Uterine Fibroids Specialist

What are uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids, or myomas, are benign tumors that grow on the wall of a woman’s uterus. The tumors vary in size and may be as small as an apple seed or as large as a grapefruit. You may also have one fibroid or several. 

Uterine fibroids are very common and may come and go without you even knowing you had them. 

You may be at risk of developing uterine fibroids if they run in your family. They’re most often diagnosed in women during their 30s and 40s and tend to shrink once women reach menopause. 

What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?

Not everyone with fibroids has symptoms. However, some women experience an array of symptoms that affect their daily life, such as:

• Pelvic pain
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Constipation
• Low back or abdominal pain
• Increase in abdominal girth
• Pain during intercourse
  
  

Depending on the size and location of the uterine fibroid, it may cause infertility or complications during pregnancy.

How are uterine fibroids diagnosed?

In many cases, the team at Frisco Obstetrics and Gynecology, PA may incidentally find a uterine fibroid during your well-woman pelvic exam. 

To confirm a diagnosis, your provider requests a sonography, which uses sound wave technology to create images of your uterus. With the sonogram, your provider determines the size, number, and location of your uterine fibroids.

For more accurate imaging, your provider may also request an MRI. 

How are uterine fibroids treated?

The team at Frisco Obstetrics and Gynecology, PA creates individualized treatment plans to manage uterine fibroids based on the severity of your symptoms.

If your uterine fibroids don’t cause symptoms, the team may monitor the tumors with regular sonograms. Over time, your uterine fibroids may shrink and go away.

For symptomatic uterine fibroids, the team prescribes hormonal medications that shrink the tumors. They also perform procedures to shrink or remove the tumors, such as:

• Fibroid embolization
• Laparoscopic myomectomy
• Myolysis
• Endometrial ablation and fibroid resection
  
  

For large uterine fibroids, the team may recommend traditional abdominal myomectomy or a hysterectomy for women with no future pregnancy plans.

Uterine fibroids are common but may affect your quality of life. To discuss your treatment options, call Frisco Obstetrics and Gynecology, PA, or schedule an appointment online today.