Uterine fibroids (uterine leiomyomas) are small tumors found in the wall of a woman’s uterus. These tumors are usually benign (non-cancerous). However, they cause discomfort and pain. These are more common in women of childbearing age, but fibroids are also very common in women during menopause. You can also get it during this stage of life, i.e. during menopause. Why it happens and how you can treat it (Causes of Uterine Fibroids), explains Dr. Pratima Tamke in detail. Dr. Pratima is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Khargarh Maternity Hospital, Mumbai.

The link between fibroids and hormones

According to Dr. Pratima, two hormones, progesterone and estrogen, are responsible for the formation and growth of fibroids. If the level of estrogen is too high, it can lead to the development of fibroids, and when they grow, progesterone can also contribute to the growth of fibroids.

due to fibroids

Although there is no clear explanation as to why fibroids appear, they usually appear when your body produces too much estrogen. But when you go through menopause, your body changes, which affects your chances of developing uterine fibroids.

Menopause and myoma

During the perimenopause phase, when a woman goes 12 months without a monthly cycle, the body has very low levels of estrogen and progesterone, while these hormones are at their highest during the childbearing years.

When your body transitions from perimenopause to menopause, your ovaries stop producing estrogen. As a result, your body is less likely to develop new fibroids. Lowering hormone levels can also help shrink existing fibroids.

Fibroids after menopause

While it is very unusual for women to develop uterine fibroids after menopause, it is still not clear why this happens. For this reason, after menopause, there are few or no signs of fibroid growth.

What are the risk factors for fibroids:

Certain problems, such as high blood pressure, obesity, not being pregnant, stress, and low vitamin D can cause fibroids.

Here are the main symptoms of fibroids:

Heavy bleeding, frequent spotting, anemia, menstrual pain, heaviness in the abdomen, swelling in the abdomen, back pain, frequent urination, waking up or passing urine, painful intercourse, fever, nausea, and headache are all symptoms of fibroids. are

Immediate help should be sought after noticing these alarming symptoms. Do not take these signs lightly at all. During menopause, we need to manage fibroids. If these are small and have no symptoms, they may not need treatment.

during menopause fibroid

Sometimes myoma does not cause any symptoms and does not require treatment. But sometimes women feel its painful symptoms.

How to treat it:

1. Birth control pills

Dealing with fibroids during menopause can be difficult. But for this it is recommended to take birth control pills. Progestin-only birth control pills work for fibroids. Progestins tend to relieve menopausal symptoms more effectively.

2. Surgery

Myomectomy: Surgery may also be another option. Someone is asked to undergo a myomectomy. A myomectomy helps to remove the fibroid and does not require removal of the uterus.

Hysterectomy: For women, a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) may also be offered. You should follow your doctor’s recommendations.

3. Forced Ultrasound Surgery (FUS)

Compulsion Forced FUS ultrasound surgery for fibroid removalIt uses high-energy, high-frequency sound waves to generate sound waves.

4. Uterine artery embolization (UAE)

Uterine artery embolization (UAE) is done to stop the blood supply to the fibroids.

5. Myolysis

A myolysis procedure can be performed by inserting a needle into the fibroid and sending an electric current through the needle to the fibroid to destroy the tissue.