As many as 80% of women develop a uterine fibroid by the time they reach age 50. These benign tumors don’t always cause symptoms, but when fibroids do develop, they can seriously affect your quality of life. If you’re searching for a treatment for your uterine fibroids, Dama A. Ziworitin, MD, at Genesys Women OBGYN offers solutions to shrink your fibroid and alleviate its symptoms. To learn more, call the office in Sugar Land, Texas, or request an appointment online.
Uterine Fibroids Q & A
Uterine fibroids are benign muscular tumors that grow in a woman’s uterus. These tumors are very common and can be as small as an apple seed or as large as a grapefruit. You can also have one fibroid or several.
Researchers aren’t certain why fibroids develop, but you may be at risk if they run in your family. They also tend to be more common in African American women.
Uterine fibroids don’t always cause symptoms, and they can come and go without you even being aware. This isn’t the case for everyone, however, and some women may experience:
- Pelvic pain
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Constipation
- Feeling full in the abdominal area
- Painful intercourse
- Infertility
If you’re at risk of fibroids or experience these or other unusual symptoms, see Dr. Ziworitin and her team for an evaluation.
To diagnose uterine fibroids, Dr. Ziworitin reviews your medical history and asks you about symptoms you may have. She completes a physical exam, including a pelvic exam, to determine if your symptoms are due to uterine fibroids or another gynecological condition.
She might recommend an ultrasound to confirm a diagnosis and assess the size and location of fibroids. To gain additional information when necessary, she might suggest an MRI, hysterosalpingography, or hysteroscopy to view the inside of your uterus and fallopian tubes.
Treatment for uterine fibroids depends on the severity of your symptoms. Because fibroids can resolve on their own, if you’re not experiencing any symptoms, Dr. Ziworitin may decide on a wait-and-see approach.
However, if your uterine fibroid is causing symptoms, Dr. Ziworitin may prescribe medication to help relieve the discomfort and improve quality of life.
Dr. Ziworitin might suggest noninvasive procedures to destroy fibroids or minimally invasive procedures to remove them. The Genesys Women OBGYN team uses the latest advances in technology and procedures to give you the best outcome with little to no downtime.
To schedule a consultation to learn more about the uterine fibroid treatments, call Genesys Women OBGYN or request an appointment online today.