Types of Uterine Fibroids |
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A uterine fibroid is defined as a non-cancerous growth that appears on the smooth muscle layer or connective tissue of a woman's uterus. There are different ways of distinguishing the types of uterine fibroids - according to symptoms, according to malignancy, and according to location.
These are the types of uterine fibroids, according to symptoms: The first and more common type is asymptomatic, or those fibroids that do not exhibit symptoms. Experts believe that majority of the women who have uterine fibroids never even know that they have them. The second type of uterine fibroids is symptomatic, or those that exhibit symptoms. Common symptoms are heavy periods, painful sexual intercourse, gynecological hemorrhage, abdominal pain, and bloating. While the person with asymptomatic fibroids may go on with daily life normally, oblivious to her condition, the person with symptomatic fibroids is fully aware of hers, and may feel that her life is interrupted by the symptoms. These are the different types of uterine fibroids, classified according to malignancy: The first and more common of these are benign fibroids. Cancerous fibroids, called leiomyosarcoma, are very rare and are estimated to occur in only 1 out of 1000 fibroids. Experts are quick to add, however, that having benign fibroids does not necessarily increase the likelihood that a person will have cancerous fibroids. Neither does it increase the likelihood that the patient will develop other types of uterine cancer. Lastly, here are the types of uterine fibroids, classified according to location. The first type of uterine fibroid, called intramural fibroid is one that grows within the uterine wall. These are the most common kind. Depending on the size of the fibroid, it is normally asymptomatic. If it grows inward, it can cause distortion or the uterus. The second type is a submucosal fibroid, which is a fibroid that grows in the muscle under the endometrium of the uterus. There are more usually more serious because they grown within the uterine cavity. In this location even a small fibroid may be symptomatic and cause problems for the woman, such as bleeding and infertility. It may also form clusters and pass through to the cervix. The third type is subserosal fibroid, which can become very large. This type may grow in clusters and may separate from the uterus to form a cancerous, parasitic growth. Other types of fibroids are those that grow within the wall of the cervix (cervical fibroids), or those that grow in the supporting ligaments of the uterus. This last type of uterine fibroids is extremely rare. The types of uterine fibroids usually determines the treatment that will be recommended by the physician. Depending on the specific circumstances of a particular case, the physician may recommend surgery or pain management, according to the patient's own preferences, the actual level of discomfort being experienced by the patient, and whether or not the woman desires to have children after the surgery. A patient may also explore natural remedies and alternative methods of healing before considering such a step as undergoing surgical treatment. Back to Home Page |