil if you opt for a fitter and leaner body through exercise and diet modification. But if this does not help then you may be prescribed some medicines which do not cost a bomb. However if you are planned for myomectomy or hysterectomy surgery then the cost would be in the range of Rs. 80,000 – 1,30,000 depending upon the type and the extent of the surgery. Laparoscopic surgery is any day better than open surgery but is not possible in all the cases. Whether the surgery would be done using a laparoscope is best left to the wisdom of your gynaecologist.
The hospital stay for myomectomy is 1-2 days while it would be 3-4 days for hysterectomy. For laparoscopic surgery the hospital stay would be reduced by atleast one day and the recovery would also be much faster. For women who have completed the family and are closer to menopause or past the menopause, there are no disadvantages of getting hysterectomy done. Infact the chances of getting cancer of the reproductive organs would disappear and is therefore preferred by most of the gynaecologists.
In Laparoscopic Surgery you would be able to fully perform all your routine work after 10 days of the surgery. In open surgery your recovery may be stretched to over a month. If you have been advised to undergo open surgery, you must consult Dr. Amita Shah once to explore the possibility of Laparoscopic Surgery.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Fibroids are non-cancerous growth that develops in and around the uterus. It may develop on the outer surface of the uterus, inside the uterus cavity or on the uterus wall. Having fibroids does not increase the risk of developing cancer. Not all fibroids are cancerous and do not pose the risk of uterine cancer.
It’s only in rare cases that fibroids are diagnosed as cancer.
If you are having fibroids with symptoms then you need to seek medical attention. It is better to consult the doctor and trust the report than relying on personal assumptions.
Not all fibroids are dangerous until they are symptomatic. Only those fibroids are considered dangerous and pose problems like menstrual irregularities, painful periods, infertility, recurrent abortions, compression symptoms like urine disorders, irritable bowel syndrome, and other related conditions.
Neglecting fibroids can be dangerous if they are symptomatic.
Not necessary.
Fibroids are like tumours that develop in the uterus and are very common but not all fibroids are cancerous. Many types of fibroids are asymptomatic and do not require any treatment.
Though uterine fibroids are common in women, the chances of developing cancer are much lower. The estimated risk of developing cancerous fibroid (leiomyosarcoma) is 1 in 1000.
Uterine fibroids are generally non-cancerous and rarely develop into cancer.
It is important to keep a check on certain symptoms that may pose a risk of turning into cancer:
- If the fibroids continue to grow after menopause then it’s a matter of concern as fibroids usually shrink postmenopausal phase.
- If there is unusual bleeding after menopause in women, it is advised to consult the doctor immediately.
- Sudden rapid increase in size of fibroids can suggest cancerous development
- Severe pelvic pain and unexpected weight loss are also conditions that cannot be ignored and require medical attention.
Spontaneous rupture of fibroids is rare, but certain conditions might cause the fibroid to rupture.
Here are some conditions:
- During pregnancy, hormonal changes and increased blood flow can cause the fibroids to burst.
- Any physical pressure or trauma in the abdomen region due to an accident or fall may rupture the fibroid.
- Very large-sized fibroids have a higher risk of bursting.
Fibroids are muscular and fibrous tissue that develop in and around the uterus.
Cysts are sacs containing fluid that can grow anywhere in the body like – skin, ovaries, pancreas, liver, etc.
Fibroid development is confined to the uterus region and does not grow in other body parts/organs.
Structure-wise, fibroids are solid masses but cysts are like fluid capsules having thin membranous walls.
To be precise, there are four fibroid types: Intramural Fibroids, Subserosal Fibroids, Submucosal Fibroids, and Pedunculated Fibroids.
Uterus Fibroid Positioning:
- Intramural Fibroids: develop within the uterus wall.
- Subserosal Fibroids: develop on the outer surface of the uterus.
- Submucosal Fibroids: develop just below the inner lining of the uterus.
- Pedunculated Fibroids: develop as attachments that can grow inside (pedunculated submucosal fibroids) or outside (pedunculated subserosal fibroids) the uterus.
Fibroids can develop anywhere in and around the uterus region.
Cysts are sacs containing fluid that can grow anywhere in the body like – skin, ovaries, pancreas, liver, etc.
Fibroid development is confined to the uterus region and does not grow in other body parts/organs.
Structure-wise, fibroids are solid masses but cysts are like fluid capsules having thin membranous walls.
Fibroids are both symptomatic and asymptomatic. The fibroids that are small in size, rarely exhibit any symptoms but individuals having large fibroids, experience various symptoms.
7 Common Symptoms of Fibroid Condition:
- Excessive bleeding during menses
- Irregular and painful periods
- Passing large during mensuration
- Heaviness in the abdomen region
- Tendency to frequently urinate
- Constipation or irritable bowel syndrome
- Conception issues (Infertility) or recurrent miscarriages
The treatment of Fibroids is based on the symptoms.
Treatment for fibroids is necessary in the case of:
- Repeated conception problems or repeated miscarriages
- Abnormal menstrual bleeding leading to anaemic condition
- Unbearable pelvic pain
- Rapid fibroid growth
- Frequent urination
- Bowel obstruction
Fibroids can be managed with medicinal and surgical treatments depending on the diagnosis and the doctor’s analysis. Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Hormonal Therapy are medicinal treatments for fibroids, while surgical procedures include Laparoscopy, Myomectomy, Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE), and MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound Surgery (MRgFUS).
Not all fibroids require treatment. Small, asymptomatic fibroids often only need regular monitoring.
Surgical intervention (laparoscopy) is necessary when symptoms are severe, such as fibroid degeneration, suspicion of cancer, excessive menstrual bleeding, recurrent abortions, organ obstruction and compression, and other severe conditions.
