Fibroids

What are fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are growths in the uterus that often affect women during their childbearing years. They're typically benign (noncancerous) and vary in size from being so small they’re almost invisible to being large enough to affect the size and shape of the uterus.

You might have one or many fibroids, and they may be all the same size or a combination of sizes. There are three types of uterine fibroids:

Intramural fibroids

Intramural fibroids develop in the muscular wall of your uterus.

Submucosal fibroids

Submucosal fibroids project out from the lining into the uterine cavity.

Subserosal fibroids

Subserosal fibroids form lumps and bumps on the outer wall of your uterus.

Submucosal and subserosal fibroids are sometimes pedunculated, meaning they hang from a stalk attached to your uterus. 

What symptoms might fibroids cause?

Very often, women have fibroids without knowing it because they have no symptoms. However, if your fibroids are causing problems, you might experience:

• Pelvic pain or pressure
• Backache
• Leg pain
• Frequent urination
• Difficulty emptying your bladder
• Constipation

Heavy bleeding during menstruation and periods that last longer than a week are some of the most noticeable signs of uterine fibroids.

How are fibroids treated?

You might not need any treatment for your fibroids if they're not causing any symptoms. Fibroids also shrink and usually stop being a problem after menopause, so if you're in perimenopause, you might choose to wait for the fibroids to resolve naturally.

If you know you have fibroids, but they don't require treatment, your provider at Bayard Street Obstetrics & Gynecology checks the growths at intervals to see if they're getting bigger or spreading. That enables you to begin treatment promptly should you need it.

Hormone medications can ease the symptoms of or shrink large, painful uterine fibroids, although they don't cure the problem.  

Do I need surgery for fibroids?

If your fibroids are causing significant symptoms or you're having problems conceiving because of them, your gynecologist might suggest surgery.

The procedure for removing uterine fibroids is known as myomectomy. Your provider uses a state-of-the-art robotic system to perform myomectomy for the most accurate fibroid removal.

If you don't plan on having children in the future, another surgical option is a hysterectomy to remove the uterus.

If fibroid symptoms are causing you problems, call Bayard Street Obstetrics & Gynecology and schedule a consultation or book an appointment online today.