Affecting over 80 percent of women by the time they reach age 50, fibroids are abnormal uterine growths that can cause great discomfort, heavy periods, and abdominal pain. Luckily, there is a number of treatment options available to the millions of women who suffer from this condition. Read on to learn more about fibroids and how your local OBGYN can help ease your symptoms!

Fibroid Background

As mentioned above fibroids are typically non-cancerous tumors that develop within the uterine line. Although it is officially unclear on what exactly causes them to grow, experts generally agree that fibroid growth is influenced by a few factors, including hormone production, family history, a history of pregnancy, and being overweight.

While some people with fibroids report feeling no effect from their presence, other women report a range of different symptoms, such as:

  • Heavy and extended menstrual flow

  • Trouble conceiving

  • Pelvis and lower back pain

  • Frequent urination

  • Painful intercourse

  • Abdomen swelling

If you suspect that you may have fibroids, schedule an appointment with your local OBGYN to undergo a pelvic exam.

Treatment Options

Once your gynecologist has discovered the presence of fibroids, a specific treatment plan can be crafted specifically for you based on your age, your fibroid size, and the overall status of your health. Some possibilities for mild fibroids include:

  • Acupuncture

  • Yoga

  • Massage

  • Applying heat to the areas that are experiencing cramps

  • Losing weight, if you are overweight

  • Dietary changes, such as avoiding meat and high-calorie foods

For more serious cases, hormone regulating medications such as Lupron will cause your estrogen to drop, and thus cause menstrual cessation and fibroid shrinkage. If a patient’s fibroids are very large, a hysterectomy may even be in order.

Concerned? Give Us a Call!

If you suspect that you may have fibroids, don’t wait for the condition to get worse—contact your local gynecologist to seek relief and boost your health!