What Are Uterine Fibroids?

[00:00:00] Hello everyone, thank you so much for joining me to watch this video. Today I'm going to be talking about uterine fibroids and how they can impact fertility. Now these are very common amongst women of reproductive age and understanding uterine fibroids and what they do within the body is really crucial for those who are trying to conceive. So what are uterine fibroids? So uterine fibroids or lyomeomas are non-cancerous growths that develop in the muscle tissue within lyomeomas are non-cancerous growths that develop in the muscle tissue within [00:00:32] the uterus. Like many reproductive conditions we actually don't know for certain what causes them but they're usually to do with hormonal imbalances and kind of genetic factors attached to them as well and possibly maybe some environmental factors also. Uterine fibroids are extremely common with some women never even knowing that they had them at all. A lot of women don't have any symptoms and might find out later that they have uterine fibroids and many symptoms and might find out later that they have uterine fibroids and many [00:01:00] women also conceive naturally and have safe healthy pregnancies while still having uterine fibroids. However I would recommend an early diagnosis if you do have any symptoms because sometimes they can cause complications while trying to conceive. So there are four different types of uterine fibroids. Some will have more of an impact on fertility and others might not cause any symptoms and won 't have such a strong impact on fertility but again early diagnosis is important. [00:01:26] have such a strong impact on fertility but again early diagnosis is important. So these four types are and the first one is intramural and as you can see I've written here and if you look at the diagram it's pointing to the fibroids you need to pay attention to so they tend to grow within the muscle wall. Again they don't cause major protrusions and don't necessarily interrupt the lining of the uterus not always anyway. Then you have sub-serosal and if you see them they [00:01:51] tend to develop on the outer surface of the uterus so not necessarily again within the cavity and then you have sub-mucosal. These again can cause perhaps within the cavity and then you have sub-mucosal. These again can cause perhaps more issues because they do protrude into the cavity changing the lining in the shape of the uterus and can cause blockages. So sometimes when you have sub-mucosal these can definitely cause issues while trying to conceive. And can maybe impact your pregnancy so again early diagnosis is really important. And then the last one you have pedunculated which tend to grow on a [00:02:25] stalk if you look at the diagram either inside or outside of the uterus. So stalk if you look at the diagram either inside or outside of the uterus. So again some may be not posing any major concern when it comes to conce- conception but some will. However if you do have any symptoms and I'll go through those in the next slide please do try and get checked out and see if five boys are an issue for you. So quickly just before I move on to symptoms to look out for so that you can get an early diagnosis just to quickly go [00:02:53] through the effects on fertility. So as I discussed in the last slide the size of the fibroid and where it's located in the uterus can alter the actual shape of the fibroid and where it's located in the uterus can alter the actual shape of a uterus and again in the second point it can cause blockages particularly if they block the fallopian tubes this of course will cause issues with conception. It [00:03:13] can also stop implantation from happening depending on where the fibroid is and also reduce the blood flow because obviously this is a growth and needs blood flow as well so it can actually be calling on the blood flow to the uterus. So this is where fibroids can cause issues. And lastly hormonal uterus. So this is where fibroids can cause issues. And lastly hormonal imbalances. Many women myself included who suffer from uterine fibroids content to have an estrogen dominance and can also suffer with progester and insufficiencies and these are really important hormones that need [00:03:45] to be at a good balanced state whilst trying to conceive. So moving on now to symptoms to look out for to get an early diagnosis because you do not want these things affecting your chances of conception. So symptoms and diagnosis the main thing you want to look out for is are you suffering from very heavy and main thing you want to look out for is are you suffering from very heavy and also irregular menstrual bleeding. So if you find that during your period you are going through you know maybe on day two and day three possibly day four. [00:04:12] Lots and lots of pads lots of tampons you're experiencing pain also. Quite thick blood clots that are coming out during these days during your period. You're staining your clothes because the pads not enough perhaps staining bedland as well at night and also at different stages during your period you might have well at night and also at different stages during your period you might have heavy days they tend to subside and then they come back again and also out of your sort of seven-day window when you normally have your period. If you're [00:04:42] finding on say day 14 and at random times you'll suddenly have a big heavy bleed or even sort of a bit of spotting that leads to proper red blood that is a definite sign that you could possibly have uterine fibroids. The best thing to do is to go and get checked out and that is usually via ultrasound. Can usually