Nearly 80% of women develop uterine fibroids at some point in life. For some women, they go unnoticed and don’t cause any symptoms. Unfortunately, for the majority of women, fibroids are misdiagnosed and unaddressed for years.

Despite the heavy, irregular bleeding, debilitating pain, and excessive bloating fibroids cause, many women get dismissed for their complaints. They are told their symptoms are “normal” by their doctors when in fact they are anything but normal.

Uterine fibroid issues impact your quality of life. It’s vital to ask your doctor about fibroids and learn how to achieve relief.

What Are Fibroids?

Fibroids are benign tumors composed of muscle and waste that develop in the uterus. The causes of fibroids are still unknown, although women with a family history are more likely to develop them.

Five Questions to Ask About Uterine Fibroids

Fibroids are common–but they are not normal. Fibroids should be monitored and addressed by your gynecologist. Learn more about what questions you should discuss with your gynecologist when talking about fibroids.

1. How Many Fibroids Do I Have, Where Are They, and How Large Are They?

Some fibroids are inside the uterus wall and others are outside. Fibroids can range from the size of an apple seed to a watermelon. The size, quantity, and location of your fibroids will impact your reproductive health, complications, and treatment options.

2. Are My Fibroids Cancerous?

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths. Although they are not cancerous, they should be considered and addressed to improve overall wellbeing.

3. What Medical Treatment Options Are Available?

Some doctors recommend leaving fibroids alone if they are small and asymptomatic. However, the three main treatments for fibroids include:

1. Hysterectomy- removal of the entire uterus and all fibroid abnormalities in it; however, this makes one sterile.
2. Myomectomy- surgical removal of the fibroids in the uterus; depending on the size and location of your fibroids, this may impact your fertility.
3. Uterine Fibroid Embolization- UFE is minimally invasive. An interventional radiologist injects particles into the blood vessels connected to the uterus, blood flow to the fibroid is blocked, and it shrinks and dies.

4. Will Fibroids Impact My Fertility?

Women can still get pregnant with fibroids. However, fibroids sometimes cause higher infertility rates or impact how you can deliver a child. Fibroids do increase the chances of pregnancy complications or the requirement for cesarean.

Pregnancy hormones also impact fibroids. Some women experience a shrinkage in fibroid dimensions and others expand.

5. Are There Alternative Treatment Methods?

Some women prefer a holistic route to manage fibroids. Women have even seen fibroid reduction through certain diets, acupuncture, yoni steaming, and iodine baths. 

Let’s Stop Fibroid Shaming!

Many women go undiagnosed with painful fibroids for years. If left unaddressed, fibroids can lead to other health complications and your entire reproductive system can lose balance.

The earlier fibroids are addressed, the less likely they are to require invasive treatment or impact fertility. Our team listens and doesn’t dismiss women for their real pain. Let’s help you target and minimize your fibroid symptoms today!