Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that grow inside or around the uterus. They range in size from under an inch to four inches and even larger. By the time they reach age of 50, 70% of white women and more than 80% of black women will experience them.
While many women with fibroids do not have symptoms, for others, fibroids can significantly impact their lives. They can result in pelvic pain or discomfort, urinary incontinence, frequent urination and heavy menstrual bleeding. In fact, the bleeding can be so severe that some women with fibroids must take extra precautions and may need to avoid certain social activities during their periods.
The location and size of uterine fibroids can affect the severity of these symptoms and impact your quality of life. Fibroids are hormonally sensitive, so the symptoms may be cyclical, as with menstruation.
What happens if I don’t treat my uterine fibroids?
When fibroids are causing heavy bleeding, iron is depleted from the body which can lead to anemia. It can also lead to hemoglobin loss, which makes it more difficult for blood to carry oxygen throughout the body. This results in a feeling of being tired or weak and can cause other symptoms such as shortness of breath, dizziness, headaches and more.
Untreated uterine fibroids can also lead to pregnancy complications, heart failure and other health problems.
Treatment Options Offered by Our Doctors at Our Minnesota Clinic
There are several treatment options for women that are clinically proven, FDA-approved and covered by insurance. If conservative treatment (such as medication, intrauterine devices (IUDs), progestin injections and supplements do not work to control fibroid symptoms, several viable medical interventions exist to treat fibroids.
It is important to know that surgically removing your uterus (called hysterectomy) is NOT your only option. And while some healthcare professionals may feel that the uterus is an “unnecessary” organ for those who do not wish to or no longer wish to have children, there is a good deal of evidence that the uterus plays an important role beyond childbirth. Furthermore, it has been shown that uterus removal is linked to other health issues, such as early menopause, incontinence and even heart disease. This is the reason why 75% of hysterectomies in the United States are considered “unnecessary.”
Another surgical procedure, called myomectomy, removes the fibroids but spares the uterus. While this procedure effectively reduces fibroid symptoms, it doesn’t last. In many cases, the fibroids will return in about 24 months. Myomectomy also carries many of the risks associated with surgery.
A less invasive option, endometrial ablation, is a procedure that removes the lining of the uterus. Unfortunately, it only works for women whose fibroids are less than an inch in diameter. It can also result in abnormal bleeding, requiring another surgery.
Hormone therapy is another less invasive option to treat fibroid symptoms. This approach is not recommended for the long term, because it can lead to menopause-like symptoms and bone loss. When hormone therapy is discontinued, fibroids will come back.
Uterine fibroid embolization is a minimally invasive and highly effective procedure to treat uterine fibroids, even over the long term. By embolizing or “cutting off” the blood supply feeding the fibroids, they will shrink and symptoms will disappear. This procedure is FDA-approved, covered by insurance and recommended by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).