What causes the disease?
Uterine fibroids are most often observed in women of reproductive age. The main reason for its development is a hormonal disorder in the body, namely the production of large amounts of estrogen.
There are also several provoking factors for the development of uterine fibroids. It can be:
- Inflammatory processes in the pelvic organs.
- Damage to the reproductive organ due to abortion, childbirth, curettage, installation of an intrauterine device.
- Excess weight, problems with the activity of the endocrine system.
- Hereditary predisposition.
- Weak defense mechanism of the body.
Doctors say that active growth of uterine fibroids can be observed if a woman takes estrogen contraceptives. Another interesting point is that the tumor can disappear on its own during menopause. After all, at this time the production of estrogen stops.
Myoma leads to infertility
The presence of myomatous nodes does not interfere with getting pregnant, but can complicate pregnancy. This usually happens when the nodes grow inside the uterine cavity or severely deform its walls.
Sometimes fibroids are discovered already during pregnancy. Moreover, the IVF procedure is often carried out despite the presence of myomatous nodes. If a tumor is detected before conception (during a routine examination), it is important to consult a qualified specialist. The fact is that removing nodes during pregnancy planning carries the risk of subsequent placenta accreta or rupture of the uterine wall. The doctor must assess this possibility and propose a solution that is safest for the woman and her unborn child.
Patient complaints
At the first stage, uterine fibroids usually do not manifest themselves in any way, so the woman does not know that she is sick, continuing to live her usual life. But as soon as the size of the tumor becomes large, patients begin to worry about such manifestations as:
- Menstrual irregularities, changes in the duration and abundance of menstruation.
- Bloody discharge between periods and with blood clots.
- General deterioration in health.
- Aching pain in the lower abdomen.
Also, with a large size of the uterine tumor, pressure is exerted on nearby organs. The bladder and intestines are primarily affected. Therefore, women with fibroids experience problems with bowel movements and urination.
Treatment of fibroids with UAE is dangerous to health
The method of uterine artery embolization (UAE) is based on reducing blood flow to the tumor, which disrupts its nutritional process. Today this is the most effective and safe way to fight tumors. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis, does not require general anesthesia and almost does not injure the patient.
Until recently, it was believed that UAE could lead to infertility and was therefore only indicated for women who no longer planned to become pregnant. Clinical studies have shown that the procedure does not affect subsequent conception and gestation.
Uterine fibroids are such a common pathology that the risk of its occurrence is high for every woman. Experts believe that the likelihood of developing the disease can be reduced by regular sex life, refusal of abortions, and maintaining good physical shape. For preventive purposes, it is recommended to visit a gynecologist at least twice a year and undergo an ultrasound of the pelvic organs once a year. If fibroids are detected, there is no need to panic: in most cases, you just need to monitor the condition of the tumor. It is important to understand that not all doctors promptly update the knowledge acquired at university (sometimes quite a long time ago), and therefore do not share modern ideas about the nature and methods of treating fibroids. If the patient is frightened by the rapid growth of nodes, insists on unnecessary diagnostic procedures, or recommends urgent surgical intervention if she is in good general health, it makes sense to seek additional advice from other specialists.
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Is it possible to have sex?
In general, sex is one of the most important measures to prevent uterine fibroids. After all, this tumor depends on the hormonal background of the woman’s body. And during sexual intercourse, estrogen and adrenaline are released into the blood. This helps prevent the development of many female pathologies, including uterine fibroids.
You can have sex with uterine fibroids if the disease does not cause any symptoms and the size of the tumor is small. The most important thing is that a woman does not feel discomfort during sexual intercourse. If the parameters of the fibroid are large, it is accompanied by pain and bleeding, then you will have to abstain from intimate life.
Usually, bleeding occurs with submucous uterine fibroids. After sex they can become even more abundant. Therefore, it is best to consult a doctor and remove the tumor. During treatment you should forget about sex life.
If the disease does not progress, doctors even advise having sex. The orgasm itself is considered especially beneficial. It has a beneficial effect on both the health and morale of a woman.
What are uterine fibroids?
This is a benign tumor of the uterus, consisting of myometrial cells and connective tissue cells.
It is called myoma, fibroma, fibromyoma, leiomyoma. The essence does not change from this.
Nodules can be of different sizes and locations, grow quickly or slowly. They can be located either inside the muscular wall of the uterus, or grow outward, into the abdominal cavity, or inward, into the uterine cavity.
The clinical picture of the disease depends on the number, size, growth and location of the nodes - from completely asymptomatic to monthly bleeding, pain, anemia, infertility and miscarriage, loss of strength and meaning in life.
It is easy to find information about fibroids on the Internet. You can see photos of nodes, read the names, classification of the disease. I will not be distracted by this, if you want, you will find this information yourself.
The most important thing for us is to understand the principle of non-hormonal and non-surgical treatment of uterine fibroids.
Understand a simple thing:
Uterine fibroids, like any disease, are a compensatory reaction of the body to stress, an incorrect lifestyle, and a woman’s incorrect worldview.
And based on this, develop your own, personal treatment plan.
Intimate life after surgery
If uterine fibroids were surgically removed, then during the rehabilitation period the woman will need to follow some rules, including those regarding sex. Doctors recommend sticking to a certain diet, not playing sports, not lifting weights, not going to the bathhouse or sauna, and not sunbathing on the beach.
As for sexual activity, you can continue it no earlier than in a month. The attending doctor will tell you a more precise period, because it is individual for each patient. Sex with uterine fibroids is prohibited after surgery in order to allow the organ to recover well, to avoid infection and the development of an inflammatory process.
Also, after surgery, when it is already possible to continue to be sexually active, the doctor prescribes the woman to take contraceptive medications to prevent pregnancy. Conceiving a child is undesirable until the uterus is completely restored and ready to bear a fetus.
If during sexual intercourse the patient experiences pain and bleeding, then it is necessary to consult a doctor. You may need to abstain from sex for some time to prevent complications from developing.
Sex after fibroid removal
After removal of fibroids, a woman must adhere to certain restrictions and follow the following recommendations from doctors:
- following a diet with the use of a certain list of products;
- lack of strong physical activity;
- limiting ultraviolet radiation;
- excluding trips to the bathhouse or sauna.
If we talk about sexual relations, they are prohibited until the body has fully recovered after surgery. This restriction is necessary to exclude possible infections and injury to the damaged reproductive organ.
During the rehabilitation period, the doctor prescribes contraceptives to the patient, since conception is extremely undesirable, because there is no absolute guarantee that the woman will be able to bear a healthy baby.
Sex is allowed after the body has fully recovered and is even recommended to maintain normal levels of female hormones in the body. It is best to lead a measured lifestyle and eliminate bad habits.
Recommendations for patients
When uterine fibroids are detected, the attending physician is obliged to tell the woman in as much detail as possible what she is not recommended to do during treatment, and what she should limit herself to. Of course, you won’t have to completely abandon your usual way of life, but there are still some rules and they must be followed.
Thus, patients are prohibited from:
- Lift heavy loads.
- Strain your body with physical exercise.
- Bring yourself to the point of overwork.
- Drink plenty of fluids at night to prevent swelling of the uterus.
- Be exposed to stress.
- Take oral contraceptives without a doctor's recommendation.
- Have abortions.
- Undergo some health-improving physical procedures, go to baths, saunas, sunbathe on the beach.
Otherwise, the patients live normal lives. If you do not follow these recommendations, the risk of progression of uterine fibroids increases significantly.
Types of disease
Experts divide uterine fibroids into two types, which have their own characteristic features:
- Simple fibroid. Such a tumor rarely reaches large sizes, but without proper treatment it can transform into a more complex form of pathology. With a normal standard rate of tissue growth, a simple fibroid is diagnosed.
- Proliferating fibroids. This formation has increased hyperplasia and reaches large sizes. If a patient has a rapid tumor growth rate, then most likely proliferating uterine fibroids develop.
Based on the number of myomatous nodes, pathology is usually divided into:
- Single myoma.
- Multiple fibroids.
Depending on the location, there are:
- Myoma in the body of the uterus, this pathology occurs in 95% of cases.
- Myoma in the cervix, which is typical for 5% of cases of the disease.
There is also a classification that is based on the location and structure of the tissues that form fibroids:
- Leiomyoma - consists mainly of smooth muscle tissue.
- Fibroma, which consists of connective tissue.
- Fibroids - includes both muscle and connective tissue.
Experts tend to believe that a woman who has gone through pregnancy and childbirth is less susceptible to pathology, which can also be taken as one of the methods for preventing uterine fibroids.
Sports and fibroids
Many people are interested in the question: is it possible to play sports with uterine fibroids? It is impossible to answer this question in monosyllables, “yes” or “no”. Because some activities are allowed, but some will have to be abandoned. For example, you cannot do fitness, jump, lift dumbbells and barbells.
All those physical activities in which it is necessary to make sudden movements and excessively strain the pelvic organs are prohibited. If the uterine fibroids are located on a pedicle, then during such activities there is a high risk that the pedicle will twist. It can also cause rapid growth of the tumor and many other adverse effects.
Girls who watch their figure and often hoop can only use regular hoops. But if the tumor grows too quickly, then it is better not to twist them at all. If you have uterine fibroids, you cannot use models that are equipped with weights and various massage devices.
Also, if you have uterine fibroids, you should not pump your abs or otherwise load the pelvic organs. But there is one interesting fact that suggests that pumping up your abs is necessary to prevent tumors in the uterus. But if you already have it, you should refuse such an activity.
So is it possible to have sex with fibroids? If the size is small and there are no symptoms, it is resolved, but if the disease progresses and is accompanied by pain, bleeding and other unpleasant symptoms, then it is better to refuse sexual activity.
Is it possible to do massage with fibroids?
Any effects on the abdomen and hips that lead to increased blood flow in these parts of the body are contraindicated for uterine tumors. Therefore, anti-cellulite massage, abdominal massage, and gynecological massage should not be performed by women with this diagnosis.
At the same time, shoulders, arms, legs, upper back with fibroids can be massaged without fear.
For the same reason, the answer to the questions whether it is possible to do body wraps, visit a sauna, or take a hot bath with fibroids will be negative. All these procedures can provoke an increase in pathological nodes in the uterus.
Diagnostics
As a rule, detecting fibroids during a gynecological examination is not difficult. A two-manual vaginal examination reveals an enlarged, dense uterus with a tuberous surface.
Myomatous nodes with subserous location
The small size of uterine fibroids requires clarification of the diagnosis using ultrasound. In some cases, it becomes necessary to perform magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
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During hysteroscopy, submucosal myomatous nodes are identified and, if necessary, they are removed or biopsied.
