You're Not Imagining It: Understanding Uterine Fibroids

If your periods have gotten heavier, your belly feels swollen, or pelvic pain has started showing up uninvited, you're not alone, and you're not overreacting. Uterine fibroids are incredibly common, affecting millions of women during their reproductive years. Fortunately, they're almost always noncancerous, and there are more ways than ever to treat them.

What Are Fibroids, Really?
Think of fibroids as unwelcome houseguests — noncancerous growths that settle in or around the uterus. Some are tiny and silent, causing no trouble at all. Others grow large enough to make everyday life harder, showing up as:

• Heavy or long periods that leave you exhausted
• Pelvic pain or a constant feeling of pressure
• Needing the bathroom more (or less) than usual
• Nagging lower back pain
• Discomfort during intimacy
• A belly that feels bloated or swollen
• Trouble getting or staying pregnant

If any of this sounds familiar, this isn't something you have to live with.

Fibroids don't discriminate, but some women are more likely to develop them, especially those between ages 30 and 50, women with a family history of fibroids, and Black women, who face a notably higher risk. Carrying extra weight, starting your period early, high blood pressure, and a diet heavy in red meat and light on fruits and vegetables can also play a role.

Getting Answers Starts with an Evaluation
Fibroids are often found during a routine pelvic exam. If your provider suspects fibroids, they may follow up with an ultrasound, an MRI, a hysteroscopy (a minimally invasive procedure to see inside the uterus), or bloodwork to check for anemia from heavy bleeding. The sooner you know what's going on, the sooner you can start feeling like yourself again.

Treatment That Fits Your Life
Treatment for uterine fibroids is highly individualized. Your provider will consider factors such as your symptoms, the size and location of the fibroids, your age, and whether you plan to have children in the future. There's no one-size-fits-all answer, and you have options, including:

• Watching and waiting. If your fibroids are small and quiet, regular check-ins may be all you need. Many women manage just fine this way, especially as fibroids often shrink on their own closer to menopause.
   
• Medication. Birth control pills, patches, IUDs, or other hormone therapies can ease heavy bleeding and bring your cycle back under control, sometimes without ever needing a procedure.
   
• Minimally invasive options. For more stubborn fibroids, advanced treatments can shrink or destroy fibroid tissue. Options include:
   
• Uterine artery embolization (UAE), a procedure in which tiny particles are injected into the blood vessels supplying the fibroids, reducing their blood flow and causing them to shrink over time.
   
• Radiofrequency ablation, which uses heat energy to destroy fibroid tissue while preserving surrounding uterine tissue. This procedure can often be performed through small incisions and typically involves a shorter recovery period than traditional surgery.
   
• MRI-guided focused ultrasound, a noninvasive treatment, uses targeted ultrasound waves to destroy fibroid tissue without incisions.
   
• Surgery, when it's the right call. A myomectomy removes fibroids while keeping your uterus intact, and is a common choice for women hoping to have children. A hysterectomy removes the uterus entirely, offering permanent relief for women who are ready to be done with symptoms for good. Both can often be done using minimally invasive techniques today, meaning less pain and quicker healing than in the past.

Take the Next Step for Your Health

Heavy periods and pelvic pain aren't just "part of being a woman." They're a sign your body is asking for help. You don't have to figure this out alone or push through in silence.

MarinHealth’s expert OB/GYN physicians are here to listen, evaluate, and walk you through every option—medical, minimally invasive, or surgical—so you can choose what's right for you. With locations in Greenbrae, Novato, Petaluma and Sausalito, access to world-class care is closer than you think. Call 415-461-7800 to schedule or book online now.