Fibroids vs. Endometriosis
There is often confusion between Fibroids vs Endometriosis. This misunderstanding has merit considering both conditions involve the uterus and both cause pelvic pain. However, their causes and treatments are different.
What are Fibroids?
Fibroids, also known as a ‘Uterine Myoma’ are most commonly identified as non-cancerous growths or tumours inside the uterus during childbearing years which may or may not be painful. The size of fibroids ranges from tiny seedlings to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus. Sometimes these tumours become quite large and cause severe abdominal pain and heavy periods. In other cases, they cause no signs or symptoms at all. In women who have symptoms, the most common are: heavy menstrual bleeding, menstrual periods lasting more than a week, pelvic pressure or pain, frequent urination, difficulty emptying the bladder, constipation, backache or leg pains.
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a painful disorder in which tissue grows outside your uterus, on your ovaries, bowel, and the tissues lining your pelvis.In the case of endometriosis, hormonal changes of your menstrual cycle affect the misplaced endometrial tissue, causing the area to become inflamed and painful. This means that the tissue will grow, thicken, and break down.
Over time, the tissue that has broken down has nowhere to go and becomes trapped in your pelvis. Pelvic pain is the most common symptom of endometriosis. You may also have the following symptoms: painful periods, pain in the lower abdomen before and during menstruation, cramps one or two weeks around menstruation, heavy menstrual bleeding or bleeding between periods, infertility, pain following sexual intercourse, discomfort with bowel movements, lower back pain that may occur at any time during your menstrual cycle.
Treatment of Endometriosis
Treatments for endometriosis usually include surgery or medication. Your doctor may prescribe a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. This medicine stops the body from making the hormones responsible for ovulation, the menstrual cycle, and the growth of endometriosis. This treatment causes temporary menopause, but it also helps control the growth of endometriosis.
Treatment of Fibroids
Fibroid Care in South Africa focuses on fibroid treatment through uterine fibroid embolisation (UFE) also known as uterine artery embolisation (UAE). The fibroid embolisation treatment is a non-surgical, minimally invasive fibroids treatment alternative for the control of symptomatic uterine fibroids. Fibroid Care uses the trans-radial approach for fibroid embolisation. Unlike many other fibroid treatments in South Africa, the uterus is preserved, making pregnancy possible after fibroid treatment. Due to the relatively new nature of uterine fibroid embolisation treatment in Southern Africa (fibroid in surgery treatment – non-surgical), many gynaecologists are not familiar with this revolutionary option.
While both conditions will cause pelvic pain and your menstrual cycle being extended to longer periods, it will be beneficial to find out the specific reason. Both endometriosis and fibroids can be treated by your health practitioner.
Need Information on Fibroids Treatment?
At Fibroid Care, we specialise in uterine fibroid embolisation(UFE), a safe minimally invasive alternative to surgery.
We are available to guide you through the process, answer your questions and help you make an informed decision.
Reach out to today for expert advice, or book a consultation to discuss the symptoms and treatment in more detail.