I have had four ultrasound scans in 2 years and results, normal uterus, cysts, normal, fibroid is this normal
Up until late 2004 my uterus was normal. Then I started having irregular periods, I think I miscarried and some pregnancy symptoms didn’t immediately disappear, I went to see a radiologist a few months later, he said I had functional cyst and referred me to a gynaecologist, the doctor did a thorought test and repeat scan and found my uterus perfectly normal, my periods stabilised and for some seven months didn’t have sex. Then I started having sex again, the last time my period was late by a cycle, and like the last time I started spotting when it returned. I decided it will get back to normal on its own… but when I had a bout of severe back pain I got worried and went to see a doctor (a different one…. he sent me for scanning and the result; "2.7cm x 2cm single fibroid, no fluid aroud the pouch of Douglas." What is the meaning of this – Why did he mention this pouch of douglas? Can the fibroid go away the way the cyst went away or could there have been an error here?
Filed under: Fibroids Uterine
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the fibroid is not going to go away but it is nothing to be worried about either. fibroids are bening tumors of the muscle cells of the uterus and about 50% of women will develop them. Yours is small and you only have one, nothing much to be concerned about unless it is in the lining of your uterus and then it can cause spotting, but usually a small fibroid like this will not cause much problems at all. Just ignore the remark about the pouch of douglas, that is not significant to any of your issues. they usually mention whether there is or is not fluid in the pelvis-this fluid collects in an area called the pouch of douglas- it has nothing to do with your fibroid or periods. you may want to think about the pill to control your periods if they are bothering you.
sounds like an error to me
Pouch of Douglas:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectouterine_excavation
It is named after the Scottish anatomist Dr James Douglas (1675–1742) who extensively explored this region of the female body. Three other nearby anatomical structures are also named for him – the Douglas fold, the Douglas line and the Douglas septum.
No fluid around it apparently means that there is no sac or fluid gathering around it.
A fibroid is something that will not go away, however, they’re almost always benign (benign is good, very good, it means non cancerous)
More science: Most of the time, fibroids grow in women of childbearing age.
African American women are more likely to get them than women of other racial groups.
African American women tend to get fibroids at a younger age than do other women.
Women who are overweight or obese also are at a slightly higher risk for fibroids than women who are not overweight.
Women who have given birth appear to be at a lower risk for fibroids.
What are the symptoms of fibroids?
Most fibroids do not cause any symptoms, but some women with fibroids can have:
heavy bleeding or painful periods
bleeding between periods
feeling of fullness in the pelvic area (lower abdomen)
urinating often
pain during sex
lower back pain
reproductive problems, such as infertility, having more than one miscarriage, or having early onset of labor during pregnancy
The Pouch of Douglas (also called the cul-de-sac) is an area that is behind the uterus and close to the rectum and sometimes fluid will be there but that can usually mean something is wrong. So the report is saying that there is no fluid there.
Can a fibroid go away, sometimes it can shrink on its own such as like if someone is not taking hormone pills that have estrogen in them, and yes sometimes it can be removed surgically.
The reason that the Pouch of Douglas was mentioned in the report is because that is one of the areas that they check when they are doing an ultrasound of the uterus.
As for cysts, yes, sometimes they can dissolve on their own. It depends on the kind of cyst.
I had a cyst going on inside of me in 2002/2003 and the ultrasounds did not show it but my dr felt the mass (although we didn’t know it was a cyst yet). When I finally had to have surgery to check the status of my endometriosis in 2003 my dr found a functional cyst that measured 4 cm.
To be on the safe side, I would ask the dr that ordered the test for more specifics about the report.