Uterine fibroids are characterized by the appearance of neoplasms on the uterus. These growths are not cancerous and typically develop in childbearing years. About one in four women in the United States suffer from uterine fibroids. Three out of four sufferers do not know about having the disease as there are no evident signs of it.
Very often uterine fibroids are detected during a visit to gynecologist in the process of a routine gap and pelvic exam though there are no symptoms reported by the patient. In case there are no symptoms and no sufferings, there can be no need for treatment. But if there is an obvious discomfort and painful signs indicating the disease development, the patient should resort to available types of treatment.
Among the symptoms accompanying uterine fibroids are longer menstrual periods or observance of bleeding between periods, pelvic pain, uncontrollable urination, constipation, backache or leg pains.
In case any of the symptoms reveal themselves, it is necessary to make an appointment with the doctor and undergo a pelvic exam or ultrasound that will help to diagnose the disease. Even in case these fibroids do not pose any danger of uterine cancer, the symptoms can be rather painful. Anyway, if identified at the early stage of development, the chance of acquiring cancer becomes less.
To eliminate uterine fibroids before the symptoms appear, the patient can go for medical therapy and surgery. In case the symptoms have already revealed themselves there also exist some kinds of treatment. Thus, oral contraceptives can be helpful in reducing the size of the fibroids. Apart from this, there are more serious forms of treatment such as myomectomy and hesterectomy. The latter is considered to be the most effective method, however, after such a surgery a woman will not be able to have children.
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