When uterine fibroids cause pain in women, hormone therapy is typically the first line of treatment; however, researchers are reporting that they are focusing on new treatment options.
Research at the University of Cincinnati discovered that the way fibroid cells react to physical strain differs from that of the surrounding uterine cells. According to researcher Stacey Schutte, this is significant because the goal of treatment is to target the tumor itself without harming the surrounding tissue.
Fibroids are frequent. Throughout their lives, almost 8 out of 10 women will get noncancerous uterine tumors. Although they usually don’t pose a serious risk to life, they can result in significant bleeding and excruciating pain. Researchers stated in a university press release that treating fibroids is frequently invasive, expensive, and can result in infertility.
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Fibroid treatments.
“Throughout their lives, one in nine women will undergo a hysterectomy. According to Schutte, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering and co-author of the study that was just published in the journal F&S Science, “and one-third to one-half of those are [because of] uterine fibroids.” Research associate at Schutte’s lab and co-author of the study, Andreja Moset Zupan, stated that the team is searching for non-hormonal fibroid therapies.
Fibroid growth.
“It’s another option we could use to preserve the fertility of women who still want to get pregnant,” she explained in a university news release. A woman’s body releases estrogen and progesterone during each menstrual cycle. These hormones prompt tissue lining the uterus to thicken in case of a possible pregnancy, but they can also fuel fibroid growth. Schutte noted that cells can also react to physical strain, and that’s what her team set out to investigate. In their study, fibroid cells and uterine cells were grown in the lab on plates with an elastic bottom. Researchers then used a vacuum to pull and stretch the cells, mimicking the uterine environment. They saw differences in the way cells held their shape.
Study of fibroid cells
“We discovered that fibroid cells were more susceptible to stress,” lead author Dr. Rachel Warwar of the College of Medicine at the University of Cincinnati stated. According to her, the results highlight how crucial it is to include mechanical pressure in addition to hormones when studying fibroid cells. “The more we are able to mimic the environment of these cells in the uterus, the more we will understand the pathology of these cells and then be able to work to target anomalous pathways in fibroid cells,” Warwar stated.
Research
Once researchers understand the pathology, they can use 3D simulations and modeling to learn more about how the tumors develop and the best ways to treat them. The next step is creating more complex tumor models. “It makes me really happy to think we can find a target,” Schutte said. Fibroids represent a major health care cost, researchers said, costing up to $9 billion a year in the United States alone.
Frequently asked questions
What medication shrinks fibroids?
To help decrease your fibroids, they could prescribe medication known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHas). GnRHas are injectable hormones, like goserelin acetate.
What is the fastest way to shrink fibroids?
Many fibroids shrink and go away on their own; you can speed up this process by working out, maintaining a good diet, and taking herbal therapies. Prescription drugs can help decrease fibroids and lessen related symptoms like heavy bleeding, especially if the fibroids are larger or more unpleasant.
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Disclaimer: The opinions and suggestions expressed in this article are solely those of the individual analysts. These are not the opinions of HNN. For more, please consult with your doctor
