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Uterine fibroids
Symptoms of worsening uterine fibroids
Uterine fibroids can undergo malignant transformation, albeit at a low rate of 0.5%-1%. When malignancy occurs, the fibroids can grow quickly over a short period and are accompanied by pain in the lower abdomen, heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual periods, and irregular vaginal bleeding. Additionally, patients can feel a mass in the lower abdomen, which can be painful and present symptoms of heaviness. Therefore, if you have uterine fibroids, it is essential to have regular follow-ups, typically once every six months to a year. If it is found that the fibroids are growing rapidly, immediate surgical intervention is necessary to prevent the malignant transformation of the fibroids.
uterine fibroids CT manifestations
Uterine fibroids are relatively common benign gynecological tumors. They can typically be detected through routine color ultrasound examinations. On a CT scan, uterine fibroids may appear as round, dense, and uniform lesions on the uterine wall with clear boundaries. Some patients may have multiple uterine fibroids, thus displaying several of the aforementioned symptoms. Depending on the location of the uterine fibroids, their appearance on CT scans can vary and may present as subserosal, intramural, or submucosal. Symptoms may also vary based on their location.
Do uterine fibroids cause pain?
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors in gynecology, and they have a very high incidence rate. However, most of these tumors do not have obvious clinical symptoms. As the condition progresses, patients may experience discomfort and pain in the lower abdomen. If the uterine fibroids affect the function of the endometrium, it often leads to prolonged menstrual cycles, which means heavier menstrual bleeding. Clinically, this can manifest as mild to moderate anemia. For this condition, patients should take iron supplements to alleviate the symptoms of anemia. For those with significant pain from uterine fibroids, or severe anemia, surgical removal is recommended. (The use of medication should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
Can uterine fibroids eat eggs?
Uterine fibroids and eating eggs are completely unrelated; you can eat eggs whether you have uterine fibroids or not. The main concern is whether you have an allergy to eggs, and also whether you have any kidney function issues or similar problems. Eggs are a very nutritious food and can certainly be eaten, but it is recommended not to exceed three eggs per day, generally one or two is sufficient. When eating eggs, just like at other times, avoid eating them cold. Additionally, it's important to regularly conduct follow-up checks for uterine fibroids and decide on treatment based on the findings and symptoms of the fibroid examination.
Do uterine fibroids cause bleeding?
When uterine fibroids are large or located under the endometrium, they can lead to bleeding, resulting in increased menstrual flow and even anemia in patients. At this point, patients can consider undergoing a gynecological color Doppler ultrasound to determine the number, size, and location of the fibroids to guide the choice of clinical treatment options. The best surgical option for treating uterine fibroids is a total hysterectomy, which will prevent the recurrence of the disease. However, for young patients who wish to preserve their fertility, myomectomy should be considered, as it can effectively treat the disease while preserving uterine function.
Malignant symptoms of uterine fibroids
If uterine fibroids become malignant, they can increase significantly in size in a short period. Patients may feel a lump in the abdomen, and this lump grows rapidly and is tender to pressure. Additionally, there may be symptoms such as heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual periods, and irregular vaginal bleeding, as well as pain in the lower abdomen. Other symptoms include compression effects such as frequent urination, urgency to urinate, and difficulty defecating. Therefore, it is necessary to re-examine uterine fibroids every six months to a year. If uterine fibroids are found to be growing rapidly, timely surgical treatment should be conducted to prevent malignant transformation.
How can uterine fibroids be reduced?
Uterine fibroids in women are closely related to the levels of estrogen in the body. Some women have relatively small uterine fibroids with no clinical symptoms and can be observed dynamically. Generally, after menopause, when the levels of estrogen decrease, the size of uterine fibroids in these women can naturally shrink. Additionally, certain medications can be used for treatment, such as drugs from the GnRH-a class, which act by causing ovarian ablation. This leads to a decrease in estrogen levels in the body and can also reduce the size of the uterine fibroids. Interventional treatments can also be employed to block the blood supply to the uterine fibroids, reducing their blood supply and consequently decreasing their size.
How to manage uterine fibroids
The occurrence and development of uterine fibroids are mainly related to congenital factors and have little to do with postnatal lifestyle conditions. Therefore, when uterine fibroids are detected, there is no need for any specific conditioning. Various traditional Chinese medicines, herbal treatments, or hormonal drugs do not have a definite curative effect on uterine fibroids, and so far, there is no specific medication for the treatment of uterine fibroids. When uterine fibroids are detected, the main considerations are whether they cause symptoms such as excessive bleeding, anemia, or whether they are increasing in size and causing compression symptoms on the surrounding tissues. Uterine fibroids without any symptoms generally only require regular physical examinations and may shrink and disappear after menopause.
Does uterine fibroids cause high CRP?
Normal uterine fibroids do not cause an increase in CRP. CRP is an indicator of systemic inflammatory response. Only when a patient experiences infection, rupture, or acute systemic inflammatory reactions will it cause a rise in tumor markers. Uterine fibroids often do not exhibit these symptoms; therefore, most cases will not show an increase in CRP. However, in some patients, infection or rupture, and even malignancy, can lead to an increase in these indicators. Patients should undergo relevant imaging studies to assess the size and location of the uterine fibroids, as well as the presence of uterine bleeding.
How big a uterine fibroid can be without requiring treatment?
The size of uterine fibroids is one of the indicators we consider for whether treatment and surgery are necessary. It is generally believed that surgery is indicated when the diameter of a fibroid exceeds 6cm, or when the entire uterus is larger than the size it would be at ten weeks of pregnancy. However, in reality, the size of a uterine fibroid is not an absolute indicator for surgery. This means that even if the fibroid exceeds 6cm, or the entire uterus reaches around ten weeks in size, it doesn’t necessarily require surgery. At this point, other factors are usually also considered, such as whether there are symptoms, whether the large fibroids cause heavy menstruation and anemia, whether there are compression symptoms, the radiological appearance of the fibroids, whether they resemble malignant conditions, whether the fibroids are rapidly growing, and whether the fibroids are located in special areas like the cervix, the hip ligament, or submucosal. Thus, the size of the uterine fibroids is just one aspect we consider for treatment or surgery; the presence of symptoms and whether the fibroids are malignant, among others, are actually more important.