Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that form in or around the uterus, and are typically confirmed with an ultrasound. These growths are quite common, and between 20 and 70 percent of all women will develop them at some point during their reproductive years. While these growths are almost always non-cancerous, they can result in several negative health complications. It’s important to understand the four different types of uterine fibroids, and to watch carefully for the associated symptoms.
When you receive your diagnosis, your doctor will let you know what type of uterine fibroids have been found. The types differ based on location, and what areas of the reproductive organs can be affected by the fibroid’s continued growth.
Intramural fibroids develop in between the muscular layers of the uterine wall. They can be classified as anterior (front), posterior (back), or fundal (upper), depending on which part of the uterus they are located.
Submucosal fibroids are the least common type of uterine fibroid, and grow in the middle muscular layer of the uterus called the myometrium and encroach on the inner layer of the uterus, the endometrium. Submucosal fibroids have been known to cause menstrual bleeding complications.
The most common type of fibroid, subserosal fibroids develop in the myometrium encroaching on the outside uterine membrane. These can continue to grow outward from the uterus, pushing out into the pelvis.
When submucosal or subserosal fibroids develop on stem or stalk, they are called pedunculated fibroids. These fibroids connect to the tip of these stalk, and can grow both outside and inside the cavity of the uterus.
Your doctor may have already diagnosed fibroids by physical exam usually followed by an ultrasound. Up to date PAP smear and an endometrial biopsy are also necessary to make sure there is no sign of cancer prior to considering UFE. Your doctor may also request an MRI of the pelvis to best characterize the type, number and size of your fibroids to provide with the best information on what to expect following treatment.
Every patient is different, and there is a possibility that uterine fibroids may produce no noticeable symptoms at all. But asymptomatic fibroids can continue to develop over the course of a woman’s reproductive lifetime and become symptomatic later on.
Symptoms may include excessive menstrual bleeding and what is termed bulk symptoms. The sheer size and position of the fibroids cause pressure on the uterus and surrounding organs. Bulk symptoms can include any of the following:
A UFE procedure is performed by a highly trained Vascular Interventional Radiologist, done with local anesthestic and under conscious sedation. While the patient is sedated and will not experience pain, they are allowed to remain conscious. A very tiny nick is made in the skin near the femoral artery in the groin or the radial artery in the wrist and a catheter is carefully guided to the pelvic arteries. An angiogram is performed injecting xray contrast to visualize the uterine arteries which are typically very enlarged. There are two uterine arteries, one on each side of the pelvis.
