What are fibroids?

Fibroids, or uterine fibroids, are tumors that develop in the wall of the uterus. Your uterus is the organ where your baby grows. These noncancerous tumors are made up of muscle and connective tissue and vary in size, number, and location.

You can have fibroids as small as a watermelon seed or as big as a cantaloupe. Some women have one single fibroid, while others have multiple fibroids. These growths may develop inside the space of the uterus, into the wall of the uterus, or outside the uterus.

Fibroids are common, affecting 20-80% of women during their childbearing years. 

What are common symptoms of fibroids?

Fibroid symptoms vary and depend on the size, number, and location of the growths. Women with small fibroids are less likely to have symptoms than women with large fibroids. 

Common symptoms of fibroids include:

• Abnormal bleeding
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Pelvic pressure or fullness
• Pelvic pain 
• Low back pain
• Pain during sex
• Enlarged abdominal girth
• Frequent urination
• Constipation
• Feeling as though you can’t fully empty your bladder

Fibroids may also affect fertility, making it harder to conceive. Or, the fibroids may create complications during your pregnancy and increase your need for a cesarean section (C-section).

What tests do I need to diagnose fibroids?

You can have fibroids and not know it. Your obstetrics and gynecology doctor at Bay Area Physicians for Women may incidentally find fibroids during your annual well-woman exam. They can feel the growth during your pelvic exam.

To diagnose fibroids, your provider may request an ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan. These imaging tests let your doctor know the location, size, and the number of fibroids you have. 

What are the treatments for fibroids?

Treatment for fibroids depends on how the growth affects your life. If you have no symptoms, your provider at Bay Area Physicians for Women may not recommend any specific treatment.

If you have fibroids that affect your daily life, your provider may recommend:

• Over-the-counter (OTC) pain medication
• Low-dose hormonal contraception
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonist to shrink fibroids

Your doctor may also recommend surgery to remove the fibroid. Bay Area Physicians for Women includes physicians with advanced training in minimally invasive surgery who perform a myomectomy to remove the growths without removing your uterus.

For women without future plans for pregnancy, Bay Area Physicians for Women may perform a hysterectomy, surgery that removes the uterus.

To get help for your fibroids, call Bay Area Physicians for Women or schedule an appointment online today.