Uterine fibroids affect 3 out of 4 women (Mayo Clinic, 2014). They are non-cancerous but they can cause pain and discomfort. This paper will discuss who can be effected by Uterine fibroids and its effects on the female reproductive system. This paper will show the three types of fibroids that develop in or near the uterus. It will discuss the symptoms and when a diagnosis is needed. This paper will also look into the various forms of treatment including medications and surgery. Uterine Fibroids
Uterine Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develops in the myometrium layer of the uterus. A single cell divides repeatedly, eventually creating a firm, rubbery mass distinct from nearby tissue (EA, 2013). There are different types of growth patterns to uterine fibroids. Sometimes they are small and in some cases they are extremely large. Woman between the ages of 30-and 40 years old are more at risk of developing uterine fibroids. They develop mostly in the child bearing years of a woman’s life. African American women have a greater risk of developing uterine fibroids at a younger age than any other race. Uterine fibroids are also called leiomyomas or myomas. Uterine Fibroids can develop on the inside or outside of the uterus.
There are three different types of Uterine fibroids. One type is Submucosal fibroids. This type of fibroid grows into the inner cavity of the uterus. These are more likely to cause heavy menstrual bleeding and can have an effect on pregnancy (Mayo
By the age of 50, eighty percent of black women have ultrasound detection of fibroids (Al-Hendy et al., 2013). African American women also suffer more severe symptoms, such as bleeding and pelvic pain compared to Caucasian women (Taylor et al., 2015). African American women represent the majority of cases involving uterine fibroids with the options of treatment including hysterectomy, myomectomy, uterine artery embolization and magnetic resonance-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MRgHIFU). Hysterectomy is surgery for the removal of the uterus and is the most common way to treat uterine fibroids. Although hysterectomies are the typical way to treat uterine fibroids, it is also means losing the ability for a woman to bear children. Studies show that more African American women have hysterectomies as a result of uterine fibroids than any other race (Al-Hendy et al., 2013). Most women, including African American women do not prefer hysterectomy because it means a lengthy hospital stay, recovery time, as well as, not having the option to reproduce. Women prefer to save their uterus by finding other options available. Hysterectomy is usually projected as the only option available to treat uterine fibroids and many women have to seek second opinions in order to learn about the other options (Pron, 2015). When given a second opinion, only
Fibroids are becoming more and more common in women in the United States. It is estimated that 171 million women in the U.S. were affected by this condition in 2013(6). About 20% to 80% of women develop fibroids by age 50 (6). As many as three out of four women may have uterine fibroids in her lifetime (4). Fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyoma, are benign tumors that can be found in women of childbearing age due to its dependence on estrogen and progesterone (7). They are made of muscle cells and other tissues that can grow around or in the uterus or womb. With fibroids, a single cell divides repeatedly, eventually creating a firm, rubbery mass distinct from nearby tissue (2). Some fibroids even go through growth spurts where they grow and shrink on their by itself. There are women with fibroids who have no symptoms at all. If they do, it may consist of heavy or painful periods, frequent
In endometriosis, this endometrial tissue begins to grow in places outside the uterus. Typical sites include the fallopian tubes, intestines, vagina, and on scars that my form after abdominal surgery. The misplaced endometrial tissue thickens, engorges with blood and bleeds during the menstrual cycle, just like the normal tissue in the uterus. However, there is no place for the abnormally placed endometrial tissue outside the uterus to shed blood. This results in the formation of cysts, scars, and adhesions. This process can also block or affect the fallopian tubes so that conception and pregnancy are less likely to happen. It can also result in complete infertility. Other symptoms of endometriosis are often associated with heavy or painful periods. Risk factors for the development of endometriosis include having a mother or sister with the disorder, never having children, starting the menstrual period at an early age, and frequent or long periods. According to Dr. Camron Nezhat, Laparoscopic Surgeon at Stanford University, 5.5% of women in the U.S are infected with Endometriosis and 30% to 40% are infertile as a result of it.
Endometriosis is a common but often underdiagnosed disease in women during active reproductive years of 25 to 35 years. Endometriosis is an estrogen dependent chronic pelvic disorder that can cause severe pain and adversely affect fertility. Endometriosis is described as the occurrence of endometrial glands and connective tissue called stroma in the extra uterine mucosa located throughout the pelvis (Solnik, 2015). Therefore, as Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) accurately diagnoses this disease, this patient population can increase the awareness become educated about endometriosis treatment options.
Endometriosis is a painful disorder under which the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus starts growing outside the uterus. Endometriosis commonly involves ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue that linesthe pelvis.
Uterine fibroids are very common, causing symptoms in about 25 percent of women. Fibroids are benign, or noncancerous, tumors that grow in the walls of the uterus. It's not understood why fibroids develop, but scientists and doctors believe that genetics may play a role.
The symptoms of endometriosis affect the women who suffer them in different ways. Most women notice an increase in symptoms as their menstrual period approaches and begins. In rarer cases the symptoms persist throughout the month. The discomfort and pain is normally localized in the pelvic, abdominal or lower back regions. The severity of the pain caused varies from woman to woman. Endometriosis can also cause heavy menstruation and in severe cases infertility.
Uterine fibroids and hysterectomies are a hotly debated topic. What most agree upon if a woman with tumors is contemplating this surgical procedure is that she should make an informed decision after reviewing various alternatives including fibroid natural treatment options. Unless a woman 's life is in danger, hysterectomies should never be the first option. All other options should be considered first.
Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors of the uterus (womb). Fibroids grow out of the cells that make up your uterus. Uterine fibroids (also called myomas or leiomyomas) are benign (noncancerous) tumors of muscle tissue that can change the shape or size of the uterus and sometimes the cervix. They start in the smooth muscle cells inside the wall of the uterus (myometrium). Fibroids usually occur in the form of multiple tumors, although single fibroids are sometimes possible. Fibroids can be as small as a pea or as large as a football. Having uterine fibroids does not increase your risk of cancer. They are almost always benign, no matter how large they get.
Uterine Fibroid tumors are tumors consists of fibrous tissue which generally happen in women in their reproductive a number of shrink or disappear after menopause. Most from the time they may be benign and cause no apparent symptoms; however, in other instances, uterine fibroid tumors may result in severe discomfort and will include heavy bleeding and pain.
The studies were conducted both on pregnant and nonpregnant women. The scar defects were evaluated based on shape, size, and thickness of residual myometrium. In an unscarred, the lower uterine segment (LUS) is viewed as three-layered structure. The inner layer includes chorioamniotic membrane and endometrial layer. Middle layer includes myometrium, and outer layer includes peritoneal reflection and bladder wall (Cheung 2004). As the pregnancy progress, the LUS develops and the layers changes in sonographic resolution. Myometrium becomes thinner gradually and less distinguished later on in the pregnancy. Whereas in as scarred uterus different layers are not well demarcated, the LUS is comparatively thin. It is considered as scar defect if there is a window or defect in the myometrium. The CS scar was measured in two planes, transverse and sagittal. In the sagittal plane, scar depth, width and residual myometrial thickness (RMT, between hypoechoic indentation at the bottom of the scar to the hyperechoic line of the uterovesical fold) measured and the length of the scar measured in the transverse plane (Naji 2012).
Loads of women are hurting under the consequences of uterine fibroids. Fibroid tumors are identified as the most famous benign growths plaguing the female uterus. A large number of these tumors barely set-off adverse symptoms and may not really necessitate therapy and the women being affected by this condition seldom know that they 've fibroids. For other patients, fibroids might lead to various difficulties. This write-up will therefore make an effort to discuss the symptoms of fibroids together with finding a cure for fibroids.
Endometriosis affects 10% of reproductive-age women (Yale School of Medicine). It affects nearly 176 million women, ranging from 15-49, all over the world (World Endometriosis, 2011). “Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus (endometrial implant) (Mayo Clinic, 2013)” It most commonly involves your ovaries and the lining of the pelvis, but in extreme cases can spread to other parts of the body. The displaced tissue continues to act like it normally would in the uterus, thickening and breaking down with each menstrual cycle. Since the displaced tissue has nowhere to go, it becomes trapped with no way to get out (Mayo Clinic, 2013).
Endometrial cancer is one of the most common forms of gynaecological cancer in the developed countries, and is the sixth most common cancer in the women.12 Endometrial cancer appears most frequently during perimenopause (between the ages of 50 and 65;13overall, 75% of endometrial cancer occurs after menopause.14 Women younger than 40 make up 5% of endometrial cancer cases and 10–15% of cases occur in women under 50 years of age. The prognosis is generally good, as the cancer is often diagnosed while the tumour is confined to the uterine corpus. The five-year survival rate for endometrial adenocarcinoma following appropriate treatment is 80%.15 Early diagnosis and treatment are important because the 5-year survival of patients varies from 90% to 100% in patients with little or no myometrial involvement, to 40% to 60% in patients with deep myometrial invasion.6
Endometriosis occurs when the endometrial tissue, normally located inside the uterus, lines the outside. The condition most commonly affects the ovaries and peritoneum, and affects approximately 10% of women in the United States (Barnhart et. el. 2002). The misplaced endometrial tissue continues to act as it would in the usual situation; the tissue thickens, breaks down, and bleeds with the menstrual cycle. Since there is no exit path for the tissue to leave the body, the tissue becomes trapped inside the abdomen, causing severe pain (Mayo Clinic, 2013).