Skip Navigation

Women's Health Articles: Fighting Fibroids

 

Fibroids
Chances are you know someone who has uterine fibroids, even if she doesn't know she does. These tumors of fibrous tissue and smooth muscle are the most common benign tumors seen in gynecology. They range in size from less than 1 inch to more than 8 inches. Estimates suggest that 30 to 50 percent of women in the United States have them, but studies indicate that many more women have them and don't have any symptoms. Although the cause is unknown, African-American women (1 in 2) are more likely than Caucasian women (1 in 4) to have uterine fibroids.

Possible Symptoms

Fibroid tumors can cause a variety of symptoms including pelvic pain and pressure on the bladder, which may cause increased urinary frequency. Abnormal uterine bleeding (including heavy menstrual periods and bleeding between periods) is also a common symptom. Sometimes fibroids cause pain during intercourse. Uterine fibroids may also be associated with infertility and miscarriages.

Diagnosis

Uterine fibroids are usually diagnosed during a pelvic exam. Additional tests and studies like ultrasounds, CT (computerized tomography) scans, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) can confirm the diagnosis. The University of Michigan offers a number of non-invasive and minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat fibroids.

Treatments

Fibroids are the reason for 30 percent of the hysterectomies in the United States, but there are other options. The University of Michigan Health System Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology provides many options (ranging from medication to surgery).

"There are a wide range of options depending on each individual's needs. We balance what is available to that person medically with her personal preferences. We work with each patient as a team to find the right choice, strongly respecting her needs and desires for fertility and recovery time," says Suzie As-Sanie, Clinical Lecturer, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UMHS.

Contact the University of Michigan Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at 734-763-6295 for more information.

Reading List

Fibroids: The Complete Guide to Taking Charge of Your Physical, Emotional and Sexual Well-Being, by Johanna Skilling & Eileen Hoffman, M.D.

Fibroid Tumor and Endometriosis Self Help Book, by Susan M. Lark

What to Do When the Doctor Says It's Endometriosis or Fibroids, by Cheryl Kimball & Thomas L. Lyons

This article appeared in the Apr/May 2007 issue of the Women's Health Newsletter. Read the issue.

back to top