If you’re not sure what a fibroid is or what the symptoms are then you have come to the right place. We will take a deeper look into fibroids and tell you everything you need to know about this condition. Plus, Dr. Rober Azizi got you covered by offering Uterine Fibroid Embolization to help treat fibroids in South California.
Women play a critical role in maintaining the health of their families, however, when it comes to their own well-being, many suffer in silence while battling unique health concerns. Whether it’s recovery after having a baby, incontinence, or autoimmune issues, women deal with conditions that are too difficult to discuss. One of those is fibroids.
What are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during the childbearing years. Uterine fibroids aren’t associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer.
What a sigh of relief!
Fibroids range in size from seedlings, undetectable by the human eye, to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus. You can have a single fibroid or multiple ones. In extreme cases, multiple ones can expand the uterus so much that it reaches the rib cage and can add weight.
Many women have uterine fibroids sometime during their lives. But you might not know you have uterine fibroids, because they often cause no symptoms. Dr. Robert Azizi may discover fibroids during a pelvic exam of prenatal ultrasound when you visit one of our offices.
Now, let’s go through the symptoms.
What are the Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids?
Many women who have fibroids don’t have any symptoms. In those that do, symptoms can be influenced by the location, size, and number of fibroids.
The most common signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids are:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Menstrual period lasting more than a week
- Pelvic pressure or pain
- Frequent urination
- Difficulty emptying the bladder
- Constipation
- Backache or leg pains
Rarely, a fibroid can cause acute pain when it outgrows its bloody supply and begins to die. They are generally classified by their location. Intramural fibroids grow within the muscular uterine wall. Submucosal fibroids bulge into the uterine cavity.
Subserosal fibroids project to the outside of the uterus.
What are the Possible Causes of Uterine Fibroids?
If you’re wondering what causes fibroids, continue reading.
- Genetic changes: Many fibroids contain changes in genes that differ from those in typical uterine muscle cells.
- Hormones: Estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that stimulate the development of the uterine lining during each menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy, appear to promote the growth of fibroids. Fibroids contain more estrogen and progesterone receptors than typical uterine muscle cells do. Fibroids tend to shrink after menopause due to a decrease in hormone production.
- Other growth factors: Substances that help the body maintain tissues such as insulin-like growth factors, may affect fibroid growth.
Doctors believe that uterine fibroids develop from a stem cell in the smooth muscular tissue of the uterus (myometrium). A single cell divides repeatedly, eventually creating a firm, rubbery mass distinct from nearby tissue.
How do Fibroids affect Pregnancy?
Many women worry if fibroids will affect fertility and pregnancy however plenty of women with fibroids have normal pregnancies. If there are problems with the pregnancy, they usually arise due to the size and location of the fibroid, affecting the type of delivery you may have.
In some cases though, the size and location of the fibroid can interfere with the implantation of the embryo.
What You Can Do To Reverse the Growth of Fibroids?
Your dietary and lifestyle habits can help reduce the instances of fibroid growth. Women who are overweight or obese are at a greater risk of developing fibroids; overweight women are two times as likely to grow muscular tumors. Doing everything you can, including staying physically active, to maintain a normal weight will help your chances to reduce the growth of fibroids. A diet rich in red meat and ham is also associated with a higher risk of fibroids.
So, this will, unfortunately, be the time when you will have to say no thank you to that steak and opt for lots and lots of green veggies to protect yourself from fibroid growth.
You can read more about when UFE is recommended.
Treat Fibroids with Uterine Fibroid Embolism
Treatment for symptomatic masses depends on the size and location of the fibroids. Doctor Azizi will also consider whether you might want to get pregnant or if you’re in menopause.
Fibroids can be treated by Uterine Fibroid Embolism (UFE). UFE is the least invasive treatment option for fibroids and has an approximate success rate of 85%. The procedure is conducted by injecting long coils of material into the arteries to block them off through a catheter.
Fibroids thrive on blood supply and the embolism deprives them of their source, ultimately forcing them to shrink over a period of weeks or months. The recovery time from UFE is short and requires a minimal hospital stay.
Once completed, the positive effects of undergoing a Uterine Fibroid Embolism include much-needed relief from the above-mentioned symptoms of Fibroids, such as heavy bleeding and pelvic pain.
Speak to Dr. Robert Azizi From South California in Bell Gardens, Buena Park & KoreaTown, For the Best Uterine Fibroids Solution
If you’re worried that you might have fibroids or would just like to come in for a health check, you will be in the best hands with Dr. Robert Azizi.
With years of experience treating women with uterine fibroids, Dr. Azizi has helped countless individuals achieve relief from their symptoms and get on the path toward a healthier life!
Get in touch with us here to find out more.
Dr. Azizi, the distinguished vascular surgeon and Leading Specialist at Renew Vein and Vascular Care, is a trailblazer in the field of vascular medicine. As the visionary founder of Renew Vein and Vascular Care, Dr. Azizi has established state-of-the-art facilities in Korea Town, Bell Gardens, and Buena Park, CA. His patient-centric philosophy emphasizes personalized care, fostering strong doctor-patient relationships, and his community engagement extends to educational outreach programs on vascular health. Dr. Azizi’s unwavering dedication to excellence and compassion positions him as a leader shaping the future of vascular surgery and healthcare.