Fibroids Treatment

Fibroids treatment varies depending on individual circumstances. It is estimated that between 50 and 80% of women will have fibroids. However, many of these will never be aware of the fact as in some women the fibroids are very small and cause no symptoms.

Before deciding on fibroids treatment, it is essential to consider the following:-

* The size of the fibroids

* The location of the fibroids

* If you are near to the menopause

* Whether you would like to have more/any children

* If the fibroids cause you any problems

If the fibroids are not causing you any problems, you may be advised against fibroids treatment. For mild symptoms, you may be advised to take a painkiller during your period and an iron supplement if the bleeding is particularly heavy to prevent anaemia. Hormonal fibroids treatment is sometimes prescribed. However, many women prefer not to take medication and would rather use alternative methods if available. Other drugs used include those which suppress hormone production. These can have severe side effects, such as hot flashes, depression, insomnia, decreased sex drive and joint pains. For this reason they are only normally used for a few weeks prior to surgery to help shrink the fibroids to a manageable size. Once you stop taking these drugs, the fibroids usually grow back very quickly.

If your symptoms are moderate to severe, surgery may be an option. There are four standard forms of fibroids treatment:-

* Myomectomy-This is surgery just to remove the fibroids, leaving the uterus intact. It can be performed by abdominal incision or laparoscopy. The size of the fibroids can determine the outcome. Many women can go on to have successful pregnancies after this procedure although some may need cesarian sections. After this surgery, new fibroids can readily grow.

* Hysterectomy-This is the complete removal of the uterus. This is the only surefire surgical method of preventing the growth of new fibroids. Although this is usually a safe procedure, it does carry the risks associated with any major operation. Often the woman's ovaries are left intact to prevent an early menopause although despite this, sometimes an early menopause will happen.

* Endrometrial Abalation-This is the removal of the lining of the womb by using laser, boiling water, hot wires, electric currents, microwaves and freezing. This is considered a minor procedure. Most women will recover quickly but this is not a suitable procedure for women wishing to have children.

* Myolysis-A needle is inserted into the fibroids and either freezing or an electric current is used to destroy the fibroids.

* Uterine Fibroid Embolization-This is the blocking of the artery supplying the fibroids using a needle which injects tiny particles directly into the blood vessel. The fibroid will then wither. Occasionally women will experience an early menopause. This fibroids treatment ensures that those injected will not grow back but new fibroids can form.

With the exception of hysterectomy, all the surgical options for fibroids treatment can result in the fibroids returning. This, along with the fact that surgical procedures should not be taken lightly can mean that women are reluctant to consider surgery but often feel they have little option.

However, there are natural fibroids treatment methods which are extremely successful not only in quickly reducing the size of existing fibroids and curing the symptoms which they cause, but also in preventing new fibroids growing.