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Fibroid that grow in the uterus stalk is called pedunculated fibroid. If this fibroid grows outside the uterus it is called sub-serous fibroids and if it grows inside the uterus its called sub-mucosal fibroids.

Pedunculated fibroids can become quite large. An article in the East African Medical Journal last year reported that a 37-year-old woman presented with significant, increasing abdominal swelling. Surgeons removed a 1.5 kg pedunculated fibroid that was almost 16 cm in length.

But this woman did not have any other symptom expect swelling. But many are not so lucky with their pedunculated fibroids.

These sub-mucosal fibroid sometimes obtrude into the vaginal canal and causes pain during intercourse. The American University of Beirut Medical centre diagnosed two women with prolapsed pedunculated sub-mucosal fibroids and for another woman 12 centimeters of this fibroid had prolapsed partly into the vaginal canal and uterus.

When the stalk becomes twisted they can create great pain, and while this doesnt happen to every woman, the risk of it occurring grows with the growth of the fibroid attached to the stalk.

These fibroids comprise uterine cramps and compressed sensation of uterus and other organs.

Some women with pedunculated submucosal fibroids experience light to moderate bleeding throughout their menstrual cycles. Those women who experience continuous bleeding usually see an increase in bleeding during the time of their regular period.

Often when the pedunculated fibroid has become severely twisted it will require surgical intervention. This occurs because the pain level becomes so great to the woman experiencing it that they will do anything to stop it.

Another possibility that can occur when the fibroid becomes twisted is a blockage in the blood and nutrient supply to the fibroid through a kink in the veins. Once this occurs the fibroid will begin to die, which will not only increase the danger of infection, but is also quite painful.

Uterine Artery Embolization is a procedure often recommended whenever the peduncle reaches a width of 2 centimetres or more. This procedure serves the purpose of blocking the blood supply to the fibroids, thus impeding growth and causing them to decrease in size and eventually die. The University of Toronto, however, has reported that pedunculated subserousal fibroids were more likely to be effected by Uterine Artery Embolization than other types of fibroids.

Doctors at the Bretonneau Hospital in France have begun recommending for women who have undergone the procedure to undergo it again after 2 years as it has been found that approximately 10% experience growth of the fibroids again within that time. They have also discovered that the procedure does not inhibit fibroids from growing back.

Another similar procedure for pedunculated fibroids is Myomectomy. This method is done to remove the fibroid but it is not 100% success and sometimes repairs the uterus. The University of South Dakota diagnosed a patient with bigger fibroid, in which the blood vessel has been ruptured after she gave birth. Since their attempt on Myomectomy failed, an immediate hysterectomy was done.

Before hysterectomy surgeries, it is very reasonable to sign papers as an approval, as things may go wrong or sometimes for very few women uterus has to be removed.

Filed under: Health & Fitness