Uterine Fibroids Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment in Brooklyn and Staten Island

Uterine fibroids develop in the womb and are muscular tumors. They are usually benign, and less than one in 1000 will become cancerous. Having fibroids does not increase your risk of developing another form of cancer in the uterus.

Fibroids are usually round and although they consist of the same smooth muscle as the wall of the uterus, they are much denser. Uterine fibroids may develop singly, or you might have multiple tumors. They can be very small or might grow to become grapefruit sized.

Uterine fibroids generally develop during the 30s, 40s and through the menopause, but are most common amongst women in their 40s and early 50s. Genetics are another factor, as if your mother or another close female relative had fibroids, your risk is approximately three times higher than average. Overweight women are at higher risk, especially those who are very heavy.

Your ethnicity also makes a difference, as African-American women are more at risk than white women. If you like to eat plenty of red meat and ham, you are more likely to get fibroids compared with a woman who eats lots of green vegetables which seems to have a protective effect.

Uterine fibroid growth can be stimulated by estrogen, so they might grow a little larger with each menstrual cycle. Fibroids that grow very rapidly may need to be closely monitored. There is a rare and cancerous form of fibroid that is a fast-growing tumor, but this develops in less than 1% of uterine fibroids.

It’s not known for sure why some women develop uterine fibroids and it’s thought several factors could influence a woman’s risk. One possibility is that the cause is hormonal and is affected by progesterone and estrogen levels. Uterine fibroids can grow more quickly during pregnancy as hormone levels increase. After menopause, when hormone levels decline, fibroids can shrink in size.

Most uterine fibroids or uterine cysts develop in the wall of the uterus and are categorized as being submucosal, intramural or subserosal. Submucosal fibroids develop in the uterine wall. Intramural fibroids develop within the wall of the uterus. Subserosal fibroids develop on the outside the uterus. There is another type of fibroids that are called pedunculated fibroids, and which develop outwards from the uterus surface, or they can grow into the uterus cavity. These can have an appearance almost like mushrooms.

Often women with uterine fibroids will have no symptoms, but one of the most common signs is abnormal uterine bleeding. When the tumors interfere with the blood flow to the lining of the uterus, they can cause prolonged, painful and heavy periods and women who bleed excessively may develop anemia. If uterine fibroids begin to degenerate, they can sometimes cause localized and severe pain. Other symptoms include pelvic pain, feeling pressure on the rectum or pressure on the bladder or having a swollen uterus.

Fibroids will not interfere with ovulation, but it is suspected that they could affect fertility and may result in a poorer pregnancy outcome. Women with fibroids are more likely to require a cesarean section and there could be a risk of preterm delivery. Occasionally, fibroids can cause recurrent miscarriages and must be removed for a woman to have a successful pregnancy. If you have fibroids and want to become pregnant, it’s worth discussing the possible impact of uterine fibroids and pregnancy with your obstetrician.

Fibroids that do not cause any symptoms may not require any treatment but can simply be checked during your pelvic exams to monitor any changes in size. If your uterine fibroids are causing discomfort then your doctor can discuss the best way to treat them. The treatment prescribed will depend on the symptoms, the size and location of the fibroids, whether you wish to become pregnant in the future, and your age and how close you are to menopause.

Mild symptoms can normally be treated with medications, including over-the-counter drugs such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. If your fibroids cause heavy bleeding, you may need to take an iron supplement to counteract anemia. Some contraceptive pills can help control fibroid symptoms as for example, low-dose birth control pills can help control heavy bleeding.

Other options include birth control injections or an intrauterine device (IUD) which releases a small amount of progesterone to control heavy bleeding. A Lupron injection can help to shrink fibroids and is a gonadotrophin releasing hormone agonist. This treatment may be useful in preparation for surgery to remove fibroids and most women tolerate these injections very well, although it can produce side effects similar to the menopause. Uterine fibroids may shrink by as much as 50%.

Generally, uterine fibroids can be left in place, but fast-growing fibroids may require removal. One risk of leaving uterine fibroids is that they can sometimes grow significantly, causing unpleasant symptoms and which will eventually require removal. When fibroids become larger, the surgery to remove them can be trickier and riskier.

Fibroids causing moderate or severe symptoms may be more effectively treated with surgery and the technique used will depend on the size of the fibroids.