No one wants a uterine fibroidsdiagnosis, but that doesnt change the fact that theyre incredibly common.
Fibroids, also called leiomyomas or myomas, are non-cancerous tumors that grow in or around the uterus.
In addition to ethnicity, family history, obesity, and hypertension can all play a role.
Period tracking? Check.
What we are looking for is enlargement of the uterus, cysts, masses, or growths.
Heres how to verify youre staying on top of any gynecological symptoms and getting the right treatment.
Tracking your period can be a key part of a uterine fibroids diagnosis.
Ideally, you should be tracking your period beyond what day it starts, says Dr. Arumala.
You should know a lot about your periods.
How often are you changing your pad or tampon?
Are you seeing clots?
Is your period blood a different color than it used to be?
Do you have diarrhea associated with your period?
Has your menstrual pain gotten worse?
Are you using pain meds?
Does it help relieve your pain when you pee?
Periods are a vital sign.
If they change, you should know, Dr. Arumala says.
You should be an expert in your body.
Together with your expertise and my expertise we can do the best for you.
But Dr. Javaid recommends reporting any changes in your personal baseline to your doctor.
If a woman’s perception is that her bleeding is heavy, it’s heavy, she says.
You should also tell your doctor about any bleeding between periods.
Notice other symptoms of uterine fibroids
Heavy menstrual bleeding is just one common symptom of fibroids.
Otheruterine fibroids symptomsyou should flag to your doctor include:
3.
Talk to your healthcare provider.
Your risk of developing fibroids is three times higher if your mother dealt with myomas, according towomenshealth.gov.
Many gynecologists can do this right in their office.
If more detailed imaging is needed, your doctor may order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test.
(This is a more likely diagnosis option if you’re approaching menopause, according to theMayo Clinic.)
When estrogen levels drop after menopause, they tend to shrink or even die on their own.
(Though it won’t actually shrink the fibroids.)
This laparoscopic treatment option involves inserting a small camera and ultrasound tool into the body via two small incisions.
A myomectomy is a procedure that physically removes the fibroids from your uterus.
Finally, fibroids can be treated via hysterectomy, a surgical procedure that removes the entire uterus.
Macaela MacKenzieis a writer and editor specializing in wellness.
Shes the author ofMoney, Power, Respect: How Women in Sports Are Shaping the Future of Feminism.
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