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Questions
to Ask about Uterine Fibroids
As many as
three out of four American women will develop uterine fibroids,
noncancerous growths in the wall or lining of the uterus. The
cause of fibroids remains a mystery, although the hormone estrogen
is known to influence their growth. That's why fibroids develop
during the childbearing years—usually when women are in their
30s or 40s—and subside with menopause.
Most women
aren't even aware they have fibroids because fibroids don't always
cause symptoms. When they do, it's usually because the fibroids
have grown in size or number. Common symptoms caused by fibroids
are pain, pressure or bleeding. These symptoms often prompt women
to see their health care professional for diagnosis and treatment.
If you experience any of these symptoms, be sure to get them checked
out. They may indeed be symptoms of fibroids or of another, possibly
more serious, condition.
If you are
diagnosed with fibroids, there are a number of treatment options
you can discuss with your health care professional. Hysterectomy
(surgery to remove the uterus) was once the recommended treatment
for fibroids and it may be an option for you. But there also are
other, less invasive, treatment options. These newer methods allow
doctors to remove or destroy the fibroids while preserving the
uterus. And some women elect not to treat fibroids right away,
but instead "watch and wait"—meaning that they wait
to see if the symptoms subside on their own.
Your treatment
options likely will depend upon how severe your symptoms are,
your age, whether or not you wish to preserve your ability to
have children and your concern about treatment side effects. Be
sure to ask your health care professional about all options available
to you.
Here are some
questions to help you start a discussion with your health care
professional about uterine fibroids:
- What is
causing my symptoms? Are fibroids a likely cause?
- What tests
will you use to diagnose my symptoms? Will my insurance cover
the tests?
- Do fibroids
always need to be removed?
- Are there
any over-the-counter and/or prescription medications I can take
to relieve my symptoms?
- What options
besides a hysterectomy can treat fibroids, and what are their
advantages and disadvantages?
- What are
the advantages and disadvantages of hysterectomy?
- If I want
to preserve my ability to have children, what is my best treatment
option?
- Are sexual
side effects common with these treatments? What about other
physical side effects, such as pain, urinary problems or menopausal
symptoms?
- What is
the typical recovery time for each of these procedures?
- What are
the chances that the fibroids will grow back?
For more
information about fibroids, visit "Fast
Facts for Your Health: Uterine Fibroids" and "Fibroids."
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