Abdominal pain and cramping, heavy periods, and lower back pain aren't just a normal part of the female menstrual cycle. If you're experiencing such symptoms that are hindering your quality of life, you may have uterine fibroids. This is a common condition with several treatment options. Call or book a fibroid examination and consultation by calling Dr. Randall J. Burt. Located in Plano, Texas, Dr. Burt has extensive experience in diagnosing and treating fibroids.
Fibroids are a type of uterine tumor that affects between 20 and 50% of women of reproductive age. Over 99% of these tumors are non-cancerous, and they don't increase a woman's risk of developing uterine cancer. Fibroids are the most common type of tumor in the female reproductive organs. Doctors aren't sure what causes fibroids, but they may develop from defects in muscle cells of the uterus or due to the influence of estrogen.
Some of the more common symptoms of fibroids include:
Some women have fibroids with no symptoms.
Small and medium-sized fibroids don't create any unnecessary risk during pregnancy. Sometimes, however, pregnancy hormones and increased blood flow to the uterus allow fibroids to grow. This can increase the discomforts of pregnancy. If the fibroids are large or if the woman has multiple fibroids, she's at higher risk for complications. Dr. Burt monitors fibroids closely during pregnancy to help lessen this risk.
Dr. Burt recommends treatment for women whose fibroids cause discomfort, fertility issues, or cause other worrisome symptoms. He may also recommend treatment if fibroids suddenly start t grow rapidly.
Dr. Burt offers a number of treatment options. These include:
Dr. Burt also recommends watchful waiting, which involves monitoring the fibroids for growth but not pursuing other treatment, for fibroids causing mild symptoms.