What are the most common procedures to treat uterine fibroids?

I had a strange experience with them. I was told I had loads. But also not to worry since menopause normally shrinks them. I was trying the cod liver oil and heat wrap method and recently I had a scan and was clear of fibroids.

Some women I know have them ‘burned’ off. Can’t remember the exact term. But only if bleeding and pain severe. I was experiencing heavy periods and also pain. When I did the cod liver oil treatment I did notice clotting during menses. As if they were falling away. I hear also diet changes can help. As well as certain pain killers shrinking them too

I had one small one, described as the size of a walnut or small lemon. I simply outlasted it. At menopause, which occurred just after I turned 57 (late), it disappeared. But I was able to live with the slightly uncomfortable periods by using heat and Advil.

My most bothersome symptom is the constant pressure on my bladder and constant need to urinate. It has gotten worse this week and I’m up at least three times a night and I’ve lost count at the number of times I go throughout the day. I hope I don’t need to wait this out.

Those symptom are much more severe than what I had to contend with, although old age gets me and my bladder to the toilet at least twice a night.

Waiting it out or surgery, I believe, are your choices, although there now are laparoscopic methods of removing the fibroids.

Edit: In fact, there seem to be a number of conservative options. Here’s the Mayo Clinic fact sheet.

If the Chinese have it right, you are due very soon for seven years of good luck.

Sometimes fibroid embolization can be done. I think the procedure is UAE. They just do a mini cut and put some sort of material into the arteries that feed the fibroid. Once the fibroid is starved of blood it shrinks. They use just local anasthesiologist I believe, quick procedure, but usually done in a hospital.

Another option is removing the fibroid.

Another option is hysterectomy.

Also, if you are close to menopause, @gailcalled is right that they will shrink once your hormones go down. If you are in your 40’s you could get a hormone check to see how close you might be, but they can only estimate.

I don’t know if they ever use birth control or a drug like Lupron to stop a woman from cycling, seems like theoretically that would work also, but that is just out of my own head not something I have read about. The other options above are actual medical procedures that are done.

I had terrible problems with fibroids when I was in peri-menopause. My woman gynecologist wanted to do a hysterectomy and couldn’t understand why I wanted to avoid one. I switched to my current gynecologist who performed a myomectomy on me within 6 weeks of my switching. This was a day stay procedure under general anesthesia. They cauterize the uterus and remove the fibroids. A day or two of discomfort after. I had to have it repeated about a year later but still it was much less invasive than a hysterectomy. There is also a radiation procedure in which they go in through a leg vein. I think this is the first one that @JLeslie described. I was very glad I had them treated.

UAE: Definition and detailed description of uterine artery embolization.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/uterine-artery-embolization/MY00502

I had a huge one that got as big as if I were 5 months pregnant and I had the pressure on my other organs, so I had a hysterectomy. Everything else – including my cervix – looked good, so they only took the uterus. Last week was 3 years since the surgery, and I am glad I had it done.

I had endometrial ablation years ago. It worked for me. It’s apparently only suitable if the fibroids are small.

@jonsblond If you can, you might want to get two opinions. My mom was told by a few doctors to get a hysterectomy, which she did not want to do. Finally, she found a doctor who stopped pressuring her to do it. This is 20–30 years ago when there were not as many options. Still, some doctors are probably more comfortable with one procedure than another, and they will likely lean towards the procedure they do most often, not necessarily the one you would be most comfortable with.