Uterine Artery Embolization For Fibroids: Diagnostic And Treatment Methods For Women During Reproductive Age

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Fibroids, also known as uterine fibroids or leiomyomas, are benign growths that form in the muscular walls of a woman's uterus.

These growths can have sizes ranging from tiny pea-sized nodules to enormous grapefruit-sized masses and are composed of smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissues. Hormones, particularly oestrogen and progesterone, are suspected to have an impact on fibroids, despite the fact that the actual aetiology is unknown.

Who is prone to get affected by fibroids?

Fibroids are very common in women of reproductive age. Up to 80% of women are estimated to experience fibroids at some point of time in their lives, rendering this a prevalent health condition. These are benign tumours of the uterus.

Although, the actual reason for the growth of fibroids is unknown, hormones, especially progesterone and oestrogen play a major role in the development of fibroids. As a result of the hormonal changes that take place during the reproductive years, women are more likely to acquire fibroids. Throughout the menstrual cycle, oestrogen and progesterone levels change, and fibroids are more prone to form during times of high hormone production.

Also, women who have never given birth or who gave birth for the first time after the age of 30 are also prone to fibroids. This might be because hormonal changes brought on by pregnancy and childbirth can inhibit fibroids from growing or forming.

Symptoms of Fibroids

There are many symptoms of fibroids. However, the major symptoms are:

• Heavy monthly periods (menorrhagia)
• Prolonged periods causing anaemia, and sometimes painful periods
• Increases the frequency of urination and urgency, pelvic pressure, bloating, bowel disturbance and back pain
• Uncomfortable and painful feeling in the pelvic region
• Fibroids are also known to be associated with infertility
• In extreme circumstances, fibroids make it difficult to completely empty the bladder, which increases the risk of urinary tract infections
• Fibroids that push on the rectum might result in constipation.

However, there is no need to panic when fibroids are diagnosed on a routine ultrasound scan because treatment is not required for those who do not have symptoms.
Although medical management with hormonal therapy gives short-term relief, definitive treatments include surgery or embolisation.

Embolisation is a medical operation that stops blood flow to a specific part of the body in order to treat a variety of illnesses. In order to obstruct or limiting blood flow, entails inserting tiny particles, coils, or other devices into the blood arteries.

Embolisation is frequently used to treat diseases such as arteriovenous malformations, liver cancer, and uterine fibroids. The technique can also be used to stop the spread of malignancy or reduce bleeding. Surgery can remove fibroids, a process called myomectomy, or the uterus itself through a process known as hysterectomy.
Fibroid embolisation has been proven over the last three decades as an excellent alternative to surgery.

Among the benefits of the embolisation procedure are that there is no scar, no bleeding, no need for general anaesthesia, reduced hospital stay, and less risk of infection. The biggest advantage is that the woman gets to save her uterus. This procedure can also be performed on those women who are not suitable for surgery. Embolisation is being increasingly chosen by patients due to its advantages and lower cost compared to surgery.

The takeaways

While fibroids are a common worry for women in their reproductive years, there are a number of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches that can be used to address this problem. It is crucial that patients consult with their healthcare professionals closely to determine the best course of action for their particular needs.