Fibroids Specialist

What are uterine fibroids?

Fibroids are noncancerous tissue growths within your uterus, on the outer uterine surface, or inside the uterine walls. They range from extremely small to so large that they fill the uterus.  

Most women have fibroids at some point during their reproductive years. Fibroids often go away naturally after a few menstrual cycles. 

However, fibroids can also cause serious symptoms in some women.

What are the symptoms of fibroids?

If your fibroids cause symptoms, you may experience: 

• Long menstrual periods
• Heavy bleeding during menstrual periods
• Bleeding outside of menstruation
• Pelvic pain during periods, sex, or at other times
• Abdominal area swelling
• Feelings of pressure and heaviness in your abdomen
• Infertility

Fibroid symptoms can be very similar to those of other conditions, like endometriosis, so it's important to schedule an assessment at Ganesh OBGYN if you have any of these problems.

How are fibroids diagnosed?

In many cases, fibroid diagnosis occurs during a pelvic exam. You may need an imaging test like ultrasound to visualize fibroids. 

To confirm the presence of fibroids and rule out other conditions, you may also need a procedure such as a hysteroscopy, which shows the inside of the uterus, or laparoscopy, which allows for close-up viewing of the outside of the pelvic organs.   

How are fibroids treated?

Treatment depends on whether your fibroids cause symptoms, the size of the fibroids, and whether you're nearing menopause. 

If you have small asymptomatic fibroids or are close to menopause, you may not need any treatment. Usually, fibroid symptoms go away naturally during menopause.

If you have stubborn fibroid symptoms, you may need:

• Birth control pills
• Intrauterine device (IUD)
• Medication like gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists to lower your hormone levels

Should nonoperative methods not relieve your fibroid symptoms, you could need an outpatient procedure like hysteroscopy, which destroys fibroids using a laser or electricity. Myomectomy — surgical fibroid removal — is another option. 

For severe fibroid symptoms, hysterectomy — surgical uterus removal — could be an option for permanent results. But, after a hysterectomy, you can't give birth, so it's important to make sure that you don't want children or that your family is complete. 

Ganesh OBGYN focuses on your individual needs during fibroid treatment, and there's a solution that's right for every woman. 

For help with uterine fibroids, call Ganesh OBGYN or click on the provided appointment scheduling tool now.