How to Treat Fibroids With Hormones

Fibroids are benign, or non-cancerous, tumors that grow in the uterine wall. Also referred to as fibromyomas, leiomyomas or myomas, uterine fibroids frequently are associated with the hormone estrogen and occur most often during the childbearing years. Fibroids can grow individually or in groups or clusters. They can be quite small or grow larger than a grapefruit. Treatment of fibroids can range from doing nothing to major surgery. Certain hormone treatments also can be helpful.

Instructions

• 1

  Schedule an appointment for a complete physical examination. Fibroids frequently exhibit no symptoms and are discovered incidentally during a pelvic examination. If fibroids are detected, your physician might request an ultrasound, X-ray or other imaging technique in order to confirm and refine the original diagnosis.

• 2

  Discuss all treatment options with your doctor. You doctor should tell you how many fibroids you have and what size they are, where they are located, what type they are, how fast they have grown and whether they can be expected to continue to grow, any anticipated problems these fibroids might cause, and what course of treatment is expected to be most effective. Discuss your plans for children and what ramifications any recommended treatment might have on your future fertility. In many cases hormone treatment might be a viable option.

• 3

  Be fully aware of what to expect from hormone treatment. Treatment with hormones is designed to shrink fibroids, but this treatment will not destroy or eliminate them. Some hormone treatments, such as GnRH agonists like Lupron and Synarel, cause the natural hormone levels of estrogen and progesterone to fall, which often causes the fibroids to shrink. Progesterone-related therapies including certain birth control pills and Intrauterine devices can help treat some of the symptoms caused by fibriods, such as heavy menstrual bleeding, but they do not shrink the tumors.

• 4

  Take your time before making a treatment decision. Get a second opinion. Fibroids are almost never cancerous and typically do not grow rapidly, so you have time to make an informed decision. Carefully weigh the risks and benefits of each type of treatment as they relate to your particular situation.