Our Services / Fibroids

What are uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are growths in and around your uterine wall. These tumors are nearly always noncancerous — cancerous growths affect less than 1 in 1,000 women who have fibroids.

There are four distinct kinds of fibroids:

Intramural fibroids

Intramural fibroids are the most common kind. They develop within the uterine wall.

Pedunculated fibroids

These fibroids have a supportive stem at their base.

Subserosal fibroids

Subserosal fibroids grow on the uterus’s exterior.

Submucosal fibroids

Submucosal fibroids develop within your uterine wall, within the muscular tissue’s submucosal layer.

What are the symptoms of fibroids?

Many women have fibroids without knowing it because they experience no symptoms. If your fibroids are causing problems, they’re likely to include:

• Heavy bleeding
• Severe pelvic cramping
• Spotting between periods
• Abdominal bloating
• Lower back pain
• Anemia (from excessive bleeding)
• Constipation
• Having to urinate more often

Fibroids can also cause fertility problems for some women.

The Mesbah OB/GYN team encourages women who experience daily struggles with fibroid symptoms to seek treatment. Their problems are likely to worsen as the fibroids get bigger over time.

How are fibroids diagnosed?

Very often, your provider at Mesbah OB/GYN can feel the fibroids when pressing on your abdomen, especially if you have large growths. They might also come across your fibroids during a pelvic exam.

If your uterus is an irregular shape, but your provider can’t feel the fibroids, they may recommend an ultrasound scan. An ultrasound is also useful for verifying your fibroids' exact location and size.

How are fibroids treated?

Initial treatments for fibroids might involve:

Hot compresses

Putting a hot compress on your lower abdomen a couple of times a day can considerably reduce uterine fibroid pain.

Dietary changes

Cutting out processed foods and foods containing high levels of the hormone estrogen helps to reduce symptoms.

Medications

Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen can ease inflammation. Hormonal birth control methods can also help by lowering estrogen levels and regulating your menstrual cycle. Newer drugs specifically designed to treat uterine fibroids could benefit some patients.

Would I need surgery for fibroids?

You might need surgery if your fibroids are large and causing more severe symptoms, or they’re affecting your fertility. 

The main surgery for fibroids is myomectomy, where your surgeon at Mesbah OB/GYN removes the fibroids. They can do this using minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques or the da Vinci® robot-assisted surgery system.

Women with especially severe uterine fibroid complications might require a hysterectomy. This procedure is the only way to completely resolve your fibroid problem, but it does involve the removal of your uterus. Therefore, it’s only suitable for women who are certain they won’t want to conceive in the future.

If you have symptoms of uterine fibroids, get a prompt diagnosis and effective treatment at Mesbah OB/GYN. Call their office, or book an appointment online today.