FIBROIDS

Fibroids are benign (noncancerous) tumors that develop in the walls of your uterus. Also called leiomyomas, fibroids can develop in a variety of ways, including:

• Inside the uterine cavity (submucosal)
• Within the uterine wall/myometrium (intramural)
• On the outer surface of the uterus (subserosal)
• The number, location and the size of the fibroids ranges in very patient

Most women with fibroids don’t have any symptoms at all. Common symptoms of uterine fibroids include:

• Pelvic, abdominal or lower back pain
• Longer, heavier, or more frequent menstrual periods
• Constipation (from the large fibroids pressing on the colon/intestines)
• Frequent urination

Rarely, fibroids may cause difficulty getting pregnant, or infertility. If you do get pregnant when you have fibroids, you may be at higher risk of pregnancy complications such as preterm delivery.

Based on your clinical history and physical examination, Dr. Kandinov may discover that you have fibroids during a regular pelvic exam. He confirms their presence with a diagnostic ultrasound imaging test. Sometimes we may need to perform an MRI.

To know for sure that you have fibroids, Dr. Kandinov may need to perform another procedure, such as laparoscopy or hysteroscopy. These minimally invasive procedures allow Dr. Kandinov to view the inside of your uterus with specialized instruments that have cameras on them.

Depending on your symptoms, Dr. Kandinov may recommend various medications to manage your fibroids. Medications provide relief from pain and heavy bleeding but don’t prevent fibroids from growing.

Fibroids that create severe symptoms may require surgery to remove. Depending on your particular needs, Dr. Kandinov may recommend one of the following surgical procedures:

MYOMECTOMY

This procedure is usually reserved for patients who would like to preserve their fertility or who have other personal reasons to keep their uterus.

During this procedure, Dr. Kandinov removes the fibroids while leaving your uterus in place so you can still have children. There is a 25% chance of the new fibroids to appear.

HYSTERECTOMY

This procedure involves removing your entire uterus. You’re no longer able to have children after Dr. Kandinov performs a hysterectomy. Sometimes the entire uterus and cervix are removed, and sometimes we leave the cervix in place. Same applies to the ovaries. This is individualized to your specific needs.

To learn more about your treatment options for fibroids, call Beacon Hallandale OBGYN or book an appointment online.