Overview

Among the most common tumors in women of childbearing age are uterine fibroids. Three out of four women will develop uterine fibroids during their lives. These noncancerous growths of the uterus are often harmless. Fibroids are also called uterine fibroids, uterine tumors, leiomyomata (singular - leiomyoma) and myomas or myomata (singular - myoma).

What Is A Fibroid?

A fibroid is a growth that is made out of tissue. This tissue will generally form a tumor, and will have to be removed in order to avoid forming cancer. Fibroids are the most common growths in a woman's reproductive system. Many women with fibroids have no symptoms at all, while others have symptoms ranging from heavy bleeding and pain to incontinence or infertility.

Types Of Fibroid

There are different kinds of fibroid on uterus and mostly they are identified depending with where they are located in the uterus. There are three primary types of fibroid tumors: Intramural, Submucosal and Subserosal.

A woman may have one or all of these types of fibroids. It is common for a woman to have multiple fibroid tumors and it may be difficult to understand which fibroid is causing your symptoms.

Causes Of Fibroid

causes of fibroid

No one knows for sure what causes fibroids. Researchers have some theories, but most likely, fibroids are the result of many factors interacting with each other. These factors could be genetic alterations, hormones like estrogen and progesterone, and other chemicals such as insulin-like growth factor that may affect fibroid growth.

Symptoms Of Fibroid

Some of the common symptoms are:

Heavy Or Irregular BleedingLonger Menstrual PeriodsPelvic PainFrequent UrinationConstipationBackache Or Leg PainTiredness From Blood Loss

The most common symptom is prolonged and heavy bleeding during menstruation. Tell your doctor if you have sudden, unexplained severe vaginal bleeding or sharp pelvic pain.

Diagnosis For Fibroid

When fibroids are large enough to cause symptoms, your doctor can detect it through pelvic examination. Even if there are no symptoms, your doctor can easily detect it as the fibroids bulges out from your lower abdomen. To confirm you have fibroids the other diagnostic methods used by doctors are ultrasound scan, hysteroscopic examination, laparoscopic examination, MRI or CT scans.

Follow-up tests such as Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), X-rays and CAT scan (CT) can provide more information, such as the type, size, and location of the fibroid and any affect on your uterus or surrounding organs.

Preparing For Fibroid Surgery

Understanding the process and your role in preparing for your fibroid surgery will help you recover more quickly and have fewer problems.

Your doctor will begin with a physical examination and discuss any medications you are taking and should stop taking. You may need to arrange for potential blood replacement, including donating your own blood, medical interventions and other treatments. If overweight, try to lose weight, stop taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory medications, and stop smoking. Have any tooth, gum, bladder or bowel problems treated before surgery, and eat a balanced diet supplemented by a daily multivitamin with iron.

Arrange for someone who can take you home from hospital, and do not drink or eat anything within 24 hours of the surgery. After the procedure, begin with a light meal and take your pain medicine as directed.

Top Fibroid Surgery Hospitals In India

These leading hospitals across India have dedicated gynaecology and laparoscopic surgery departments performing fibroid surgery with advanced, minimally invasive techniques.

View More Hospitals

Post Operative Care After Fibroid Surgery

Full recovery will take about 2-4 weeks. When you return home, follow your doctor's instructions carefully. Wear sanitary pads or napkins to absorb blood, as the first menstruation after the procedure may be heavier than normal. Try to walk often to decrease the risk of blood clots, and take medicines as prescribed by your doctor.

You can bath or shower as normal, gently washing the incision area with mild soap. Ask your doctor when you will be able to return to work and drive, resume sexual activity, and resume strenuous activity — you may need to wait 2-6 weeks.

Recovering After Fibroid Surgery

Full recovery from an open surgery takes 4 to 6 weeks, while for a laparoscopic uterine fibroids, recovery time is typically about 2 to 4 weeks. After surgery, use sanitary pads, not tampons, for bleeding, get moving as soon as possible to prevent blood clots and take pain medication as directed by your physician. Patients should get plenty of rest, avoid heavy lifting for 6 weeks, and avoid sexual intercourse until the doctor says it's okay. Contact your doctor if your pain worsens or you develop a fever, nausea, vomiting or heavy bleeding.

Advanced Treatment Options For Fibroid Surgery

Other treatments for fibroids exist and are supported by small studies. These treatments include myolysis (destruction of fibroid tissue using heat or cold) and laparoscopic uterine artery ligation (tying off the main blood supply to the uterus to shrink the fibroid). These treatments are not widely performed and it is best to speak directly with a doctor about the details of their availability and safety.

Fibroid Surgery In India

Medical tourism offers low cost Fibroid surgery in India for International patients. 1000?s of female patients come to India for their Fibroid Surgery under some of the best fertility surgeons who have huge experience and expertise in this field. When compared, cost of fibroid surgery in India is 30-40% less than any other medical tourism country in the world without any question on the quality that is also maintained. Fibroid Surgery in India is provided at best hospitals at low cost by interdisciplinary teams of specialists and delivers top-quality surgery combined with an active commitment to personalized care in an ambience of comfort and convenience. The various benefits of fibroid surgery in India are not just limited to medical treatment, in fact latest medical facilities combined with Indian hospitality ensure that your journey to India is hassle free.

Fibroid Surgery in India is available in the following cities:

MumbaiHyderabadKerala
DelhiPuneGoa
BangaloreNagpurJaipur
ChennaiGurgaonChandigarh

Cost Of Fibroid Surgery In India

The cost of fibroid surgery in India is much less when it is compared with the other western countries. Below table gives a generalized idea about the cost difference between India and United States:

TreatmentUnited StatesIndia
Hysterectomy42,0003,300
Myomectomy42,0003,600
Uterine Artery Embolization48,0003,300
Costs include surgeon fee, hospital stay, OT charges, and anaesthesia. All costs are approximate; final cost based on patient's condition.