Fibroids

Fibroids are very common and affect as many as 20-80% of women of childbearing age in the United States. Though fibroids often go unnoticed, they may be the underlying cause of your heavy periods, pelvic pain, or growing waistline. At Lenox OBGYN in the Midtown West area of Manhattan in New York City, the team of board-certified OB/GYNs are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of fibroids. They work closely with you to design a treatment plan to improve your symptoms and overall health. To schedule a consultation, contact the office by phone or online today.

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What are fibroids?

Fibroids, also called leiomyomas, are non-cancerous muscular tumors that grow in the lining of your uterus. They’re very common and your risk of developing the non-cancerous tumors increases as you get older.

Fibroids vary in number, size, and shape. However, it’s not uncommon for a uterus to develop clusters of fibroids. Over time, your fibroids may grow, shrink, or stay the same.

What are fibroid symptoms?

Most fibroids don’t cause symptoms. In fact, many women may not even know they have fibroids until they’re incidentally found during your annual wellness exam.

However, women who experience fibroid symptoms often find them very uncomfortable and disruptive to daily life. Common fibroid symptoms include:

Heavy periods
Painful periods
Lower abdominal heaviness or pressure
Constipation
Expanding waistline
Painful intercourse
Infertility

For pregnant women, fibroids may complicate your labor and delivery and increase your risk of needing a cesarean section.

How are fibroids diagnosed?

The team at Lenox OBGYN are experts in fibroids and may initially find them during your pelvic exam. However, to confirm a diagnosis, your provider conducts an imaging test, such as an ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan. These tests not only confirm that you have fibroids, but also determine their location, size, and number.

How are fibroids treated?

The experts at Lenox OBGYN develop personalized fibroid treatment plans based on your symptoms, future pregnancy plans, age, and size and location of your fibroid. If your fibroids aren’t causing any symptoms, the team may suggest monitoring your benign tumor with regular follow-up visits.

If your fibroids are causing mild symptoms, the team may suggest non-surgical interventions, such as:

Over-the-counter pain medication
Low-dose birth control pills or an intrauterine device (IUD) to reduce bleeding
Gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists (GnRHa) to shrink the fibroid

If your fibroids are causing moderate to severe symptoms, the team may recommend surgery.

What are the surgical treatments for fibroids?

Myomectomy

During a myomectomy, your OB/GYN only removes the fibroid, leaving your healthy uterine tissue intact. The team may recommend a myomectomy if you have future pregnancy plans. However, a myomectomy doesn’t prevent future fibroids from forming.

Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes your uterus and may be recommended if you have no future pregnancy plans. This is the most common surgical procedure for the treatment of fibroids.

Myolysis

During myolysis, your OB/GYN inserts a needle directly into your fibroid using ultrasound-guided imagery and either freezes or sends an electric current through the non-cancerous tumor to destroy it.

For expert fibroid care, call Lenox OBGYN or schedule an appointment using the website tool.