What are fibroids?
Fibroids, also called myomas or leiomyomas, are benign growth of the muscle tissue of the uterus. A woman may have one or many fibroids of varying shapes, sizes and locations.
What are the symptoms of fibroids?
Women with fibroids may have no symptoms at all or may experience heavy periods, irregular vaginal bleeding, pressure, pain, infertility, enlarged abdomen, constipation, difficulty emptying the bladder.
Do fibroids need treatment, and if so, how are they treated?
Fibroids that do not cause symptoms, are small, or occur in a woman who is nearing menopause often do not require treatment.
If periods are heavy, painful or result in anemia due then treatment may be necessary. A woman may need treatment of fibroids if her fibroids are thought to be contributing to irregular bleeding, infertility, or pelvic pain. Medications may reduce the heavy bleeding and painful periods that fibroids sometimes cause. A progesterone-releasing IUD can also reduce heavy and painful bleeding and is an option for women with fibroids that do not distort the inside of the uterus. Myomectomy is the surgical removal of fibroids while leaving the uterus in place which may be important if a woman would like to retain the ability to have children. Hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus and may be recommended when other treatments have not worked or are not possible or if the fibroids are very large. A woman is no longer able to have children after having a hysterectomy.
Could you be suffering from uterine fibroids? Call Hawthorne Obstetrics & Gynecology at 336-768-3632 or book an appointment online today.
