What to Watch Out For If You Have Degenerating Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are growths in the uterus that could remain undetected for years. Sometimes, these don’t require treatment. But when they affect one or more bodily functions, it’s best to seek medical help. The same goes for degenerating fibroids.
How the Degeneration Happens
Before talking about degeneration, it’s best to discuss how fibroids start to develop. It all begins with abnormal cell growth in the uterine walls. The blood plays a role because it supplies the nutrients needed by the growing cells.
In some cases, the fibroids remain small and don’t cause any health problem. However, there are those that keep on growing and multiplying.
When a fibroid becomes too big, the blood vessels may no longer serve it. As a result, many of its cells will die. This is also known as degeneration. This seems like a good thing, but it actually comes with pain and swelling.
How the Degeneration Gets Worse
Pregnant women who have degenerating fibroids suffer worse. In some cases, the fibrous growths are only limited within the wall. However, bulging types also exist. These include the submucosal type, which tends to project into the uterine walls.
The attachment of the fibroid to the walls can become thin afterwards. Such attachment is known as the stalk. When the stalk gets twisted and/or cut off, expect a more painful kind of degenerating fibroid. The pain tends to last longer, too.
The problem with degenerating uterine fibroids is that they may recur. As many of the cells die, the fibroid shrinks. Consequently, blood vessels can supply their minimal needs once again.
The returning supply of nutrients promote cell growth once more. When the fibroid become bigger, the supply will stop. Then, it will degenerate once again.
Link to Vaginal Itching
The degeneration can cause spotting or heavier menstrual flow. It may also come with unpleasant odor. Some women experience vaginal itching while others don’t. In some instances, the itching has a lot to do with the way the women manage those effects.
Link to Lymph Nodes
The said fibroids aren’t usually fatal. However, they may become deadly when they metastasized to the lungs. Such incident is rare though.
Aside from the lungs, the degenerating fibroids may also affect lymph nodes in the groin. The fibroids won’t directly cause swollen lymph nodes. However, they can increase the risk for swelling in some ways.
Before the degeneration starts or recurs, the bulging fibroid can help trigger UTI. The infection can then cause swelling in the nearby lymph nodes.
Serious Health Problems Arising from Degenerating Fibroids
The pain from the said fibroids affect the quality of your life in many ways. It can make intercourse unbearable. The vaginal discharges can trigger anxieties. The random cramps may also disrupt your day-to-day activities. The fibrous growths and their degeneration can trigger or worsen anemia as well.
Treatment Options
Common fibroids may be removed through surgeries or medications. As for the degenerating type, embolization is an emerging popular treatment. This option is a form of non-surgical removal of the degenerating uterine fibroids. It’s also deemed less painful than any other option.
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