What are uterine fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are common tumors in and around the uterine wall. These tumors are almost always benign, or non-cancerous, as cancerous fibroids occur in less than one in 1,000 cases. Roughly 30-77% of women develop fibroids sometime during their lifetime.
What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?
Sometimes you won’t have any symptoms at all when you have fibroids. If you do have symptoms, they might include:
- A firm mass felt in the middle of your pelvis
- Heavy, prolonged periods
- Painful periods
- Abnormal bleeding
- Lower back pain
- Pelvic pain
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Frequent urination
- Multiple miscarriages, infertility, or early labor
- Enlargement of your lower abdomen
What are the causes and risk factors of fibroids?
The exact cause of fibroids isn’t known, but risk factors may include:
- Being in your 30s and 40s
- Hormone changes
- Genetic changes
- Variations in insulin-like growth factor
- Family history of fibroids
- Being overweight
- Being African American
- Eating a lot of red meat
How are fibroids diagnosed and treated?
Dr. Martinez finds fibroids during routine physical exams and uses ultrasound, other imaging tests, or lab tests for confirmation. He’ll work with you to come up with a treatment plan you’re comfortable with, which might include:
Watchful waiting
If you have mild fibroid symptoms or none at all, Dr. Martinez may wait and watch the fibroids to see if symptoms worsen over time.
Medications
Certain medications, including hormonal medications, are used to relieve symptoms of fibroids, such as pelvic pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. Some hormone medications help shrink fibroids.
Noninvasive ultrasound treatment
MRI-guided ultrasound treatment destroys fibroids without the need for incisions. Ultrasound therapy is a simple outpatient procedure.
Minimally invasive procedures
Depending on the severity of your fibroids and symptoms, Dr. Martinez may recommend a minimally invasive treatment, such as laparoscopic or robotic procedures to destroy fibroids or endometrial ablation.
Surgical procedures
For more severe cases of fibroids or for women finished having children, Dr. Martinez may recommend an abdominal myomectomy, which is an open abdominal surgery to remove fibroids. They may also suggest a hysterectomy to remove your uterus where the fibroids are located.
Which fibroid treatment is right for me?
Dr. Martinez, and the team review your medical history, symptoms, and the severity of your fibroids to come up with the most appropriate treatment plan.
When you’re ready to get rid of fibroids and ease symptoms, call or book an appointment online at Femhealth Group.
