Women's Health

Several new procedures offer alternatives to hysterectomy or myomectomy, especially for the removal of smaller fibroids. An advantage of these new procedures is that they do not involve abdominal surgery. They may be performed on an outpatient basis, or they may require only an overnight hospital stay. Recovery time is usually quicker, too. However, because […]

Doctors may prescribe drugs called gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH agonists) to treat fibroids. Most fibroids shrink by one-third to one-half of their original size after two to three months of treatment with these drugs. Smaller fibroids may cause fewer problems and they are often easier to remove surgically. Women should not take GnRH agonists for more than

No treatment for fibroids is best for all women who have this problem. Every woman should discuss the treatment options with her doctor. The treatment that is best for any individual woman will depend on a variety of factors. Are the fibroids causing problems? Fibroids that are not causing problems may need no treatment at all.

Here are some frequently asked questions related to fibroids. Q: Can I take birth control pills if I have fibroids? A: Birth control pills contain estrogen. Higher levels of this hormonemay help fibroids to grow, although exactly how this might happen is not understood. Some doctors are concerned that taking birth control pills may cause fibroids to grow.

Here is a summary of the important facts and information related to fibroids. Fibroids are growths of tissue that are usually found in the wall of the uterus. They can be as small as a pinpoint or as large as a basketball. Although they are called tumors, fibroids are not cancerous. More than half of women

Here are definitions of medical terms related to fibroids. Anemia: Too few red blood cells in the blood. This results in too little oxygen getting to tissues and organs. Symptoms are feeling easily or always tired, lack of skin color, and getting frequent infections. Sometimes referred to as “low blood count.” Anesthesia: Loss of feeling or sensation

Here are some reliable sources that can provide more information on fibroids. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists  409 12th St., SW Washington, D.C.20024-2188 Phone: 202-638-5577 Online: http://www.acog.com ACOG is a professional association for obstetricians and gynecologists. Its resource center offers information for health care consumers on obstetric and gynecological health conditions.  

Fibroids are growths of tissue that are usually found in the wall of the uterus, or womb. They are made of a mixture of muscle tissue from the uterus and threadlike fibers of connective tissue. Although they are called tumors, fibroids are not cancerous. Fibroids usually shrink after menopause. New fibroids do not develop before

A fibroid starts as a single muscle cell in the uterus. For reasons that are not known, this cell changes into a fibroid tumor cell and starts to grow and multiply. Heredity may be a factor. It is thought that a muscle cell in the uterus may be “programmed” from birth to develop into a

Fibroids can occur in any woman of reproductive age. African American women are three times as likely as Caucasian women to have fibroids. It is not known how common fibroids are in women of other races and ethnic backgrounds.  

Many women learn they have fibroids when their doctor performs a routine pelvic exam. A uterus that is enlarged or irregular in shape is a sign that a woman may have fibroids. Certain tests help the doctor to be sure of the diagnosis. Ultrasound. During this test, sound waves too high-pitched to be heard travel from