Women are always scared of fibroids until they know the fact that an intramural fibroid is not a cancerous tumour that may or may not require surgery to remove. Women at any age may affected by these fibroids. Some are serious, and some may not be. If you do not have any symptoms, only through a pelvic examination or ultrasound, you can identify these fibroids. For some people, even a simple medicine is enough to treat intramural fibroid.
Let’s see an overview of an intramural fibroids to understand what all is about intramural fibroids and how to handle them effectively under medical supervision.
What are Intramural Fibroids?
Did you know thousands of women are diagnosed with intramural fibroids each year? These common uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths. It usually grows between the muscles of the uterus. Albeit their development at any age, they are quite often found between the age group of women who are 30 to 40.
For some people, they are formed inside the womb of the woman without any showing symptoms. However, for some people, these fibroids may be difficult to handle when they interfere with their routine activities. Some may even develop fertility issues due to these fibroids.
Various Types of Fibroids
Intramural fibroids are the muscular walls of the uterine cavity that generate noncancerous growths. Their location in the uterus can be classified as follows:
- The uterine front wall contains anterior intramural fibroids.
- Posterior intramural fibroids are located on the back wall of the uterus.
- Fundal intramural fibroids are found in the upper part of the uterus.
A fibroid’s particular location can have an impact on its health and treatment options. Imagine a situation when a big fibroid is located near the lowest region of the uterus. This causes difficulties in the natural birth of the child through vaginal delivery.
Symptoms of Intramural Fibroids
This kind of fibroid is silently formed inside the womb of the woman without any symptoms and may be noticed during the examination process only. In fact, about 70% of women develop fibroids before menopause, but only 20% to 50% experience symptoms that need medical care.
When symptoms appear, they could consist of:
- Heavy periods can occasionally result in anaemia.
- Between menstrual cycles, spotting
- A sensation of fullness or weight in the abdomen
- Pain when having sex
- Pain in the lower back
Causes of Fibroid Formation
Many women may wonder why they are affected by these fibroids. However, they are confused to find the true cause behind these fibroids. Knowing the potential causes of fibroids is crucial before you start worrying about them. In reality, scientists are unsure about the exact cause of them. Nonetheless, progesterone and estrogen are frequently associated with them. These hormones decline as women enter menopause, which could lead to the shrinkage of fibroids.
Pregnancy with Fibroids
Fibroids may have an influence on a pregnancy depending on their place of formation and size. Some of the fibroids block the joining of the fallopian tubes, which bring sperm and the egg together. Large fibroids can even block embryos from implanting in the uterine walls and therefore cause difficulties in pregnancy.
In such cases, your healthcare provider may advise you to remove the fibroids. After that, consult your physician to when you can start your pregnancy process. According to each one’s body response, the duration may vary from three months to twelve months.
How Fibroids Are Diagnosed?
During normal gynaecological exams or ultrasounds performed for other purposes, intramural fibroids are frequently discovered.
Your doctor may inspect your uterus by pressing on your belly and inserting two fingers into your vagina if you experience symptoms like heavy periods. Fibroids may occasionally be felt during this examination.
Your doctor might suggest an ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan to provide precise pictures of the size and position of fibroids if they cannot be found in this manner.
Treatment for Fibroids
Since uterine fibroids are frequently asymptomatic and non-cancerous, the majority of patients do not require therapy. However, discuss treatment alternatives with your doctor if they result in infertility, heavy periods, or pain. If you want to preserve your fertility, you may consult your doctor before entering into fibroid treatments.
Simple treatments without surgeryÂ
- To manage the symptoms, you are given hormonal birth control medicines that help lessen painful or heavy periods.
- The use of the uterine fibroid embolisation (UFE) method cuts off the blood supply to the fibroids and shrinks the fibroids from their original size.
- Ultrasonic radiation can be used in MRI-guided focused ultrasound procedures to eliminate fibroids.
- To stimulate menopause GnRH agonist drugs are given to reduce fibroids. Hot flashes, tiredness, weight gain, and more severe problems like bone loss are some of the negative effects they may cause. Before surgery, these medications are frequently taken temporarily.
Surgical Method
- In the surgical approach, the fibroid can be removed, or the entire uterus may be taken out.
Conclusion
In conclusion, small lifestyle changes such as decreased tension, regular weight, and reduced intake of red meat may help to avoid fibroids. In medical terms, it is referred to as a good prognosis, which can be treated by medicinal care and does not cause life-threatening symptoms or situations. Heavy periods or trouble in conceiving may be resolved after medicines or a simple surgical process.
FAQ's
Intramural fibroids are benign tumours composed of smooth muscle tissue that occur within the muscular wall of the uterus. They do not predispose to uterine cancer.
It does not have to be removed if a woman is not feeling any symptoms due to fibroids. Medication in regular forms would be good enough to deal with the condition and monitor her at routine periods with the doctor.
Intramural fibroids of over 3 cm and with such intense symptoms are the candidates who, wanting their uterus preserved, are subjected to a myomectomy.
There are four categories of fibroids:
- Very Small: 0.5 cm to 0.9 cm
- Small: 1.0 cm to 1.9 cm
- Medium: 2.0 cm to 2.9 cm
- Large: 3.0 cm and above
