Uterine fibroids   are the growth/lump   in the uterus. Fibroids   can be   inside the uterus, on the outside the uterus   or in the wall of the uterus. It is called   as the leiomyomas   or myomas.

Fibroids are very common in women in their 30s and 40s but it can occur or grow at any stage of life after menarche.

What causes uterine fibroids?

Although there are multiple factors that can cause fibroids but the female hormones estrogen and progesterone seem to make them grow. Your body makes the highest levels of these hormones during the reproductive years.

What are the symptoms?

  Fibroids   may be

• Asymptomatic
• Menstruation related symptoms
• irregular bleeding
• heavy bleeding
• pain during menses
• pain lower abdomen.
• pressure on the other organs like fullness or pressure in   belly, low back pain,
• Pain during Sex
• Urinary problem

 Heavy bleeding during your periods can lead to anemia. Anemia can make you feel weak and tired. Sometimes fibroids can make it harder to get pregnant. Or they may cause problems during pregnancy, such as going into early labor or losing the baby (miscarriage)

How are uterine fibroids diagnosed?

Fibroids are diagnosed by

• history
• examination
• Pelvic ultrasound
• MRI pelvis or CT pelvis in selected cases

Your doctor may also do blood tests to look for anemia or other problems.

TREATMENT OF FIBROID

All the treatment are decided on individual merits & needs. It depends upon   the

• symptoms
• size of the fibroid,
• age of the patient
• future desire for pregnancy.

Medical treatment can be given in certain case that may be non-hormonal or hormonal. But the definite treatment is surgery.

Small, asymptomatic Fibroids do not need treatment, a regular

follow up with ultrasound is all that is needed in these patients.

In patients who have symptoms or fibroid size is large treatment options can be myomectomy or hysterectomy.  Myomectomy can be done by hysteroscopy, laparoscopy or laparotomy   depending upon site & size of the fibroids.

Laparoscopic surgery has the advantages as mentioned in section of gynecological endoscopy.