A few days ago, I was diagnosed with an 8 cm fibroid.

Although, I had heard about "fibroids" before, I didn't know I had one.

It was discovered when I was being seen for bladder discomfort.

My 8 cm fibroid is considered large, but fibroids can grow larger.

There can be one large fibroid, a few, to many which can vary in size and location depending on the woman.
 
Knowing what I know now, I think it is better to treat a fibroid sooner than later for less invasive treatments.

Also, having a regular gynecologist and primary care provider is important for early detection.

I was treated at general practices with complaints of heavy bleeding, but fibroids were never mentioned and have tried different types of birth control over the years.

In general, women can live with fibroids but if they are "symptomatic" meaning problems have started, treatment needs to be considered.

Hearing about the size of my fibroid was scary, but it explained my symptoms: enlarged uterus, frequent urination, heavy menstrual periods, back pain, etc. Having symptoms like these can affect your work, fertility, social, and daily activities.

So, how are fibroids treated?


I learned that fibroids may shrink temporarily with medication and that this treatment is short-term since it can cause bone loss and vaginal dryness, etc. Also, the fibroids can return to their orginal size once you stop taking the medication. A physician can provide more information about this.

Fibroid images online are somewhat graphic, but generally they are white and dense when not covered with tissue/blood.
 
It appears that fibroids may be caused by genetics, diet, and the imbalance of the female hormones progesterone and estrogen. 

How fibroids develop, grow, or shrink is unknown.

Although, research has shown that fibroids tend to shrink after menopause.

I found a lot of different things on the web about shrinking the fibroids naturally, surgically, or with medications.

Most of all, I urge all women to undergo a pelvic exam to discover fibroids and those with fibroids need to consult a physician before trying anything natural as it could interfere with medications and it's important to understand dosage (how much should you take).

Basically, fibroids are usually non-cancerous, but it is a good idea to have a Pap exam (yearly if you have symptoms) to screen for cerivcal cancer, etc. Also, after a fibroid/mass is detected during the pelvic exam, a transvaginal ultrasound is required to learn about the size, location, and number of fibroids or cysts (polyps cannot be seen with ultrasound). MRI is better, but it is very expensive.

Be sure to ask the physician a lot of questions, even if they are in a hurry. Some doctors need to be asked if they don't provide the information. You should feel comfortable with your doctor. Learn their skill set so you can get the best care/surgery.

Good questions for surgery:

How many times have you performed this type of surgery?
Recovery time?
Am I a candidate for less invasive procedures? If so, can you give me a referral.
How fast will the fibroid grow? Which surgeries/treatment do I qualify for based on the size and location of the fibroids?

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