Difference between uterine muscle and uterine fibroids

The uterus is the most important reproductive organ in the female body and often plays an indispensable role for women. However, due to some bad living habits and eating habits of women, some diseases always occur. Among them, uterine polyps and uterine fibroids are relatively common gynecological diseases. They are particularly harmful to women's bodies. However, because the two have similar phenomena, they are sometimes easy to be confused, which will have a certain impact on treatment. In order to better distinguish the two diseases, let's understand the difference between uterine polyps and uterine fibroids.

The difference between uterine polyps and uterine fibroids

Uterine polyps are a manifestation of chronic cervicitis and are more common in married women. Chronic inflammation stimulates the local mucosal hyperplasia of the cervical canal for a long time. The uterus has a tendency to expel foreign bodies, causing the hyperplastic mucosa to gradually protrude from the base to the external os of the cervix to form polyps.

Clinical manifestations: Uterine polyps are easily overlooked. Because more than 1/3 of patients lack obvious symptoms.

1. Bleeding. It is mainly a small amount of spotting, bright red bleeding, or a small amount of bleeding after sexual intercourse, which is sometimes mistaken for "menstruation". In a few people, the amount of bleeding may be similar to menstruation. It may also present as postmenopausal vaginal bleeding.

2. Abnormal leucorrhea. Some patients may have yellow leucorrhea, most of which have an odor or contain blood.

3. Unmarried patients often present with swelling protruding from the vaginal opening.

The most common type of cervical polyp is a localized endometrial tumor that protrudes into the uterine cavity. It can be single or multiple, gray-red, shiny, and generally small in size, with an average diameter of 0.5 to 2 cm. The small ones are only 1 to 2 mm in diameter, while the large and multiple ones can fill the uterine cavity. The pedicles vary in thickness and length, and the longer ones may protrude beyond the cervical opening. Some have shorter pedicles and grow diffusely. The surface of the polyp often has hemorrhagic necrosis and may also be infected. If the pedicle is twisted, hemorrhagic infarction may occur.

Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors in the female reproductive organs and one of the most common tumors in the human body. They are also called fibroids and uterine fibroids. Since uterine fibroids are mainly formed by the proliferation of uterine smooth muscle cells, with a small amount of fibrous connective tissue existing as a supporting tissue, it is more accurate to call them uterine leiomyomas. Referred to as uterine fibroids.

Common clinical symptoms include:

(1) Uterine bleeding is the most common symptom of uterine fibroids, occurring in more than half of patients.

(2) Abdominal masses and compression symptoms When the fibroids gradually grow and cause the uterus to enlarge to more than the size of a 3-month pregnant uterus or become a large subserosal fibroid located at the fundus of the uterus, a mass can often be felt in the abdomen, which is more obvious in the early morning when the bladder is full. The mass was solid, movable, and non-tender.

(3) Pain: Uterine fibroids generally do not cause pain, but many patients may complain of a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen and pain in the waist and back. When the pedicle of subserosal fibroids is twisted or uterine fibroids undergo red degeneration, acute abdominal pain may occur. It is not uncommon for fibroids to be combined with endometriosis or adenomyosis, which may cause dysmenorrhea.

(4) Increased vaginal discharge. Enlargement of the uterine cavity, increase in endometrial glands, and pelvic congestion can cause increased vaginal discharge. When submucosal fibroids of the uterus or cervix ulcerate, become infected, or necrotic, bloody or purulent leucorrhea will be produced.

(5) Infertility and miscarriage Some patients with uterine fibroids are infertile or prone to miscarriage. The impact on conception and pregnancy outcomes may be related to the growth location, size and number of the fibroids. Giant uterine fibroids can cause deformation of the uterine cavity, hindering the implantation of the gestational sac and the growth and development of the embryo; fibroids compressing the fallopian tubes can lead to obstruction of the lumen; submucosal fibroids can hinder the implantation of the gestational sac or affect the entry of sperm into the uterine cavity. The spontaneous abortion rate in patients with fibroids is higher than that in the normal population, with a ratio of about 4:1.

(6) Anemia: Long-term menorrhagia or irregular vaginal bleeding can cause hemorrhagic anemia. More severe anemia is more common in patients with submucosal fibroids.

(7) A very small number of patients with uterine fibroids may develop polycythemia and hypoglycemia, which are generally believed to be related to the production of ectopic hormones by the tumor.

The above is an introduction to the differences between uterine polyps and uterine fibroids. After understanding them, we will be able to better distinguish the two diseases based on symptoms and clinical manifestations, so that the treatment of the disease will not be delayed during the treatment process. At the same time, when a disease occurs, do not always blindly take medicine to solve it yourself. This will not help the treatment of the disease at all.