Uterine Fibroids: Symptoms and Treatment Options

Do you suffer from heavy bleeding or painful periods, bleeding between periods, feeling "full" in the lower part of your belly, needing to use the restroom frequently, pain during sex, and/or lower back pain, not being able to have a baby, frequent miscarriages, and premature labor during pregnancy? You could be affected by a uterine fibroid, a uterine growth made of muscle and other tissue. Some women do not experience any symptoms. Fibroids can be revealed during annual gynecologic exams. Fortunately, they very rarely develop into cancer. Fibroids are very common during the childbearing years. The cause of fibroids is unclear. According to the FDA, 1 in every 5 women under age 50 is affected by fibroids and 3 out of 10 hysterectomies are attributed to fibroids.

African American women and overweight women are at greater risk for fibroids than those who are not.

Fibroids can grow in various areas of the uterus, from inside the wall of the uterus, from the wall outward to the pelvic/abdomen area, and from the uterine wall inward. This type can cause heavy, long menstrual cycles.

Speak to your physician regarding which treatment option is the best for you and for your future family plans. If you do not want children, a hysterectomy may be preferred. Women desiring pregnancy should research other treatment options.

Pregnancy can be inhibited by the presence of fibroids and can keep you from having children. Your physician will base your treatment regimen on whether you have symptoms, whether you want to have children, how large the fibroids are, and how old you are. Treatments are available to help you achieve pregnancy including pain medications (Tylenol or Aleve), shrinking the fibroids without surgery through uterine artery embolization which lessens the blood flow to them, destroying the fibroids using magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound, myomectomy (excision of the fibroids only), and finally taking out the uterus (hysterectomy). Each of these treatment options can ease the symptoms of fibroids and /or increase your chances of having a full-term pregnancy.

Hysterectomy is a great option if you are finished having children and the fibroids are causing you extreme pain, and/or if your heavy periods are making you anemic. Your physician will be able to inform about the types of hysterectomy that are available.

Fibroids rarely develop into a muscle type of cancer and do not heighten your chances of having other kind of uterine cancers.

After menopause, fibroids usually halt growth or shrink.