I Was Just Diagnosed with Fibroids. Will They Resolve on Their Own?

Fibroids are noncancerous tumors that grow in the uterine lining or on the outside of the uterus and may or may not produce symptoms. When they occur, symptoms can range from heavier-than-normal menstrual flow to infertility.

At Progressive Women's Health OB/GYN, Dr. Asia Mohsin and her team serve women’s health needs at their offices in Friendswood and Mission, Texas, including uterine fibroids.

Because many women aren’t aware of fibroids or the problems they can cause, the team takes this opportunity to get you in the know.

What are uterine fibroids?

Fibroids, medically termed leiomyomas, are growths of muscle and other tissues that form inside the uterus or on the outside wall. They’re the most common form of noncancerous tumor in women.

Fibroids may form a single nodule or appear as a cluster of nodules. They range from 1 millimeter to more than 20 centimeters (8 inches) in diameter. They also differ in appearance depending on their location and how they attach themselves to the lining:

• Intramural: embedded in the muscular wall, the most common type
• Submucosal: grow under the inner wall lining
• Subserosal: grow under the outer surface lining; can extend into the pelvis
• Pedunculated: attach to the tissue with a stalk or stem, the least common type

Fibroids affect 40%-80% of women who still have a uterus, occurring most commonly in those ages 30-50. They’re less common in those who’ve entered perimenopause or menopause, and they generally don’t appear in young girls, since they’re not menstruating.

The exact cause of fibroids isn’t known, but researchers believe the female reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone play a role; the fact that non-menstruating girls don’t have them tends to support that idea. 

In addition, studies show fibroids tend to grow when levels of these hormones rise (i.e., pregnancy), and shrink when levels are low (i.e., perimenopause).

Symptoms of uterine fibroids

Small fibroids generally don’t cause symptoms, and you may not even know you have them. The only treatment they require is regular observation to ensure they’re not growing.

Larger fibroids can produce a variety of symptoms, including:

• Heavier-than-normal bleeding during period
• Painful bleeding during period
• Abdominal distension
• Bleeding or spotting between your periods
• Bleeding or spotting after sex
• Pain during sex
• Frequent urination
• Low back pain
• Chronic vaginal discharge

The symptoms usually stabilize or disappear completely during perimenopause and after menopause, as hormone levels decline.

Will fibroids resolve on their own?

No matter how old you are, only about 10% of fibroids shrink on their own. The rest either grow larger or remain the same size. If you don’t have symptoms or have mild ones, you may not need treatment. However, if you do have symptoms, you may want to get the fibroids removed.

Fibroid treatment depends on the type, size, and location of the growths and the severity of your symptoms. One treatment option is medication, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, which shrink the tumors.

Surgical techniques can also address fibroids; the type depends, in part, on whether you wish to have children. Myomectomy allows Dr. Mohsin to remove the fibroids without removing the uterus, though the specifics depend on how she accesses the fibroids for removal.

Another possibility is uterine fibroid embolization, where the doctor injects particles into the blood vessels supplying the fibroids, effectively cutting off their life support and causing them to wither.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of fibroids or having problems getting pregnant, come into Progressive Women’s Health OB/GYN for a consultation. Call the office nearest you or book online today. We also offer telehealth appointments.