Chronic Pain Today

Fibroids are tumors that grow in the uterus. They are known as fibroids, myomas, fibromyomas, or leiomyomas. One out of every four or five women over the age of 35 will get fibroids in her lifetime. Although they can be painful and bothersome, there is no additional risk of uterine cancer associated with having fibroids. Many women are asymptomatic, or don’t present symptoms with having fibroids, while others have a variety of symptoms. Common symptoms with having fibroids are heavy bleeding with their periods, bloating around the abdomen and trunk of the body, pelvic pain, bowel and urinary problems, and pain with sexual intercourse. You can live without treatment, although many are seen every year to reduce symptoms.

Typically the treatment for fibroids has been a hysterectomy. A hysterectomy is the total removal of the uterus. This brings on infertility, the cessation of menstruation, and could bring an earlier start to menopause. If the ovaries are left in tact, menopause could begin normally and without any additional side effects. The lack of menstruation will not mean that you are immune from typical menstruation problems like PMS.

There are less invasive methods of treating fibroids than surgical removal of the uterus. These methods are a myomectomy, a focused ultrasound, endometrial ablation, and uterine artery embolization.

Myomectomy
This treatment is up to 75% effective and is the removal of the fibroids in the uterus. The uterus is left in tact and isn’t removed. This is a great option for those that still want children as fertility is left untouched.

Focused Ultrasound
This treatment is the newest and the least invasive of the bunch. It is where ultrasound waves are used to increase the temperature of the uterus to destroy the fibroids. This procedure gives up to one year of reduced symptoms and pain.

Endometrial Ablation
This treatment is up to 90% effective and is where the uterine lining is removed. It will cause infertility. It doesn’t remove the actual fibroids in the uterus, just the lining. It will relieve the heavy periods associated with fibroids, but it won’t fix the pain and bloating that is associated with fibroids.

Uterine Artery Embolization
This procedure is up to 80% effective and is where they will inject particles no bigger than a grain of sand into the artery to the uterus. This will block the artery and kill off the blood supply to the fibroid. It does a good job of removing the symptoms of fibroids in many individuals.