Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: Frequent abdominal pain. Today, after a check-up, it was said that there is a uterine cyst, and it is recommended that I have surgery. I would like to consult if there are better treatment methods?Doctor's answer:
Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors in female reproductive organs, and their exact cause is unclear. They are often believed to be related to long-term and excessive estrogen. When the fibroids grow larger or embolism occurs within them, degeneration is likely to occur. They are more common in women aged 30-50. In traditional Chinese medicine, they are referred to as "tuan jian."Clinical symptoms are related to the location and size of the fibroids. Changes in menstruation are the most common symptom. Larger intramural and submucosal fibroids often lead to increased menstrual flow, prolonged periods, and shorter cycles, which can be accompanied by varying degrees of anemia. Submucosal fibroids may cause irregular vaginal bleeding or abnormal leukorrhea. When fibroids grow larger, they may cause compression symptoms such as frequent urination, urgency, or difficulty urinating, and even palpable masses in the lower abdomen. If subserosal fibroids twist or degenerate, acute abdominal pain may occur. In some cases, fibroids can hinder the implantation of the fertilized egg or affect sperm passage, leading to infertility or miscarriage.
If uterine fibroids are asymptomatic and smaller than the size of a 3-month pregnancy, with normal menstruation, follow-up examinations can be conducted every 3-4 months. Western medicine treatment primarily involves hormone drugs, while traditional Chinese medicine treatment requires syndrome differentiation for prescription. Generally, traditional Chinese medicine treatment is the first consideration. If the fibroids are large or symptoms are significant, and treatment with hormones is not effective, surgery may be considered.