Fibroids are estimated to occur in approximately 40% of all women over 35 years old. Many women experience no symptoms at all, and the fibroids are often discovered by accident during a pelvic examination. Sometimes, they can cause all sorts of problems, from pain and bleeding to pressure on the bladder and rectum. 

Fibroids can range in size of a pearl to that of a full term pregnancy. Sometimes, they grow to fill the entire uterine cavity. Fibroids are non-cancerous (benign) growths appearing in and on the uterus. They seldom become cancerous. 

The growth of fibroids is closely tied to the secretion of ovarian hormones, especially estrogen. The fibroids usually shrink, and sometimes disappear, in menopausal women who are producing little or no estrogen. Women undergoing hormone therapy or those taking birth control pills may experience marked growth of their fibroids because of extra estrogen coming from medication. 

SYMPTOMS

• Abnormal uterine bleeding
• Pain and cramping
• Pressure on various pelvic organs such as the bladder, ureters and rectum, sometimes resulting in difficult bowel movements, constipation or hemorrhoids.

TREATMENT

Most of the time, fibroids don’t require treatment. Periodic examinations are generally sufficient to see if there is a significant change in the size of the fibroids. There are several surgical treatments to remove fibroids:

• Myomectomy, including laparotomy, operative hysteroscopy and operative laparoscopy
• Hysterectomy
• Uterine Artery Embolization

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