How much does uterine fibroids grow in a year

As an important organ of women, the uterus cannot escape the trouble of disease. Uterine fibroids is a relatively friendly disease. Because the chance of it becoming diseased is relatively small, most of the time it is benign and just grows every year, so it needs to be surgically removed. Generally speaking, the growth rate of uterine fibroids is about 1 cm per year, but the growth rate will increase when the total length of the fibroids exceeds 5 cm. However, medically, fibroids over 5 cm can be surgically removed.

1. How big does a uterine fibroid grow in a year?

Uterine fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyoma, are the most common benign tumors of the female reproductive system. Most cases are asymptomatic, while a few may present with vaginal bleeding, abdominal masses, and compression symptoms. It may cause pain if the pedicle is twisted or other conditions occur. Multiple uterine fibroids are common. Generally speaking, the growth rate of fibroids is 1 cm per year. In medicine, a fibroid size > 5cm is considered one of the indications for surgical treatment. Generally, the growth of fibroids will accelerate significantly when they exceed 5 cm.

2. Symptoms of uterine fibroids

1. Irregular menstruation

Irregular menstruation with increased menstrual flow and prolonged menstrual period is the most common symptom of uterine fibroids. It is more common in large intramural fibroids and submucosal fibroids. Fibroids enlarge the uterine cavity, increase the area of ​​the endometrium and affect uterine contraction. In addition, fibroids may compress the veins near the tumor, causing congestion and dilation of the endometrial venous plexus, thereby causing increased menstrual flow and prolonged menstruation. When submucosal fibroids are accompanied by necrosis and infection, there may be irregular vaginal bleeding or bloody purulent discharge. Long-term excessive menstrual flow may lead to anemia, fatigue, palpitations and other symptoms.

2. Lower abdominal mass

When the fibroids are small, no lump can be felt in the abdomen. However, when the fibroids gradually increase in size and the uterus exceeds the size of a 3-month pregnancy, they can be felt from the abdomen. Giant submucosal fibroids can prolapse outside the vagina, and patients may seek medical attention due to prolapse of the vulva.

3. Increased leucorrhea

Intramural fibroids increase the area of ​​the uterine cavity, increase the secretion of endometrial glands, and are accompanied by pelvic congestion, which leads to increased leucorrhea. Once submucosal uterine fibroids are infected, there may be a large amount of pus-like leucorrhea. If there is ulceration, necrosis, or bleeding, there may be bloody or purulent vaginal discharge with a foul odor.

4. Compression symptoms

Fibroids in the lower segment of the anterior wall of the uterus can compress the bladder and cause frequent and urgent urination; cervical fibroids can cause difficulty urinating and urinary retention; fibroids on the posterior wall of the uterus (isthmus or posterior wall) can cause symptoms such as lower abdominal distension and discomfort and constipation. Broad ligament myomas or giant cervical myomas develop laterally, embed into the pelvic cavity, compress the ureter, and cause obstruction of the upper urinary tract, resulting in ureteral dilatation and even hydronephrosis.

5. Other symptoms

Including lower abdominal distension, back pain, and aggravated menstrual symptoms. When the fibroids turn red, there will be acute lower abdominal pain, accompanied by vomiting, fever and local tenderness of the tumor; torsion of the pedicle of subserosal fibroids may cause acute abdominal pain; and abdominal pain may also be caused when submucosal fibroids are discharged from the uterine cavity. Submucosal and intramural fibroids that cause deformation of the uterine cavity can cause infertility or miscarriage.

3. What are the hazards of uterine fibroids

1. Infertility or miscarriage

If fibroid tissue appears in the uterine cornu, it may compress the entrance of the fallopian tube, preventing sperm from ascending to the fallopian tube and combining with the egg, thereby affecting conception; it may cause deformation of the uterus, hinder the implantation of the fertilized egg and hinder conception. Even if the fertilized egg has implanted, larger fibroids combined with pregnancy can easily cause miscarriage due to mechanical obstruction of embryonic development and uterine cavity infection.

2. Cause gynecological inflammation

Uterine fibroids can cause pelvic congestion and infection, among which the infection caused by fibroids is mostly caused by pedicle torsion. After infection, abscesses may form in the fibroid tissue of a few patients, and suppuration may occur. At the same time, pathogenic bacteria after fibroid infection can invade other nearby organs, causing gynecological diseases such as adnexitis and pelvic inflammatory disease.

3. Secondary anemia

Uterine fibroids can cause excessive menstrual bleeding in patients. Over time, patients will develop secondary anemia, manifested by symptoms such as general fatigue, pale complexion, palpitations and shortness of breath.

4. Malignant lesions

In a minority of women, malignant changes in uterine fibroids may turn into sarcomas, which can cause vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain. In late stages, the fibroids can spread through the bloodstream, directly spread, and metastasize to multiple parts of the body through the lymph nodes.