Uterine fibroids are a common condition in which women develop uterine cysts or tumors. These growths may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, infertility, or pain. Doctors can often find uterine fibroids by performing pelvic exams, which involve feeling the abdomen and vagina for abnormal masses. Doctors may also order tests to check for uterine cancer, such as blood work and an ultrasound test that uses sound waves to visualize the uterus. Other tests include a hysteroscopy or endometrial biopsy, which involves inserting a thin tube through the cervix and into the uterus to examine the inside of the uterus.
The uterus (womb) is a pear-shaped organ in the lower part of your torso. Its walls and lining are made of muscle and tissue, and it has a narrow opening in the middle, called the cervix. In nonpregnant women, the uterus stores sperm or egg cells. Every month, a uterine lining forms and then is shed during the menstrual cycle. Adenomyosis, a condition in which glands from the uterus become embedded in the uterine wall, can be mistaken for fibroid tumors.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been shown to help with uterine fibroids. Acupuncture is especially effective for small to medium size uterine fibroids, which are the most common. Treatments can reduce symptoms, including heavy bleeding, painful periods, and infertility. Herbal medicines are powerful natural healers. Research shows they have many health benefits, such as reducing inflammation, improving blood flow, and helping with hormone imbalances that cause fibroid growth.
There are several treatments for uterine fibroids, and your doctor will recommend the one that’s best for you. Your doctor will consider your symptoms, age, and other medical problems when recommending a treatment.자궁내막증한약
Some uterine fibroids are very small and don’t cause any symptoms. If this is the case for you, your doctor may advise watchful waiting, which includes regular follow-up pelvic exams and ultrasounds to check the fibroid’s growth. Medications that can help treat uterine fibroids include birth control pills to control heavy periods, tranexamic acid to reduce the amount of blood in your period, and iron supplements to prevent or treat anemia caused by heavy bleeding. Your doctor may suggest surgery to remove a large fibroid or to treat complications from the disease. Abdominal myomectomy removes a large fibroid through a larger cut in the stomach area, or abdomen. Fibroids that are located on the outside of your uterus, called submucosal fibroids, can be removed through a smaller cut in your vagina or cervix.
Another option is uterine fibroid embolization, or UFE. During this procedure, your doctor inserts a thin flexible tube into the arteries that supply the fibroid with blood and injects a solution that blocks the blood flow to the fibroid. Fibroids that get no blood are likely to shrink or disappear, while normal uterine tissue remains unharmed. This is a newer technique, and researchers are still learning about its long-term safety and effectiveness. Hysterectomy — removing your uterus — is the only proven permanent solution for uterine fibroids.자궁선근증한약