About eighty percent of women have uterine fibroids by age fifty. Unfortunately, you may fail to get relevant treatment, given that some fibroids have no significant symptoms. Alate Health uses an MRI to test and assess the precise location and size to determine the best treatment plan. If you need treatment for uterine fibroids in Houston, TX, do not hesitate to call Alate Health or use the online booking tool for an appointment today.
About Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are fibrous or muscle tissue growths in the uterus. The four types of uterine fibroids include:
· Submucosal (fibroids within the deepest uterine lining)
· Pedunculated (stalk growing fibroids)
· Subserosal (fibroids in the outermost uterine layer)
· Intramural (muscle wall uterine fibroids)
Fibroids are not cancerous, but deliver significant health conditions like extended periods and heavy menses. The fibroid may be as large as a grapefruit, tiny like an apple seed, or fall between the two singularly or in a cluster.
Signs of Fibroids
Most patients with fibroids do not have symptoms. You are likely to discover your fibroid during a routine women’s wellness exam. If left unchecked, you may experience various health issues like:
- Clotting
- Anemia
- Fatigue
- Backache
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Leg pain
- Painful periods
- Pain during sex
- Periods over a week-long
- Urinary incontinence/frequent urination
- Frequent feeling of pelvic pressure
Fibroids cause heavy menstrual flow that requires changing pads or tampons at least every two hours. Fibroids may be the cause of infertility or improve your chances of having to opt for a Caesarean section when delivering a baby.
Causes of Uterine Fibroids
The main cause of uterine fibroids is quite unclear. This section highlights the major factors contributing to fibroids’ occurrence and the severity of symptoms among different women.
- Age. Fibroids are more prevalent among women between thirty-five and fifty years old. Chances of fibroids are minimal in your twenties and reduce further during menopause.
- Ethnicity. Fibroids tend to appear earlier and grow larger among African-American women compared to women from other ethnic groups.
- Genetics. Your vulnerability to uterine fibroids increases further if your mother and other family members are suffering from fibroids.
- Hormones. Hormones progesterone and estrogen appear during the childbearing years and are highly associated with fibroids among women.
- Lifestyle. You may reduce the chances of contracting fibroids through regular exercise, minimal alcohol intake, and toxins affecting the uterus.
- Reproduction. Women that have given birth are less vulnerable to fibroids. A pregnancy also protects you against fibroids owing to uterine changes after childbirth.
- Weight. Overweight women are more likely to develop fibroids. Eating fewer vegetables and fruits and too much red meat also serves as a major contributing factor.
Treatment for Fibroids at Alate Health
Treatment for fibroids depends on specific needs and symptoms. Alate Health uses minimally invasive treatments to deliver long-term relief without surgery or downtime.
The FDA-Approved treatment, uterine fibroid embolization, is ideal for shrinking fibroids. Your specialist creates an incision in the groin for catheter access. A slender catheter is inserted directly into an artery delivering blood to your fibroids. A measured dose of embolic agents is introduced to cut off the fibroid’s blood supply.
Cutting off blood supply to the fibroids deprives them of oxygen and essential nutrients it needs to thrive, making them fade away.
Wrapping Up
Before resorting to fertility-ending surgical procedures like hysterectomy, consider uterine fibroid embolization options for long-term relief through minimally invasive procedures. Use the online scheduling or call to book an appointment at Alate Health today.