Fibroids are an extremely common type of growth in the uterus. Up to half of women with uterine fibroids experience serious symptoms, one of the areas that board-certified OB/GYN Anju Nayar, MD, FACOG, specializes in at Nova Women’s Health. Fibroid treatments follow the latest evidence-based guidelines, ensuring you get the most powerful relief available in the least-invasive way possible. Call the North Reading, Massachusetts, office or use the online booking feature now.
Fibroids are noncancerous growths made of muscle tissue. The growths develop in or on the uterus and can range in size from as small as a single pea to larger than a grapefruit.
In some women, fibroids can cause menstrual cycle irregularities, pain, and other highly disruptive symptoms. They’re prevalent in premenopausal women but tend to shrink after menopause. This is likely due to the decrease in female hormones occurring at that time.
It’s almost true: Around 80% of women have fibroids at some point in their lives. But, most fibroids don’t cause any symptoms, so many women don’t know they have them.
Women who have fibroids can experience severe issues, including:
Fibroids can also cause or contribute to infertility (difficulty conceiving a baby). Women with fibroids also have an increased risk of pregnancy complications, including a six times greater risk of needing a Cesarean section.
If your fibroids are discovered incidentally during imaging tests and don’t cause any symptoms, you likely won’t need treatment.
If your fibroids cause disruptive symptoms, Nova Women’s Health can help. There are many treatment methods ranging from medication to surgery. Your treatment method depends on factors like how severe your symptoms are and whether you plan to have a baby in the future.
Medication can be effective, but it’s not necessarily a permanent solution. For example, some medications can shrink fibroids, but the fibroids usually return when you stop taking them. Another example is hormonal birth control methods, which can relieve fibroid symptoms but doesn’t reduce fibroid size.
Many procedures treat fibroids, including MRI-guided ultrasound surgery, radiofrequency ablation, and uterine artery embolization. Each procedure has its own potential benefits and drawbacks.
Myomectomy (surgical fibroid removal) and hysterectomy, which removes the uterus (and the fibroids with it), are two common surgical options. Hysterectomy is the only definitive permanent fibroid solution, but if you want to preserve your fertility, there are many ways to manage fibroid symptoms.
If you’re having pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, or other fibroid symptoms, Nova Women’s Health is here for you. Call the office or schedule your appointment through online scheduling now.