Fibroids Specialist

What are fibroids?

Fibroids are typically benign (meaning non-cancerous) tumors that develop in the muscle tissue of your uterus. You can have one fibroid or several, and they range in size from tiny seeds, barely detectable to the human eye, to large masses that stretch and distort your uterus.

How do I know if I have fibroids?

Many women have fibroids at some point in their lives, but not all of them experience symptoms. When fibroid symptoms do occur, they can include:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Pelvic pain or pressure
• Pain during sex
• Lower back pain
• Frequent urination
• Difficulty getting pregnant (infertility)
  
  

Call Women's Health of Manhattan if you’re concerned about pelvic pain, spotting between periods, or any unusual symptoms that don’t go away. These symptoms may be due to fibroids or another gynecological condition like endometriosis.

How are fibroids diagnosed?

Some women learn they have fibroids when their doctor detects an unusual mass during a routine pelvic exam at a well-woman visit. If your Women's Health of Manhattan feels abnormalities in your uterus, they may take an ultrasound to confirm the presence of fibroids.

They may also perform hysteroscopy, which is a procedure that allows your doctor to see inside your uterus through a lighted scope.

How are fibroids treated?

The doctors at Women's Health of Manhattan provide individualized treatment for fibroids based on your unique needs. If your fibroids are small and cause mild or no symptoms, your provider may recommend a period of watchful waiting to determine if treatment is necessary.

There are a variety of effective fibroid treatments available for fibroids that cause symptoms. Hormonal medications can relieve symptoms and may shrink fibroids, but they don’t eliminate them. Non-invasive procedures use ultrasound energy to target and destroy fibroids without making an incision.

Some fibroids may require surgery. The experts at Women's Health of Manhattan may use a minimally invasive surgical procedure like endometrial ablation or laparoscopic myomectomy to destroy or remove the fibroids. In some cases, traditional open surgery, such as a myomectomy or hysterectomy, may be the best option.

For patient-centered care of fibroids, call Women's Health of Manhattan, or book an appointment online today.