[Click! Health] If You Suddenly Need to Urinate Frequently... Get Tested for Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are a common condition in women, characterized by the abnormal proliferation of muscle cells in the uterus, forming hard lumps. According to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service on the 25th, the number of patients with uterine fibroids exceeded 600,000, reaching 615,883 in 2022. This represents an increase of about 100,000 patients compared to 2020, three years ago, indicating a rapid rise in the number of cases.

Kang Hee-seok, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Gangdong Miz Women's Hospital (Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialist), is explaining uterine fibroids.
[Photo by Gangdong Miz Women's Hospital]

The problem is that uterine fibroids are mostly asymptomatic. They usually go unnoticed until suddenly detected during a medical examination. However, in some atypical cases, patients visit the hospital due to frequent urination, and although there is no abnormality in the bladder, uterine fibroids are discovered during additional tests.

Dr. Kang Hee-seok, Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Gangdong Miz Women’s Hospital (specialist in obstetrics and gynecology), explained, “When people think of uterine fibroids, they often associate them only with uterine-related symptoms such as menstrual pain or heavy menstruation. However, some patients with uterine fibroids rarely experience symptoms like frequent urination and sometimes visit the hospital mistaking it for urinary incontinence.”

Uterine fibroids are classified according to their location. When they grow just beneath the peritoneum covering the uterus or on the outside of the uterus, they are called subserosal fibroids. In such cases, as the fibroids grow larger, they can press on the bladder or rectum, causing abnormal symptoms such as frequent urination, constipation, and abdominal pressure.

Dr. Kang said, “The treatment of uterine fibroids is determined by comprehensively considering various factors such as the patient’s age, menopausal status, presence or absence of symptoms, size and location of the fibroids, and their progression. If the fibroids are small, show no size changes, and cause no symptoms, regular check-ups and monitoring are recommended. However, even if the size is less than 2 cm, if the growth rate is rapid or abnormal symptoms such as frequent urination or heavy menstruation appear, active treatment is necessary.”

The representative treatment method is laparoscopic surgery. This involves making a hole less than 2 cm around the navel, injecting carbon dioxide to secure space within the abdominal cavity, and inserting surgical instruments equipped with a special camera to remove the fibroids. The surgeon can view the lesion in real-time on a monitor during the operation, allowing for precise removal of the fibroids. Additionally, because the skin incision is minimal, scarring is almost nonexistent, and postoperative pain is reduced, making this method highly preferred. The risk of infection or intra-abdominal adhesions is also low, enabling safe treatment without concerns about complications.

There is no special way to prevent uterine fibroids. It is advisable to manage health through a regular lifestyle and appropriate exercise while undergoing regular gynecological check-ups. Dr. Kang emphasized, “The easiest and most reliable way to manage uterine fibroids is to have a gynecological ultrasound examination every six months. Since this condition often occurs without specific symptoms, early detection and treatment through regular screening are crucial.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.