Introduction Symptoms Do's & Don'ts Conventional treatment

Causes Diagnosis See Doctor if Homoeopathic treatment

Uterine fibromyoma is commonly known as fibroid of the uterus. It is a non-cancerous growth of the Uterus that is common in females during the child-bearing years. Technically, the correct terminology should be fibromyoma or myoma since it develops from the muscular layer of the uterus. The fibroid is basically an admixture of muscle tissue and fibrous tissue. It is benign in nature.

Incidence:
This is the commonest type of neoplasm in women. Negroes get fibroids three times more commonly than the whites. Fibroids generally dont cause symptoms in many of the patients and are discovered incidentally on pelvic examination. Treatment is required in those cases where symptoms start developing on account of the fibroids.

The exact cause of development of Uterine fibroids is not known but following are the most likely causes as per the research done in this field:

• Genetic: Genetic cause is strongly suspected in the development of fibroids
• It can also occur during the reproductive period due to increased blood supply to the uterus.
• Estrogen and Progesterone: The female hormones estrogen and Progesterone appear to promote the growth of the fibroids. Fibroids contain more estrogen and progesterone receptors as compared to the normal uterine muscles.

Risk factors for the development of fibroids include:

• Heredity factor: If your mother or sisters have fibroids, you are at increased risk for developing fibroids.
• Racial factor: Black women are more prone to develop fibroids (also more in number and larger in size) as compared to white women.

Location of the fibroids: Uterine Fibroids are commonly located at one of the following three locations: Just underneath the lining of the uterus In between the muscles of the uterus On the outside of the uterus

Most fibroids do not cause any symptoms, but some women with fibroids may develop symptoms depending on the size, location and number of fibroids. Any of the following symptoms may be seen in such patients:

• Heavy bleeding during menses
• Painful menses
• Bleeding in between menses
• Sensation of fullness in the lower abdomen
• Frequent urination
• Pain during sex
• Lower backache
• Infertility
• Repetitive miscarriages
• Early onset of labor during pregnancy

• Pelvic examination usually can diagnose fibroids.
• Pelvic Ultrasonography or Transvaginal Ultrasonography can be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

• Bed rest if the bleeding is excessive
• Intake of food rich in iron
• Intake of protein rich diet

• The menstrual bleeding is excessively heavy and/or prolonged
• There is excessive pain during the menses
• If you have fibroids and have got pregnant; you will need to be carefully monitored

Treatment depends on the severity of symptoms, the age of the patient, whether the patient is pregnant or not, general health, etc. not all women with fibroids require treatment; some just require to be monitored.

The treatment options used in symptomatic cases are:

• Drugs such as Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) agonists, Androgens, Oral Contraceptives or NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) are commonly used
• Myomectomy: Removal of the fibroids leaving the Uterus intact
• Hysterectomy: Removal of the Uterus

Homeopathy has good scope in the treatment of fibroids that are small to medium sized. The medicines can help in controlling the further growth of the fibroids and can also help in reducing the size of the existing ones. However, in case of large fibroids, the treatment may only be symptomatic and may not help to get rid of the fibroids completely. Patients generally see significant relief in most of the symptoms after starting homeopathic treatment. The medicines also help in preventing the complications of fibroids such as Anemia due to prolonged heavy bleeding, etc. Homeopathy is definitely suggested in cases of uterine fibroids.