Fibroids are uterine tumors that form. They do not always cause symptoms, but they might cause pain in some circumstances. Treatment is determined by your symptoms, the location of the fibroids, their size, and whether or not you want to become pregnant in the future.
If you are experiencing significant pain or bleeding, your doctor may advise you to make certain lifestyle adjustments to better manage your symptoms. If these modifications are ineffective, your doctor may recommend prescription medication or surgery. If you have fibroids but no symptoms, your doctor may recommend a “wait and see” strategy.
Here’s a rundown of some of the treatment options for fibroids.
Over-the-counter (OTC) Therapies
Over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen are the primary therapeutic option for fibroid discomfort and pain.
If you experience bowel symptoms caused by fibroids, you should avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs) since they might induce gastrointestinal problems.
Excessive bleeding caused by fibroids may necessitate the use of iron supplements. However, before taking any OTC supplements, including iron, see your doctor.
Prescriptions
If your fibroids are accompanied by extreme bleeding or discomfort, your doctor may prescribe medicine to treat these symptoms directly.
Medications that may be administered to treat fibroids-related bleeding and pain include:
– Hormonal birth control drugs: Birth control pills may help decrease fibroids-related bleeding. Contraception, on the other hand, does not affect fibroids.
– Intrauterine device (IUD): An IUD is a type of contraception that is put into the uterus to prevent conception. Some IUDs also produce hormones that can help reduce fibroids-related bleeding. However, if the IUD is removed, the symptoms may return.
– GnRH agonists: Medications in this class, such as Lupron, can temporarily reduce bleeding and the size of fibroids. Doctors frequently administer Lupron to patients who are experiencing excessive bleeding or to decrease very big fibroids before surgery.5 However, bone loss is a serious side effect of Lupron.
Surgeries and Specialist-Driven Procedures
If you have really large fibroids that are causing serious symptoms, your doctor may suggest surgery. However, depending on the surgery, fibroids may reappear and more procedures may be required.
Types of surgeries and procedures used to treat fibroids include:
– Myomectomy: This procedure eliminates fibroids without removing the uterus. Fibroids can recur after this type of surgery.
– Hysterectomy: This operation involves removing the uterus, which ensures that the fibroids will not return. However, it also signifies that a person’s fertility is lost.
– Uterine artery embolization (UAE): This surgery includes cutting off blood flow to fibroids, preventing them from growing. The fibroid tissue eventually dies due to a lack of blood flow, but this process can take months. The surgery does not always provide relief, and in some situations, the fibroids reappear. When compared to other procedures, the UAE is the least intrusive.
– Radiofrequency ablation (RFA): Heat is used in this treatment to reduce the fibroids. While it can be an effective and minimally intrusive treatment, it simply decreases the size of the fibroids; it does not remove them.
– Magnetic resonance imaging–guided focused ultrasound: Ultrasound is used to damage fibroids in this technique. Although it is noninvasive, it can cause heavy periods and aggravate the sciatic nerve.
Complications are possible with any surgical or nonsurgical technique. Infection is a greater danger in more invasive operations that involve an abdominal incision.
Morcellation is a technique used in some laparoscopic procedures to chop tissue into small pieces for easy removal. Because there is a possibility that malignant tissue will spread during laparoscopic power morcellation, only confined morcellation should be conducted in carefully selected individuals.
Conclusion
It is critical to notify your doctor if you are suffering excessive menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain. These symptoms can be a sign of different illnesses, but if they are caused by fibroids, you should learn about your treatment choices.
You and your doctor can discuss various treatments, which may involve medication and surgery. There are other home remedies and lifestyle adjustments that might help you find fibroid pain relief.
