Fibroids

As many as 8 in 10 women have fibroids by age 50. At NY Midtown OB/GYN, the dedicated team of gynecology providers specializes in treating fibroids and relieving miserable symptoms like heavy bleeding. There are luxurious high-end offices in midtown Manhattan in New York City and Mamaroneck in Westchester County, New York, so call the one nearest you or book your appointment online today.

What are fibroids?

Fibroids are noncancerous growths that occur in the uterus. They’re extremely common, affecting up to 80% of people with a uterus by the age of 50. Some fibroids never cause symptoms and go away on their own. 

Others can grow up to six inches wide or larger. Larger fibroids are more likely to cause heavy periods, bleeding between periods, and other irregular (abnormal) bleeding. Fibroids can also cause severe period pain, difficulty emptying your bladder, anemia, and infertility.

What causes fibroids?

The cause of fibroids is uncertain, but most experts believe that the female hormones estrogen and progesterone are involved. This is supported by the fact that fibroids usually shrink as women start menopause, a time when estrogen levels drop sharply.

What is the medical management of fibroids?

Medical management of fibroids usually involves medications that control symptoms like heavy bleeding and severe period pain. 

Birth control pills and other hormonal birth control methods are the most common examples. This method doesn’t shrink fibroids (it may cause a slight size increase), but symptom relief is usually well worth the trade-off.

There are other medications for fibroid management as well. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists stop your periods and can shrink fibroids, but they come with side effects. Another option, tranexamic acid, reduces heavy bleeding caused by fibroids. 

What is surgical fibroid management?

Surgical fibroid management of fibroids usually involves a procedure called a myomectomy. In this procedure, the surgical team removes the fibroids from your uterus. 

Myomectomy eliminates the source of your symptoms and can give you excellent results while preserving your uterus so you can still get pregnant in the future. Fibroids can grow back after a myomectomy, but it can take a long time. 

If you have fibroids that don’t respond to other approaches and you don’t plan to become pregnant in the future, hysterectomy (uterus removal) may be a permanent solution for you. 

In addition to myomectomy and hysterectomy, NY Midtown OB/GYN offers other surgical procedures such as: 

• Hysteroscopy
• Loop electrosurgical excision procedure (LEEP) 
• Laparoscopy/minimally invasive surgery 
• Laparoscopic hysterectomy 
• Robotic surgery 
• Ovarian surgery

The team can explain your fibroid treatment options and recommend the best treatment for your needs.

NY Midtown OB/GYN provides medical and surgical fibroid management in their comfortable boutique-like offices. Book your appointment online or call the office nearest to you today.