Uterine fibroidsoften decrease aftermenopausewhen progesterone and estrogen levels drop,but not always.
Even though uterine fibroids are classified as tumors, they are almost always noncancerous.
Fibroids are something almost every woman experiences.
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Some women will never be aware of uterine fibroids because they have no symptoms.
They may only find out about a fibroid by accident while undergoing another procedure.
Other women with fibroids will struggle with abnormal menstrual cycles, fertility issues, and pain.
This article will discuss symptoms of fibroids after menopause, risk factors, and treatment options.
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What Are Fibroids?
Fibroids are made of muscle and fibrous tissue and can vary in size.
The hormones progesterone and estrogen affect the size of the fibroid and the rate at which it grows.
Fibroids can appear in various places in the uterus (womb).
They can also be free-floating on the outside of the uterus, attached by a stalk-like stem.
Fibroids are classified as benign tumors.
It is very rare for a fibroid to become cancerous.
How Are Fibroids Connected to Hormones?
Fibroid growth is fairly straightforward.
so you can grow, the fibroid needs to be fed by hormones like estrogen and progesterone.
Perimenopause is the transitional period leading up to menopause.
The average age of menopause in the United States is 52.
Thepostmenopauseperiod is the period after a woman has gone through menopause.
At this stage, the hormonal fluctuations tend to be less drastic and stay at a consistently low level.
Most fibroids will shrink during menopause when estrogen levels decline.
However, this is not the case for all women.
Some of the more common symptoms are:
Some women with fibroids have no symptoms.
They may only find out about a fibroid while undergoing another procedure.
Treatment
There are numerous options for treating fibroids, some more invasive than others.
While it is not a permanent solution, it is less invasive than surgical methods used to treat fibroids.
Myolysis is not recommended for pregnant women, as it can cause scarring in the uterus.
Next, the healthcare provider injects tiny plastic or gel particles through the tube.
These particles block blood flow to the fibroids, relieving symptoms and causing them to shrink.
It leaves the healthy areas of the uterus intact.
A myomectomy can be donelaparoscopically, via alaparotomy, or byhysteroscopy.
A laparotomy is a procedure that involves making a small incision in the wall of the abdomen.
Electricity or a mechanical equipment is used to cut or destroy the fibroids.
Hysterectomy
Ahysterectomyis a surgical procedure in which the uterus is removed.
In some cases, the ovaries are removed as well.
A hysterectomy is the only way to remove fibroids permanently in women who are not planning to become pregnant.
Unless they are treated with a hysterectomy, fibroids can grow back.
Summary
Uterine fibroids affect up to 80% of women in the United States.
These levels drop during menopause.
As a result, fibroids may shrink.
Some women, however, continue to experience symptoms of fibroids.
Treatments for fibroids range from hormone replacement therapy to surgery, including hysterectomy.
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