Fibroids – Uterine Fibroids – Abnormal Growths

Fibroids Overview

Fibroids are common growths that are found in or on the uterus and can grow to be large and quite painful. There is no clear cause of them, but family history and hormone issues are seen as contributing factors. Even though many women experience pain, some women have no noticeable symptoms. For women suffering from uterine fibroids, Newburgh, IN gynecologists, Dr. Basinski and Dr. Juran, can use a variety of medications and procedures to treat them.

The are several types of fibroids: intramural, pedunculated, subserosal, and submucosal, which are characterized by where they grow in relation to the uterus. These various fibroids can take on a number of symptoms, where the most common are heavy bleeding that occurs during or between your periods, painful menstrual cramping, prolonged periods, pelvic and/or lower back pain, painful sexual intercourse, and swelling or pressure in the lower abdomen.

Causes of Fibroids

Fibroids is another condition with an unknown cause, but there are several contributing factors:

• Hormones produced by the ovaries, estrogen and progesterone, are thought to initiate the growth of fibroids.
• During pregnancy, estrogen and progesterone increase in production, which may cause fibroids to develop and grow quickly.
• If you have a family history of fibroids, you have an increased chance of getting them.

Treatment Options

To treat fibroids, your doctor might:

• Prescribe medications to shrink the fibroids. Some cause female hormones to decrease in order to stop menstruation. Intrauterine devices can also be implanted to help relieve symptoms like heavy bleeding and pain. Birth control pills are often used to alleviate symptoms.
• Use minimally invasive procedures to destroy fibroids such as ultrasound surgery, where sound waves are used to target the fibroid. Lasers, freezing, and endometrial ablation are also used.
• Perform surgery to remove multiple or very large fibroids. An incision is made on the stomach in order to gain access to the uterus to remove the growths. For severe cases, a hysterectomy is performed to remove the uterus.

Learn More About Fibroids

Fibroids can cause a lot of pain, discomfort, and anxiety to a woman, so it’s beneficial to see a doctor right away to get treated. Our highly trained gynecologists will determine which type of fibroid you have and develop a customized treatment plan to address your specific condition and needs. For more information on how we can treat your uterine fibroids, give us a call to set an appointment.