One of the most common female diseases is uterine fibroids. It appears most often in women of the reproductive period, as it is associated with the production of estrogen and female sex hormones by the body. After the onset of menopause, myoma occurs less frequently, sometimes an already existing tumor after the cessation of menstruation decreases slightly. Myoma is a kind of reaction to uterine irritation. This can be mechanical damage during abortion, cleaning, difficult labor. Menstruation also “damages” the uterus, as its mucous membrane, the endometrial layer, is rejected. The more menstruation a woman experiences (that is, the less she gives birth and breastfeeding), the greater the likelihood that her fibroid nodes will form. Therefore, according to medical statistics, currently about 80% of women have this disease.
Myoma has also become so widespread because this disease is very asymptomatic. And only when the size of the uterine fibroids becomes impressive, some signs may appear: pulling, pressing pain in the lower abdomen, pain during menstruation, spotting. Rarely, symptoms of fibroids can be diseases of neighboring organs (rectum, bladder).
Benign tumor formations in the form of nodules that occur on muscle tissue (myometrium) - this is uterine fibroids. Its dimensions depend on the number of nodules, the dynamics of their growth. During the examination, small tumors are determined, starting with a few millimeters; can grow up to several centimeters. The size of uterine fibroids can sometimes reach very large rates. In the history of medicine, a case of removal of fibroids weighing 63 kilograms has been recorded!
There are multiple fibroids when it consists of several nodules, and single. At the location, the most common is intermuscular fibroids. Less common are the subperitoneal, cervical, interconnective, submucosal.
Sometimes a woman who has not undergone a proper examination takes a fibroid for pregnancy. It is no accident that the size of uterine fibroids is often determined as the size of the fetus in weeks.
Until recently, treatment of fibroids has been unambiguously operational. Nodules were removed, and if large uterine fibroids were detected, the uterus was also removed. The woman was deprived of the opportunity to have children. Now, in addition to this method, there are others that are more gentle. Of course, the treatment of fibroids, like any other disease, will depend on the degree of its neglect. Therefore, it is so important to regularly undergo a gynecological examination. A tumor detected at an early stage of development can be easily removed using laparoscopy or hysteroscopy. These are less traumatic methods of modern surgery. The method of embolization of the uterine arteries is to artificially clog the vessels that supply blood myoma. As a result, the tumor dies without receiving the necessary nutrition. Drug treatment is also possible. The choice of method is carried out by the doctor, bearing in mind various factors, including the size of the uterine fibroids.
There are no special preventive measures aimed at preventing this disease. But the observations of doctors led to the conclusion that those women who use oral contraceptives are less likely to get uterine fibroids.
Traditional medicine empirically identified ways to combat myoma. Decoctions, infusions of various plants are used. For example, a decoction of dried burdock leaf, a mixture of aloe juice with honey, an extract of hawthorn and St. John's wort are popular. Folk remedies may help in the treatment of uterine fibroids, stop its development, but it is unlikely to get rid of the tumor by such means. Therefore, the main thing still remains timely diagnosis of the disease and unconditional adherence to all the doctor's recommendations.