Uterine Fibroid Treatment Options

Fibroids symptoms can vary significantly from person to person. Some women experience severe symptoms, while others have no symptoms at all. Oftentimes, women who do not have symptoms at first may begin to experience symptoms as the fibroid grows.

Common symptoms of fibroids include:

• Abdominal distension or bloating
• Anemia (low count of healthy red blood cells)
• Heavy bleeding, cramping or clotting during periods
• Infertility or difficulty getting pregnant
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Pain or pressure in the abdomen or lower back
• Prolonged periods (consistently more than seven to eight days)
• Urinary problems, such as the need to urinate frequently, and rarely, leakage or inability to empty the bladder
• Vaginal bleeding between periods

Are you having symptoms?
If you think you may have fibroids, discuss your symptoms with a gynecologist who can help.

Advanced Care and Second Opinions
If your symptoms are severe or seem unmanageable, discuss treatment options with an advanced treatment specialist at the CATeR Fibroid Center.

Fibroids are often detected when a physician feels a firm mass during a patient's pelvic exam. Tests, such as ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), may help your physician determine if you have fibroids. Patient-reported symptoms, such as those listed above, may prompt your provider to order a pelvic ultrasound. That's the most common way fibroids are found. Bleeding through your clothing, passing clots or soiling your bedding are not normal. If you have these symptoms, request an ultrasound.

Fibroids are classified based on how and where they grow:

• Intramural fibroids are embedded within the uterine wall. Symptoms include pelvic pressure, frequent urination, heavy bleeding, prolonged periods and cramping or clotting during periods.
• Pedunculated fibroids branch out from the interior (pedunculated submucosal) or exterior (pedunculated subserosal) surface of the uterine wall. Protruding out on a stem of tissue, these fibroids can shift and even twist, causing pelvic pain and pressure.
• Submucosal fibroids grow on the interior surface of the uterine wall, just beneath the inner lining of the uterus (endometrium). They are commonly associated with heavy bleeding. This type of fibroid is generally the least likely to occur.
• Subserosal fibroids grow on the exterior surface of the uterine wall, often causing pelvic pain and pressure.

A treatment option that works for a friend, sister or mother may not work for your unique situation. It is important to take a holistic account of what your lifestyle goals are, so that we may partner with you to achieve them.

In addition to your symptoms, age and the number, size and location of your fibroid tumor(s), there are many things to consider when choosing the best treatment option.

A diagnosis of uterine fibroids does not mean you can’t have children. Whether you need preconception and fertility counseling or want to explore options to preserve your fertility to plan a pregnancy after fibroid treatment, our experts are ready to help.

Hysterectomy is effective, but it is not the only option for treating uterine fibroids. There are alternative treatments available that allow you to keep your uterus and/or preserve your ability to conceive in the future, including:

• Myomectomy
• Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)
• Radiofrequency ablation (Acessa)

In most cases, our gynecologic surgeons can perform fibroid removal surgery — including myomectomy and hysterectomy — using laparoscopic or robotic techniques, which involve tiny surgical incisions.

In some cases, there are effective ways to treat fibroids without surgery.

Your doctor can help you understand whether nonsurgical treatment may be possible for you.

Depending on your symptoms, your medical history and your health goals, options for nonsurgical fibroid treatment may include:

• Pain medication
• Hormonal birth control methods
• Prescription drugs
• Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)

Are you having symptoms?
If you think you may have fibroids, discuss your symptoms with a gynecologist who can help.

Advanced Care and Second Opinions
If your symptoms are severe or seem unmanageable, discuss treatment options with an advanced treatment specialist at the CATeR Fibroid Center.