What are Uterine Fibroids and how are they treated?
Fibroids are muscular tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus (womb). Fibroids are almost always benign (not cancerous). Uterine fibroids are the most common benign tumors in women of childbearing age.
Your OB/GYN provider may find fibroids during a gynecological exam or by using imaging tests. Treatments include drugs that can slow or stop their growth, or surgery. If you have no symptoms, you may not even need treatment. Many women with fibroids can get pregnant naturally. For those who cannot, infertility treatments may help. Risk factors for uterine fibroids include being African American or being overweight.
Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids
Not all women with fibroids have symptoms. Women who do have symptoms often find fibroids hard to live with. Common symptoms of uterine fibroids include:
Uterine Fibroids Treatments
For women who have symptoms, there are treatments that can help. Talk with your gynecologist about the best way to treat your fibroids. She or he will consider many things before helping you choose a treatment. Some of these things include whether or not you are having symptoms from the fibroids, if you might want to become pregnant in the future, the size of the fibroids, and the location of the fibroids.
Related Services
Hysteroscopy
Hysteroscopy is a specialized direct examination of the interior of the uterus. Hysteroscopy allows your doctor to see the inside of your uterus, and is used to diagnose uterine fibroids. The recovery time is very quick, and the procedure can be performed safely and conveniently right in our offices with little to no anesthesia.
