Table of contents
What are the fibroids?
There are 3 main types of myomatous nodes depending on their location:
- Submucosal – in the uterine cavity
- Intramural – in the thickness of the muscle of the uterus body
- Subserous – outside, on the uterus
- Intermediate: submucosal-intramural, subserosal-intramural.
What types of nodes have the worst effect on conception and carrying a pregnancy?
The location of a leiomyoma in the uterine cavity (submucosal) or on the border with the uterine cavity (intramural-submucosal) is the worst for the onset of pregnancy and bearing.
How do hormones affect leiomyoma?
Leiomyomas are highly sensitive to the influence of sex hormones. They have an increased number of estrogen receptors compared to the cells of normal myometrium. It is these hormones that contribute to the development of leiomyoma in the reproductive age, and in menopause, when the level of estradiol decreases significantly, fibroids stop growing. Also, thyroid gland dysfunction and hyperandrogenism (an increase in male sex hormones in the female body) have a significant impact on the development of uterine leiomyoma. It is important to know that excess weight in women stimulates an increase in the consumption of insulin and insulin-like growth factor, which can be a serious reason for the appearance and growth of fibroids.
The main thing to know about fibroids
Most leiomyomas are asymptomatic, although the presence of pain or heavy, prolonged menstrual discharge, failure to become pregnant often depends on their number, size, and location. Leiomyomas are usually diagnosed using ultrasound, so it is very important to undergo regular examinations by a gynecologist-endocrinologist.
The appearance and growth of uterine formations is a hormone-dependent process, therefore, proper support of endocrine health makes it possible to prevent the occurence of nodes’ formations and prevent their growth.