There is often some misconception about the relationship between a thyroid condition and fibroid development. For clarity and educational purposes, this article will define the differences and address some of the connections they have in your body.
What is Thyroid?
The thyroid is a small gland which is located in the front of the neck. It is a butterfly-shaped gland with two wide wings extending around the throat’s side. The thyroid makes the hormones necessary for vital body functions and has a huge impact on your body.
Common thyroid conditions include hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Hyperthyroidism occurs if your body excessively develops thyroid hormones. Hypothyroidism occurs if your body develops less thyroid hormone.
What are Fibroids?
A fibroid is a non-cancerous growth that develops in or around the uterus. Fibroids are almost never cancerous, although rarely a cancer called leiomyosarcoma can look like a fibroid. Fibroids vary in size, which may cause them to distort or enlarge the uterus. You may never know that you have uterine fibroids as they often do not cause any symptoms. You may have a single or multiple fibroids. A common diagnostic tool to determine if you have a fibroid is a pelvic ultrasound.
The Relationship Between Your Thyroid And Fibroids
The root cause for the development of fibroids is not known. Research has shown that each tumor develops from an abnormal cell in the uterus which then multiplies when it encounters estrogen hormones. Recent studies suggest that women with uterine fibroids have an increased incidence of thyroid nodules. Estrogen may play a role in the development of both thyroid nodules and uterine fibroids, but this link is still being studied.
Some studies have found that women who have uterine fibroids have higher rates of thyroid goiters and nodules. Abnormal thyroid levels may alter the uterine antioxidative status and affect uterine development and function. Some studies have also linked an underactive thyroid with fibroids, and one large study found a higher rate of thyroid cancer in women with fibroids, but these associations do not prove that one condition causes the other.
Thyroid Treatments
The thyroid is usually treated with medication, radioactive iodine, or surgery. For an underactive thyroid, thyroid hormone replacement is usually taken for life, with the dose adjusted based on blood tests. For an overactive thyroid, antithyroid medication is often used for a limited period. Vitamin or iodine supplements should only be taken on your doctor’s advice, as some can affect thyroid function or thyroid blood tests.
How to deal with Fibroids?
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive way to treat fibroids. Compared to surgical procedures, it preserves the uterus and offers a faster recovery, although some women may need further treatment later.
Uterine fibroid embolization, also known as uterine artery embolization, is often performed as an outpatient procedure and the procedure itself lasts about an hour. Compared to a larger surgical incision, UFE is performed through a tiny pinhole-like puncture in the upper thigh to provide access to the arteries feeding the fibroids.
An interventional radiologist will begin by making a tiny pinhole-like puncture in the groin area. This puncture provides access to arteries that feed the fibroids. Using specialized X-ray equipment, a catheter (small tube) is inserted into the uterine artery and guided near the location of the fibroid tumor.
Tiny particles are then injected through the catheter to block blood flow to the fibroids, and the resulting oxygen deprivation causes the fibroids to shrink. The embolic material remains permanently in the blood vessels at the fibroid site. Once the specialist has completed the embolization of the uterine artery on both sides, the catheter is gently removed.
Alternative methods such as hormone therapy and medicines can be effective methods as well or may be combined with other treatments. Each method has varying success, but the 1Fibroid team is dedicated to providing you with the best solution for your body and lifestyle.
Sources
- Management of Symptomatic Uterine Leiomyomas: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 228. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists / Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2021.
- The relationship between thyroid nodules and uterine fibroids. Endocrine Journal, 2010.
- Relationship between thyroid disorders and uterine fibroids among reproductive-age women. Endocrine Journal, 2021.
- Uterine fibroids increase the risk of thyroid goiter and thyroid nodules. Scientific Reports, 2022.
- Overt hypothyroidism is associated with the presence of uterine leiomyoma: a retrospective analysis. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 2014.
- Uterine Fibroids Increase the Risk of Thyroid Cancer. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2020.
- Hypothyroidism. MedlinePlus (U.S. National Library of Medicine).