The following are the most common symptoms for uterine fibroids, however, each individual may experience symptoms differently. In some cases, the heavy or prolonged menstrual periods, or the abnormal bleeding between periods, can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, which also requires treatment. Fibroids are most often found during a routine pelvic examination. This, along with an abdominal examination, may indicate a firm, irregular pelvic mass to the physician. With this approach, the physician monitors the woman s symptoms carefully to ensure that there are no significant changes or developments and that the fibroids are not growing.
Fibroids remain the number one reason for hysterectomies in the United States.
Conservative surgical therapy uses a procedure called a myomectomy. With this approach, physicians will remove the fibroids, but leave the uterus intact to enable a future pregnancy. Sometimes GnRH agonists are used to shrink the fibroid, making surgical treatment easier. Anti-progestins, which block the action of progesterone, are also sometimes used. Fibroid embolization is a new, experimental technique which involves identifying which arteries are supplying blood to the fibroids and then blocking off these arteries, which cuts off the fibroids blood supply and causes them to shrink.