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A FOCUS ON FIBROIDS:
WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW?
I DON’T FEEL A THING (EXPECTANT MANAGEMENT FOR WOMEN WITH NO SYMPTOMS)
If you are not experiencing any symptoms from your fibroid(s), deciding how to manage them is straightforward. There really isn’t anything much you have to do. Your doctor will probably check your fibroid from time to time to see if it has changed in size. And your physician may request an ultrasound - a technology that uses sound waves to create a picture of the pelvic organs on a monitor - to get a baseline picture of your fibroid or to more accurately measure any changes in size. Ultrasounds are also helpful when there is a question in discerning whether a growth is indeed a benign uterine fibroid, or instead, a potentially serious ovarian tumor.
What should I ask my doctor if we are "watching" my fibroids?
- How many fibroids do I actually have?
- What size is my fibroid(s)?
- Where is my fibroid(s) located (outer surface, inner surface, or in the wall of the uterus)?
- Can I expect the fibroid(s) to grow larger?
- How will I know if the fibroid(s) is growing larger? Will I need a sonogram?
- What problems can the fibroid(s) cause?
- What treatment options will you consider if my fibroid(s) becomes a problem?
- What are your views on treating fibroids with a hysterectomy vs. other alternatives?
Don’t treat fibroids based on size alone.
Just because your fibroid is large does not necessarily mean it will give you any or more trouble, compared to one of smaller size. Too often in the past doctors would recommend a hysterectomy (surgery to remove the entire uterus) based on concerns that fibroids could potentially obstruct the bowel or other nearby organs. In reality, this is rarely the case.
Experts also warn against rushing into treatment because your fibroid changes size rapidly. Just because a fibroid grows larger over time is no reason alone to remove it. Also, remember that fibroids by nature progressively increase in size until menopause, when the body stops producing estrogen and fibroids tend to shrink on their own.
Warning: Increasing uterine size in the postmenopausal woman does warrant immediate attention by a gynecologist or other physician trained in this area. This diagnosis does suggest a cancerous tumor may be present and you don’t want to waste any time.
This article courtesy of EmpowerMed, an Internet-based service that empowers individuals and their families to become more active participants in the decisions that affect their health and well-being. This free service will be available in April, 1998 at www.empowermed.com. Copyright 1998 EmpowerMed, all rights reserved.
