Posts Tagged ‘ fibroid symptoms ’

fibroid symptoms

Fibroids and Stress

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Image showing a woman closing her face with her right hand

There are many important aspects to raising Uterine Fibroid awareness. This includes encouraging women to look more closely at their bodies, learning more about treatment options, and helping them to feel less stressed and isolated. Suffering can be a daunting experience with fibroid symptoms like heavy menstrual bleeding, painful sex, and weight gain. These all add up and increase levels of anxiety and stress in a woman’s life. Finding ways to address and manage this stress are often neglected but can be an imperative part of the healing process.

The Relation Between Fibroids and Stress

Concerns for one’s health as well as dealing with painful fibroid symptoms can easily bring about stress. Not only do the symptoms associated with fibroids cause a physical pain, but also an emotional pain for women and their relationship with others. Day to day pain associated with fibroids and an enlarging uterus may make mobility and socializing a much more difficult and a particularly stressful endeavor. Other fibroid symptoms such as pain during intercourse may cause stress to a relationship, as well as the possibility of infertility for couples looking to start a family. Without managing stress, fibroids can quickly overtake a woman’s life and lead to feelings of isolation.

Techniques to Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Finding the best way to cope with fibroids and stress is unique for every woman. If you’re unsure where to begin, try different type of stress relief techniques at least once to see which ones show the best results. Here are some of the most effective techniques to reducing stress and anxiety:

  1. Finding Support: Turning to family, friends, counselors, or support groups can provide emotional assistance and de-escalate isolation.
  2. Relaxation Exercises: Meditation, breathing exercises, and loosening muscle tension are effective and easy ways to bring stress down on a daily basis.
  3. Making Lifestyle Changes: Exercising and having healthy balanced meals are great for releasing pent up muscles, improving sleep, and metabolizing excessive stress hormones.
  4. Medication: For those who find it particularly difficult to get through stress even after trying the other techniques, medication prescribed by a physician or psychiatrist can be a beneficial alternative.

Find Fibroid Treatment with Fibroid Embolization

Putting an end to stress and pain associated with fibroids can be as simple as finding the right treatment. Embolization is a procedure that shrinks fibroids and alleviate fibroid symptoms, all without the need for invasive surgery. Learn more about fibroid embolization by contacting the Fibroid Treatment Collective at (866) 479-1523.

Fibroid Questions to Ask Your Doctor

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Doctors and patients sit and talk

What are the symptoms of fibroids? Addressing your concerns immediately can save you years of future fibroid pain and infertility. Ask your doctor any and all questions. The more you know about fibroids, the better you can understand which fibroid treatment is right for you. To get in touch with the best fibroids doctor in Los Angeles, contact the Fibroid Treatment Collective to consult with Dr. McLucas.

When speaking with your doctor, you may want to begin by asking how, and why fibroids may be growing in your uterus. While each woman’s case is unique, your doctor may tell you that fibroids have been linked to increased estrogen, and for many women, fibroids begin during pregnancy, and before menopause. If your symptoms began around these times fibroids may be the cause.

Outline Your Fibroid Symptoms

Give your doctor an overview of your symptoms, in addition to asking any specific symptom related questions. If you are experiencing an unusually heavy menstrual cycle, ask about the differences between a very heavy period, and fibroid related bleeding. It may be difficult to tell for most women on their own, so be as thorough as possible when explaining your symptoms. Fibroid related bleeding usually results in large clots, chunks of tissue in the blood, the irregular intensity of flow, and a longer-lasting period.

If your stomach is enlarging unexpectedly, ask your doctor if it could be related to fibroid growth. Fibroids may be the cause if you have gained weight with no apparent dietary changes, are not pregnant, and are experiencing abdominal bloating. In some cases, fibroids have been known to press on organs and nerves, causing back and leg pain, and constipation, and urinary frequency.

Fibroid Treatment Options

After going over possible fibroid symptoms with your doctor, ask about your treatment. A hysterectomy and myomectomy are common surgical procedures that many women undergo to remove the uterus or fibroids. However, be sure to also ask your doctor about non-surgical fibroid treatments, which are often a preferable option for women who want children or are looking for an alternative to surgery.

Medical therapies, which include birth control pills, progestins, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), analogues, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs), selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs), and aromatase inhibitors have been used to treat fibroid symptoms, but have also shown side effects. If you are interested in medical therapy, it’s important to ask about the risks involved and how well they treat fibroids. For instance, progestins alone (oral, intramuscular, or intrauterine) may control bleeding by reducing endometrial hyperplasia, but their use will not result in tumor shrinkage and may, in fact, induce tumor growth.

Non-Surgical Fibroid Treatment

Ask your doctor about uterine fibroid embolization, another non-surgical option that has helped over 90% of patients experience relief from their symptoms and shown significant fibroid shrinkage. If you are interested in any of these fibroid treatment options, remember to be clear with your doctor about each of your symptoms as well as any concerns or treatment preferences you may have, to help you make an informed decision. To learn more about fibroid symptoms and to get in touch with the best fibroids doctor in Los Angeles, contact us at (888) 296-9422.

How Can Fibroids Affect Your Pregnancy?

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Stock image of a pregnant woman holding her stomach

The presence of fibroids commonly begins during a woman’s childbearing years. For women who are planning for a pregnancy and have fibroids, it is vital to be regularly monitored by your OB/GYN for any signs of growth, so can fibroids affect pregnancy? Fortunately, in most instances, fibroids do not negatively interfere during a pregnancy. However, depending on the size of a fibroid and location within the uterus, complications may arise. No one wants to undergo fibroid treatment while pregnant, which is why it is essential to discuss fibroid treatment as early as possible.

Fibroid Treatment Before Conception

Research suggests that fibroids that alter the shape of the uterine cavity “may reduce fertility as much as 70%.” For women who are considering becoming pregnant and have fibroids, shrinking them may be recommended to improve chances of conception. Fibroids may prevent the sperm and egg from meeting, as well as hinder an embryo’s ability to implant.

One surgical option for fibroid treatment is a myomectomy, which cuts out existing fibroids. While it does remove fibroids, this procedure may result in uterus scarring and present problems for successful embryo implantation. Other drawbacks include a 50% chance of fibroids returning within a 10-month period if any of its cells are left behind during the surgery, as well as a weakening of uterine walls, which can compromise a successful pregnancy.

If you are planning for a pregnancy, the shrinking of fibroids beforehand can be a key component in protecting the welfare and health of the fetus so you can avoid fibroid treatment while pregnant. Uterine Fibroid Embolization offers a non-invasive solution that does not involve cutting, scarring, or fibroid recurrence. Embolization is a non-surgical procedure that focuses only on fibroids, meaning reproductive organs and tissues are left entirely undisturbed and functional to help ensure a healthier pregnancy.

How Fibroids Affect Pregnancy

During pregnancy, hormones in the body cause the uterus to grow and accommodate for the fetus, and in some cases, this massive influx of hormones may also cause fibroids to enlarge creating issues both during pregnancy and delivery. Some fibroids will grow large enough to take much-needed blood supply from the fetus or take up too much room in the uterus, which can result in a miscarriage.

Other consequences that fibroids inflict on pregnancy include acute abdominal pain and in some instances, bleeding if the placenta is near the fibroid. In late pregnancy, women with fibroids are more at risk to develop preterm labor. This can lead to a preterm delivery, which may cause certain developmental deficiencies in childhood.

If the pregnancy goes smoothly despite the presence of fibroids, there can also be challenges during delivery. Fibroids may cause the baby to lie in breech, transverse positions, or block the progress of labor and expulsion of the placenta. In these cases, your doctor may recommend a Cesarean section to avoid further problems.

If you are planning on becoming pregnant, it is important to take these concerns and solutions into consideration. Left untreated, fibroids can potentially damage your chances of conception, the childbearing process, and the delivery of a healthy baby. Uterine Fibroid Embolization provides a safe and effective solution to shrinking fibroids and promoting a healthy pregnancy.

To see the many women who have benefited from the embolization, take a look at our list of patients who now have children. For more information on pregnancy and fibroids get in touch with us today at (866) 479-1523.

What is the Difference Between Endometriosis and Fibroids?

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Doctor and patient consulting on a table

Both endometriosis and fibroids have a role in menstrual irregularity and pelvic pain. They can present similar symptoms and can cause similar problems. And both are leading causes for a hysterectomy. But they are very different conditions.

What is Endometriosis?

The muscular walls of the uterus bear a lining called the endometrium. Every month, the endometrium adds additional layers in preparation for a fertilized egg. When fertilization occurs, the fetus is nourished by this lining. When fertilization does not occur, various portions of the lining will be shed, along with the unfertilized egg, in the monthly menstrual cycle.

Endometrial cells may migrate to different organs, such as the fallopian tubes, bladder, large intestine, and even the lungs. Outside the uterus, these cells may grow and create endometrial tissue in areas where it doesn’t belong. The body reacts to this irregularity with scarring, cysts, inflammation and discomfort.

Endometriosis is the presence of tissue normally found in the uterus, outside the uterus.

Common Symptoms of Endometriosis

o Infertility
o Pain during and before menstrual cycles
o Pain during sexual intercourse
o Painful urination during menstrual period
o Painful bowel movements during menstrual period
o Nausea, constipation, diarrhea

What are Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are solid tumors containing smooth muscle fibers and connective tissue that develop within the uterine walls. Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors. But they can seriously impact health, depending upon their size and location.

Fibroids vary in size and shape. They can grow slowly or very quickly. Fibroid symptoms such as hormonal changes, such as those that occur during pregnancy and prior to menopause, are believed to trigger sudden, rapid fibroid growth. For most women, fibroids will remain small and asymptomatic. But for some patients, fibroids create persistent, life-impacting challenges.

Fibroids are benign tumors that grow within the walls of the uterus.

Fibroid Symptoms

o Heavy, excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding
o Infertility
o Pelvic pain and pressure
o Pain during menstrual cycles
o Back pain
o Pain in the upper thighs
o Pain during intercourse
o Frequent urination
o Constipation
o Abdominal swelling
o Weight gain

Causes

The exact causes for these two conditions remains unknown, but many doctors believe that estrogen may be the main culprit.

Only a doctor can determine the presence of endometriosis or fibroids. Medical imaging and other tests are needed to confirm which (or both) conditions might be present. While symptoms may be similar, these are two distinct diseases. They require distinct and specific treatments. Remember, the sooner you identify the problem, the more likely you are to successfully handle it. Endometriosis and fibroids rarely solve themselves.

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