Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are not the kind of ‘bun’ most of us expect to find growing in the oven - Moms Who Think
image by: The Fibroid Foundation
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The Fibroid epidemic in black women
Fibroids affect more than 40% of women, occurring 3 times more in black women. In fact, studies show that fibroids actually occur more frequently and at younger ages in black women than in women of any other race. For many of these women, younger onset and larger fibroids can lead to very severe symptoms of bleeding and pain.
Some may wonder if this disproportionate effect on black women is the result of genetics, or the social inequities in the US healthcare system. It is no secret that many minority groups do not have the same access to healthcare and insurance in the US, despite the recent improvements in healthcare coverage. What is even more problematic is that there is no free…
Resources
The FDA Owes Patients Improved Medical Device Regulation After Dr. Amy Reed's Death
The fact that morcellation went unchecked for so many years following approval, as well as the FDA’s response, highlights critical gaps in the regulatory process.
Uterine Fibroid Blog
The source for women's health and fibroids
A common problem few women want to talk about: Fibroids cause more than just pain
By age 50, about seven out of 10 white women and more than eight out of 10 black women in the United States have a condition about which they may not even be aware: fibroids, or noncancerous tumors in the muscles of the uterus.
A Hysterectomy Is Not the Only Option for Treating Fibroids
QUESTION: I have been diagnosed with two huge uterine fibroids. They have caused me a great deal of discomfort. A gynecologist has recommended that I should have a hysterectomy -- an operation that would remove my uterus. Are there any other treatments that would permit me to keep my uterus? ANSWER: There are numerous treatments for fibroids -- and some of them may be appropriate for you. So, you are certainly prudent to consider other options.
A Less-Invasive Procedure to Treat Fibroids
Many women with fibroids have a hysterectomy, a complete removal of the uterus, or a myomectomy, a removal of just the fibroids. Laparoscopic power morcellation is a common technique to break up tissue so those surgeries can be performed through tiny incisions but it has come under intense scrutiny. Compared with hysterectomy and myomectomy, embolization offers a shorter hospital stay and a faster return to normal activities.
Are Routine, Minimally Invasive Surgeries for Fibroids Safe?
Recently, the routine use of the morcellator device has been under critical scrutiny for concerns about its safety in the setting of removing uterine masses. Seidman et al, in their study of 1091 uterine morcellations, state: "While additional study is warranted, these data suggest uterine morcellation carries a risk of disseminating unexpected malignancy with apparent associated increase in mortality much higher than appreciated currently.
Eliminate Fibroids and Eliminate an Incision
If you have fibroids and have been told that hysterectomy is your only option, it is worth asking your doctor if you are a candidate for hysteroscopic myomectomy. If he or she doesn’t seem familiar with the procedure, or doesn’t offer it, a second opinion is in order.
Fibroids 101
Fibroids are a common gynecological diagnosis, often misrepresented yet rarely ignored. Fibroids (also known as myomas or leiomyoma) are benign (non-cancerous) growths in the uterus (womb). They can be attached to the wall of the uterus by a stalk, may grow into the wall of the uterus, jut out into the cavity of the uterus or appear on the outside of the uterus. Growth of fibroids fluctuates with hormone levels.
Fibroids, infertility and laparoscopic myomectomy
It can be concluded that laparoscopic myomectomy, when performed by an experienced surgeon, can be considered a safe technique with an extremely low failure rate and good results in terms of pregnancy outcome.
Fibroids: Time to End the Stigma
It’s common for women to experience weariness and discomfort during their periods. Yet few want anyone else to know they’re having such symptoms. Menstruation, in the words of Karen Houppert, author of The Curse: Confronting the Last Unmentionable Taboo, has a “culture of concealment” that associates periods with embarrassment and disgust. In part because of this stigma, women with heavy periods often presume they just have to suffer with their symptoms and may take a long time to get medical care. Despite their prevalence, fibroids have been understudied, especially among black women, who suffer disproportionately from the condition.
For Women of Child-Bearing Age, What to Know About Painful Fibroids
Fibroids are the most commonly occurring pelvic tumors, affecting as many as one in five women of reproductive age — and as many as half of women age 35 or older. But most women with fibroids may never have symptoms or they may be so mild they never know the growths are there.
If You’re a Black Woman Considering Fibroid Surgery, You Must Read This
Minimally invasive fibroid removal can pose big risks.
Myomectomy
Myomectomy is an operation to remove fibroid tumours (myomas) from the uterus. This retains the uterus, and is an alternative treatment to hysterectomy. It is sometimes a more difficult operation than hysterectomy but preserves reproductive choice for the patient.
No “best” treatment for common uterine fibroids
Given how common uterine fibroids are, you’d think there would be a lot of research comparing treatment options. In fact, there are only a few randomized trials to guide treatment.
Removing Uterine Fibroids Laparoscopically
Before the advent of laparoscopy, uterine fibroids were often removed by surgical hysterectomy. The author describes a number of alternative treatments, including GnRH agonists and laparoscopic coagulation with the Nd:YAG laser and bipolar needles.
The Fibroid epidemic in black women
Some may wonder if this disproportionate effect on black women is the result of genetics, or the social inequities in the US healthcare system. It is no secret that many minority groups do not have the same access to healthcare and insurance in the US, despite the recent improvements in healthcare coverage.
British Fibroid Trust
British Fibroid Trust is set up for women with fibroids. We aim to: •Inform you what fibroids are and all available treatment options with the possible side effects so that you together with your gynaecologist can make informed choice on your suitable & appropriate treatment. •Be a venue/platform where women with fibroids can ease their anxiety by exchanging their experiences and discussing their concerns with each other. •Campaign for more research into the understanding of the cause(s), early detection and diagnosis and better treatments.
Fibroid Treatment Collective
Your doctor just told you to have a hysterectomy for your fibroids. Before you do anything, learn more about the advantages of Uterine Fibroid Embolization.
Fibroids.co.uk
This website presents information on uterine fibroids and current methods of treatment particularly Uterine Fibroid Embolisation. ( embolization ). Also called UAE - uterine artery embolisation.
Curawave
Curawave MR Guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is a non-invasive, non-surgical, outpatient procedure that helps relieve fibroid symptoms and enables many women to return to normal activity within days.
FibroidSecondOpinion.com
Recent developments in gynecology have expanded the treatment alternatives now available to women with fibroids. I wrote and designed this website to provide women with comprehensive and easy-to-understand information about fibroids and state-of-the-art treatments available.
MomsWhoThink
A uterine fibroid tumor may sound very scary. Generally it is not an uncommon or alarming condition. As many as one in four women have fibroid growths at some point in their lives. The most common occurrence of fibroids is during the childbearing years.
NHS
Treatment may not be necessary in cases where there are no symptoms of fibroids, or where symptoms are minor and your everyday activities are not significantly affected.
UpToDate
Your doctor might recommend a surgical treatment for fibroids if: ●You have fibroid-related heavy menstrual bleeding, pain, or pressure that does not get better with medical treatments ●You are trying to get pregnant and fibroids appear to be interfering
World Laparoscopy Hospital
Frequently asked questions about treatment of fibroids.
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