Fibroids
Helping you find relief with treatment options to fit your needs
When you are experiencing pain, cramping or other symptoms from uterine fibroids, our team of experts can help. We offer nonsurgical and surgical treatment options to address fibroids and offer you relief.
What are uterine fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) growths in or around the uterus. Fibroids can range in size from an apple seed to a grapefruit. While they aren’t usually dangerous or do not increase your risk of cancer, depending on the size, number or location of fibroids, they can cause uncomfortable symptoms or pain. If left untreated, these symptoms may worsen over time.
Common symptoms of fibroids
- Pelvic pain
- Heavy, painful or prolonged periods
- Frequent or difficulty urinating
- Pressure or swelling in the abdomen
- Constipation
- Infertility
- Painful sex
Treatment options for uterine fibroids
If fibroids aren't causing discomfort or symptoms, you may not need treatment beyond periodic checkups. If your symptoms are bothersome or frequent, your provider may recommend treatment for your uterine fibroids. There are a number of nonsurgical and surgical options to treat fibroids.
Medication and hormonal therapy
Medications and hormones will not get rid of your fibroids. However, they may help improve your symptoms, and in some cases, reduce the size of fibroids.
Surgical treatments
The most common treatment for symptomatic fibroids is by removing the entire uterus through a surgical procedure called a hysterectomy. This is a significant surgical procedure usually performed under general anesthesia, requiring up to six weeks of recovery depending on the surgical approach.
Myomectomy is another traditional surgical procedure for the treatment of fibroids. In this procedure, your surgeon removes fibroids from the wall of the uterus through an incision made in your abdomen.
Minimally invasive procedures
In some cases, your doctor can offer fibroid treatments using minimally invasive procedures. This approach can often be performed without a stay in the hospital, using smaller incisions, and helps to reduce discomfort and recovery time. Some traditional surgeries can also be performed using a minimally invasive approach.
Minimally invasive fibroid treatment includes:
- Myomectomy
- Uterine artery embolization
- Hysterectomy
- Uterine fibroid ablation