Uterine Fibroid Symptoms and Treatment

Uterine Fibroid Symptoms

Most fibroids don’t cause any symptoms, so it’s hard for most women to tell whether they have fibroids. When symptoms do present themselves, they often include heavy bleeding, frequent urination, painful intercourse, lower back pain and a feeling of fullness in the lower abdomen. If you experience these symptoms, a doctor will most likely do an ultrasound, MRI or X-ray to properly diagnose the condition.

Treating Uterine Fibroids

For women who do experience symptoms of fibroids, doctors might recommend the following treatment options:

• Medications – Low-dose birth controls can help stop fibroids from growing. They can also control heavy bleeding. If pain is the only symptom, over-the-counter pain medicine will help.
• Surgery – If your fibroids cause mild to severe symptoms, surgery might be the most effective form of treatment. Different procedures for uterine fibroids include:
• Myomectomy – Surgery to remove uterine fibroids without taking out healthy tissue
• Hysterectomy – Surgical removal of the uterus
• Endometrial Ablation – Doctors remove the lining of the uterus to control heavy bleeding caused by fibroids.
• Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) – UFE is a minimally invasive procedure that blocks blood flow to the uterus. It is a treatment for fibroids for women who are not planning a pregnancy in the future.

Contact our office for information on uterine fibroids.