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Uterine Fibroids
- Topic Overview
-
Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
Call to make an appointment if you have possible symptoms of a problem from a uterine fibroid, including:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding.
- Periods that have changed from relatively pain-free to painful over the past 3 to 6 months.
- Frequent painful urination, or an inability to control the flow of urine.
- A change in the length of your menstrual cycle over 3 to 6 menstrual cycles.
- New persistent pain or heaviness in the lower abdomen or pelvis.
Watchful Waiting
Unless you have bothersome or severe symptoms, you will probably only need to have a fibroid checked during your yearly gynecological exam.
During a pregnancy, your health professional will check for changes in fibroid size and position.
Who To See
Uterine fibroids can be diagnosed and treated by any of the following health professionals:
You may need to see a gynecologist for further testing or treatment.
To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: August 11, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Anne Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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