Endometriosis and uterine fibroids are two distinct medical conditions that affect the female reproductive system. While they can both cause pelvic pain and abnormal bleeding, they have different causes and characteristics. Read on to learn about the differences between endometriosis and uterine fibroids and how Wombs Fertility & Reproductive Health Clinic, Pune, can help treat them.
Endometriosis is a condition in which the endometrium, the tissue lining your uterus, starts to grow outside. The tissue can grow anywhere in the pelvis, including the fallopian tubes, ovaries, vagina, ureters, and bladder. Sometimes it involves the organs beyond the pelvis, like the rectum, intestine, and even the diaphragm. The uncomfortable symptoms of endometriosis impact your routine life and activities. Endometrial tissue developing on other organs can inflame during menstrual periods due to its hormonal sensitivity.
The cause of endometriosis is still a mystery. However, some high-risk factors causing endometriosis are listed below:
The typical presenting symptom in women with endometriosis is pelvic pain during menses. Although many women suffer cramps throughout their periods, females with endometriosis suffer from extreme pain.
The following are other common symptoms and signs of endometriosis:
The four grades consider the amount of endometrial tissue, the number of organs involved, the severity of pelvic adhesions, and the state of the fallopian tube. Following is the classification of the grades:
Endometriosis treatment is aimed at reducing pain and improving fertility. Treatment options may include medication, hormone therapy, or surgery to remove endometrial tissue. It is important to consult with a doctor to develop a personalized treatment plan that addresses your individual symptoms and concerns.
During your consultation for endometriosis at Wombs Fertility & Reproductive Health Clinic, Pune, Dr. Jagrati Laad will assess the severity of your condition and advise for a transvaginal or abdominal ultrasound. Then, based on ultrasound reports and endometriosis grade, Dr. Jagrati will explain your medical and surgical treatment options and how they can benefit you in the long run.
Dr. Jagrati Laad will design an endometriosis treatment plan depending on the following factors:
The following procedures and treatments are commonly used to treat endometriosis:
Several methods of hormonal suppression are available, including the combination of progesterone and estrogen or simply progesterone. Birth control methods include oral birth control pills, a patch, a vaginal ring, a birth control shot, a Nexplanon implant, or an IUD. Women under these hormonal therapies experience lighter, less painful periods. However, these are not options for women planning pregnancy.
GnRH is a hormone that stops the hormones that trigger your menstrual cycle. Thus with this medication, your reproductive system is put on pause to treat endometriosis. Medication for GnRH can be administered intravenously, orally, or as a nasal spray.
Although these medications help with discomfort, your symptoms can return if you stop taking them. Most importantly, you shouldn’t take these medications while planning a pregnancy or when pregnant.
In laparoscopy, Dr. Jagrati Laad removes the lesions by inserting a laparoscope, a thin, tube-like instrument, into the body.
A laparotomy removes the dislodged endometrial tissue without harming healthy tissue.
In extreme cases, depending on the amount of endometriosis, scar tissue, and other uterine disorders, Dr. Jagrati Laad may advise removing your uterus.
Following a laparoscopy, you may feel exhausted for a few days. For two weeks after the procedure, Dr. Jagrati Laad may ask you not to drive, not to engage in sexual activity, and to avoid swimming or tub baths. Laparotomy recovery typically takes six weeks; however, it may take more or less. Compared to laparoscopy, laparotomy recovery is a bit complicated and takes longer. The recovery after a hysterectomy involves staying in the hospital for several days and taking about six weeks to fully recover before resuming normal physical activity.
The cost of endometriosis treatment in Pune depends on the specific procedures and treatments needed, as well as individual insurance coverage. Dr. Jagrati Laad will discuss the cost and payment options with you during your consultation.
Book ConsultationEndometriosis treatment can greatly improve symptoms such as pelvic pain and menstrual irregularities, as well as improve fertility. In addition, treating endometriosis can improve the overall quality of life and reduce the physical and emotional impact of the condition.
Most of the surgeries done to treat endometriosis are successful without any complications. However, in rare conditions, there can be damage to the bladder, intestines, nerves, or blood vessels. In addition, infection, bleeding, trouble urinating, vaginal or intestinal fistulas, and scar tissue formation can occur in some cases. Fortunately, Dr. Jagrati Laad has many years of experience and will ensure that to minimize the chances of any risks occurring.
It is important to remember that endometriosis can return after treatment, and regular check-ups and communication with Dr. Jagrati Laad are necessary to monitor symptoms and plan for any additional treatment.
Fibroids are a common type of growth in the pelvis. About 40-80% of people have fibroids.
Uterine fibroids are benign growths of the uterus that often appear during pregnancy. Uterine fibroids are also called leiomyomas.
Uterine fibroids are not associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and rarely progress to cancer. Fibroids vary in size from seedlings that the human eye cannot detect too large masses that distort or enlarge the uterus. You can have single or multiple fibroids. In extreme cases, multiple uterine fibroids can enlarge the uterus and reach the rib cage.
The cause of uterine fibroids is unknown. Generally, uterine fibroids occur in women of childbearing age. People of reproductive age have higher levels of estrogen and progesterone. Fibroids can also occur during and after menopause. High estrogen levels make fibroids more likely to swell, especially during pregnancy. Low estrogen levels are associated with fibroid contraction.
Fibroids have different growth patterns. It can grow slowly, rapidly, or stay the same size. Some fibroids grow rapidly, while others may shrink spontaneously. Many fibroids disappear when the uterus returns to normal size after pregnancy.
Other possible causes of fibroids are:
You may experience various symptoms with fibroids, which may not be the same symptoms experienced by other women.
Larger fibroids can the following symptoms:
Fibroid symptoms usually stabilize or disappear after menopause.
Not all fibroids cause symptoms. If you do not feel any symptoms, it is called asymptomatic fibroids.
There are four main types of fibroids:
Intramural fibroids: Intramural fibroids arise in the muscular wall of the uterus. Due to the location of intramural fibroids can grow and stretch the uterus due to their location. It can grow within body cavities.
Subserosal fibroids: These can become so large that one side of the uterus appears larger.
Pedunculated fibroids: Pedunculated Fibroids occur when a subserosal fibroid develops a trunk. This stem turns into a thin base that can support the tumor. When this happens, pedicled fibroids grow here.
Submucosal fibroids: Submucosal fibroids grow in the myometrium or the middle muscular layer of the uterus. This type of fibroid is less common than the other three.
If Dr. Jagrati Laad suspects fibroids, the doctor will first perform a pelvic examination to look for obvious signs. A pelvic examination can determine the number of fibroids, size, location if they grow over time, and treatment options. Some tests are also conducted to know more about fibroids:
Ultrasound: Ultrasound is the first diagnostic test Dr. Jagrati Laad will order to confirm its presence. Ultrasound uses sound waves to reflect images of the uterus. This helps doctors identify, map, and measure fibroid size. The ultrasound can be done externally with a device placed over the abdomen or with a transvaginal ultrasound.
Blood tests: In addition to imaging tests, Dr. Jagrati Laad may order blood tests to identify the cause of fibroid formation. Fibroids can also cause abnormal menstrual bleeding, indicative of anemia due to blood loss, bleeding disorders, or thyroid problems.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): If an ultrasound alone does not give a good view of your uterus and fibroids, Dr. Jagrati Laad may order an MRI scan to diagnose the problem better. This test provides details about fibroids’ size, growth, and location.
There are several options for treating fibroids. Treatment strategy depends on factors such as the number, size, location, age, and other issues of the fibroids. Common treatments include:
This treatment is for fibroids causing problems such as heavy menstrual bleeding, irregular menstrual cycles, and pelvic compression. Medications prescribed by Dr. Jagrati Laad can help regulate your hormones and get your menstrual cycle back on track. Some drugs work by shrinking fibroids. Dr. Jagrati Laad may prescribe a gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist. It blocks the body’s production of estrogen and progesterone, temporarily halting the menstrual cycle. As a result, uterine fibroids may shrink.
Another treatment Dr. Jagrati Laad may prescribe is a progestin IUD to help reduce excessive bleeding caused by fibroids.
Other drugs that regulate the menstrual cycle can also be used. You may also be asked to take pain relievers, vitamins, and iron to help relieve symptoms.
Non-invasive procedures to shrink fibroids may be a therapeutic option. MRI-guided focused ultrasound surgery uses an ultrasound transducer to pinpoint the exact location of a fibroid while the patient is in the MRI scanner, then focuses sound waves on that area to heat and contract the fibroid.
The technique is non-invasive, does not require an incision, is uterine-friendly, and can be performed on an outpatient basis.
Several minimally invasive surgeries can be considered to remove or reduce fibroids:
Uterine artery embolization is effective in shrinking fibroids. Blood flow to fibroids is stopped by injecting small particles of embolic agents into the arteries that supply blood to the uterus. This causes them to shrink and die and can also help treat other conditions.
Another procedure is radiofrequency ablation, which uses radiofrequency energy to constrict blood vessels into fibroids, effectively destroying them.
In laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy a small incision is made in your abdomen to remove fibroids.
Hysteroscopic myomectomy can be done for submucosal fibroids. In this procedure, instruments are inserted through the vagina and cervix to reach the uterus and remove fibroids.
Surgical treatments such as abdominal myomectomy and hysterectomy may also be considered when large, multiple fibroids continue to recur despite other treatments.
An abdominal myomectomy is a procedure that involves removing fibroids from the uterus through an abdominal incision.
A hysterectomy is the complete removal of the uterus and is the only permanent treatment of uterine fibroids. This procedure is permanent, so talk to your doctor before having a hysterectomy.
You can expect to feel better the day after the procedure. But you may get tired faster. You may have pain or cramps for many days after uterine fibroid embolization. But in some cases, pain can last for a couple of weeks.
There are potential risks associated with any surgical procedure, such as infection and bleeding. Dr. Jagrati Laad will discuss the specific risks of uterine fibroid treatment during the consultation.
The cost of uterine fibroid treatment in Pune depends on the size and number of fibroids, as well as the chosen treatment option. Dr. Jagrati Laad will discuss the cost with you during your consultation.
Book ConsultationDr. Jagrati Laad MD is an accomplished Obstetrician and Gynecologist specialist in Infertility Treatment. She has a Master's Degree in Medicine from SSG Hospital and Government Medical College Vadodara and is certified in Ultrasonography by FOGSI (The Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India). Her Fellowship in Infertility from the reputed Nadkarni Hospital and Test Tube Baby Centre, Vapi, Gujarat has given her hands-on experience in assisting couples with infertility issues. Dr. Laad is passionate about Infertility treatment, management of High-Risk Pregnancies, Hysteroscopy, Antenatal Care, Laparoscopic Surgery, Adolescence Gynecology, Family Planning, and Cancer Detection and Treatment. Her expertise and dedication to her specialty have enabled her to expand the horizons of her field.
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The aim of this website is to provide some clarity on the various complicated issues that arise when it comes to medical conditions. It's not meant to replace an actual consultation with a doctor but merely act as a starting point for your own research.
