Do I need surgery for uterine tumors?

Many people have a vague definition of uterine fibroids, and believe that the disease will develop into uterine cancer, and even affect life in severe cases. In fact, uterine fibroids are a curable disease, but with the emergence of adverse factors, the tumor will grow larger and there is a chance of recurrence. Some people also believe that uterine fibroids must be treated with surgery, otherwise the disease will become complicated. So, does uterine fibroids require surgery? According to relevant experts, uterine fibroids do not require surgery.

Single fibroids larger than 5 cm, multiple uterine fibroids that enlarge the uterus to the size of a two and a half month pregnancy, heavy menstrual flow that leads to anemia and poor response to drug treatment, or fibroids in special locations such as submucosal fibroids and cervical fibroids, all require surgery as soon as possible depending on the situation, and perimenopausal patients need to be treated appropriately.

The location and size of the fibroids, as well as the patient's age, reproductive status, and severity of symptoms should also be taken into consideration. As for whether the ovaries and fallopian tubes should be removed, even more caution is required. Because the ovaries are the main organs for maintaining female characteristics, if both ovaries are removed, the main source of female hormones will be lost, and injections or medication will be needed to supplement the hormone deficiency. Therefore, ovarian removal is generally avoided as much as possible, especially for women under 40 years old.

According to statistics, about 15% of middle-aged women over 35 years old suffer from uterine fibroids. The chance of uterine fibroids worsening is very small, generally less than 1%. Therefore, most fibroids do not require surgery, only regular follow-up checks. However, surgery may be necessary as soon as possible if:

1. Uterine fibroids cause heavy bleeding, or long-term excessive menstrual flow and prolonged menstruation leading to anemia, which cannot be cured by drugs. At this time, surgical resection is an effective solution.

2. When uterine fibroids grow to the size of a fist, they cause compression of other organs in the pelvis. Surgical removal can relieve the symptoms, and large fibroids are more likely to worsen than small fibroids.

3. The fibroids grow too fast, or after menopause, the fibroids do not shrink but grow larger.

4. If a woman is infertile but all other tests are normal, the cause of infertility may be uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids may cause recurrent miscarriage.

There are many surgical methods, such as myomectomy, laparoscopy, hysteroscopy, uterine artery embolization and ultrasonic ablation. The best treatment currently is ultrasonic ablation (HIFU). This method does not require surgery, does not cause bleeding, preserves the uterus, and has no surgical or anesthesia risks. Similar to B-ultrasound examination, there is slight lower abdominal pain during treatment. After treatment, you can rest for 2 hours and then move freely. Moreover, it will not leave any wounds on either the uterus or the skin, making it the most humane treatment method currently available.

Does uterine fibroids require surgery? There are many ways to treat this disease. Surgery is a traditional surgical method. Now many patients undergo minimally invasive surgery, which is more advanced than surgery and safer, and the harm to patients will be reduced. Of course, treatment must be based on the patient's physical condition, and more attention must be paid to characteristics such as size and location. Patients cannot choose treatment at will and must follow the doctor's professional judgment.