How to Treat Uterine Fibroids

Most uterine fibroids cause few problems. Many women conceive and bear children with moderate-sized fibroids in their uteruses. However, even if you have symptom-free fibroids, you should still be examined at least twice a year by your gynecologist.

Things You'll Need

• Diaphragms
• IUD

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Avoid taking birth-control pills that contain high levels of estrogen.

• 2

  Consider using a diaphragm or IUD for contraception. However, an IUD is not recommended for submucous fibers, because it's apt to cause more bleeding.

• 3

  Talk to your doctor about a prescription of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, which block the production of estrogen, allowing fibroids to shrink.

• 4

  Get tests done to rule out a cancerous fibroid if it is growing fast.

• 5

  Have your fibroid surgically removed if it is obstructing your reproductive passages and you are unable to get pregnant. In almost all cases, only the fibroid is removed, not the uterus.

• 6

  Permit your surgeon to remove your fibroid surgically if you are having symptoms or the fibroid has grown abnormally large. This surgical procedure is called myomectomy.

• 7

  Ask your doctor about uterine artery embolization, which is a procedure that cuts off the blood supply to the fibroid to reduce its size.

• 8

  Discuss endometrial ablation for heavy menstrual bleeding caused by fibroids. This procedure removes the uterine lining.

• 9

  Agree to a hysterectomy only when the fibroid has caused your uterus to grow beyond the size it would from a three-month pregnancy, or if you have severe bleeding that can't be stopped using any other method of treatment or if a fibroid is cancerous.

• 10

  Accept that for some of the more aggressive malignant fibroids, hysterectomy, along with the removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries, may be necessary.