Do I Need Surgery to Remove My Fibroids?

The first thing to know about uterine fibroids is that they are one of the most common gynecologic conditions found in women — up to 80% of women develop uterine fibroids. Now, the good news is that many of these fibroids are asymptomatic and don’t require any intervention, surgical or otherwise.

In 25% to 30% of women who have uterine fibroids, however, these growths make themselves known in some uncomfortable, and even life-changing, ways, which makes surgical intervention a good option.

To paint a clearer picture, we turn to the team at Bay Area Physicians for Women’s Health, which has extensive experience helping patients manage problematic uterine fibroids. Here, we discuss when surgery is a good option for dealing with symptomatic fibroids.

Fibroid basics

Let’s start with a brief description of uterine fibroids: They are mostly benign growths inside your uterus that develop during your reproductive years.

Fibroids grow into the walls of your uterus, and women can have one or many of these growths. Fibroids can also range in size from an apple seed to the entire apple, or larger, which is a good indicator of symptoms.

When fibroids develop symptoms

We’ve already discussed that millions of women in the United States have uterine fibroids, and many are unaware of their existence since there are no symptoms. In fact, some women only discover their presence after undergoing imaging for another issue.

For the 25% to 30% of women with fibroids who do develop issues, they can vary and include:

• Heavy bleeding
• Feeling pressure in your lower abdomen
• A visible enlargement in the lower abdomen
• Frequent urination due to added pressure on your bladder
• Constipation
• Pain during sex
• Lower back pain

Although uterine fibroids usually don’t influence fertility, they can influence pregnancy and childbirth. For example, women with uterine fibroids are six times more likely to require a Cesarean section to deliver a child than women who don’t have fibroids.

When surgery makes sense for uterine fibroids

There are many reasons why women opt for surgical removal of uterine fibroids, which is called a myomectomy, and the most common include:

Preserving the ability to get pregnant

One of the frontline treatments for troublesome fibroids is prescribing hormone medications, but these medications also act as birth control. So, if you’re trying to get pregnant, using hormone medications to manage your fibroid symptoms won’t work, which makes surgery a good option.

Relieving abnormal bleeding

Many women opt for a myomectomy to relieve abnormal bleeding. This bleeding can include heavy bleeding during periods, spotting between periods, and bleeding that’s heavy enough that it leads to anemia.

Pelvic pain

If conservative fibroid treatments fail to relieve your pelvic pain and/or lower back pain, a myomectomy is a good option.

Trouble with urinary and fecal functions 

If you have large fibroids that are interfering with your urinary tract or are causing chronic constipation, a myomectomy can help restore function to these systems.

Myomectomy, the minimally invasive way

The decision to undergo surgery is only one that you should make, and we’re here to supply you with all the information you need to make an informed decision.

So, before we conclude, we want to add an important detail about the myomectomy: In most cases, we can perform the procedure using advanced, minimally invasive surgical techniques that minimize risk and your recovery.

For help with your uterine fibroids, surgical or no, look no further than Bay Area Physicians for Women. To schedule a sit-down with one of our fibroid specialists, we invite you to contact our office in Mobile, Alabama.