Uterine fibroids affect up to 80% of all women by the time they reach 50. Some women have symptoms so uncomfortable that completing daily activities becomes increasingly difficult. What is surprising however isn’t the number of women who have fibroid symptoms—it’s how many think the symptoms are normal and simply part of being a woman with a menstruation cycle. While it’s true that women may experience health issues as they age, there is nothing normal about fibroids or the life interrupting symptoms they cause. Rather than wait, it is important to question these symptoms and seek treatment from a doctor now.
Are You Experiencing Any of These Fibroid Symptoms?
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Heavy bleeding, which can be heavy enough to cause anemia
- Irregular menstruation
- Constipation or urinary frequency
- Painful sex
- Pain radiating to the lower back, hip, buttock, thigh, or down the leg
- Abdominal bloating and swelling
It is time to stop normalizing fibroid symptoms. While every woman’s body is unique and every woman’s period is different, there are certain symptoms—like the ones listed above—that are worthy of being reported to your doctor. If left untreated, existing fibroid symptoms, and possibly more as fibroids grow, can become increasingly life-altering.
Women with Fibroids and Hesitancy to Report
According to a study published by the National Institutes of Health, women wait an average of 3.6 years before seeking treatment for leiomyomas, also known as uterine fibroids. This means rather than reporting to their gynecologist or primary care provider that they have symptoms which could be related to fibroids, they don’t do anything. A total of 968 women aged 29-59 with self-reported symptomatic fibroids participated in this national survey. Those who had jobs stated that their symptoms either caused them to miss work or prevented them from reaching their career potential.
While the study above had a healthy mix of race respondents, a second study, this one published by the Journal of Women’s Health, states that Black women take an average of almost 4 years to seek treatment. By this point, their fibroid symptoms were worse, and the number of fibroids grew in size and quantity—making treatment that much more difficult in some cases.
There are many theories as to why women wait so long to seek help. Below are just a few mentioned.
1. They think it’s normal
So many women believe their fibroid symptoms are merely part of being a woman or part of their menstrual cycle. Furthermore, they believe the symptoms will go away with time.
2. Concerns over surgical options
A hysterectomy used to be the number one recommendation from doctors for improving a woman’s quality of life. This is scary for many women, especially those under 45 who want to preserve their uterus. Surgical hysterectomy options remove the uterus and any opportunity for future fertility.
3. Inadequate educational material
The second study from the Journal of Women’s Health also stated that Black women were more likely than white women to view fibroid information online or from their doctor as substandard when it came to discussing standard and alternative treatment options and the consequences of each.
4. Insurance coverage
Many women believe they have inadequate health insurance and won’t be able to cover out-of-pocket expenses that come with any form of medical intervention. The time of year could also play a factor, as some patients wait until the end of the year when they have satisfied their deductible or until the beginning of the year when they know they can reach their deductible with one procedure.
No Reason to Wait: Seek Treatment for Fibroid Symptoms Today
Uterine fibroids can cause painful and life-altering symptoms for many women. An increasing number of those potential patients choose to accept these symptoms as normal, and suffer in silence, rather than seek help for something that isn’t going to get better otherwise. At Fibroid Institute Dallas, we are dedicated to treating fibroids and reducing fibroid symptoms using Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), the gold standard in non-surgical fibroid treatment. The UFE procedure only takes about an hour and offers a quicker recovery time than surgery (7 days for most patients), so patients who act now can be on the road to recovery quickly.
Suzanne Slonim, MD is an experienced fibroid doctor in Dallas/Fort Worth specializing in Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). The team at Fibroid Institute Dallas helps patients in all situations as much as possible, including filing with medical insurance and offering financing options for UFE.
During UFE, highly specialized fibroid doctors such as the experts at Fibroid Institute insert a small catheter into the radial artery at the wrist. They use x-ray guidance to locate the vessels that supply blood to your fibroids. They then inject small particles into the catheter that travel to the vessels, blocking blood flow to fibroids and causing the fibroids to shrink and die. UFE offers a quicker recovery time than fibroid surgery because of its ability to shrink fibroids rather than using invasive methods to remove them. The best part is that this procedure is over 90% effective in reducing symptoms.
Advantages of the UFE procedure at Fibroid Institute Dallas include:
- No scarring
- Procedure typically completed in under an hour
- Fibroid symptoms improve dramatically
- In-office procedure instead of hospital stay
- Uterus is spared
- Tiny wrist puncture, no need for vaginal access
- General anesthesia not required
- All fibroids may be treated at the same time
- Less risk than fibroids surgery
Request a Consultation with Fibroid Institute Dallas
Do you have fibroid symptoms you always thought were normal? Would you like to get back to living your life instead of wishing for your fibroid symptoms to subside? At Fibroid Institute Dallas, we are dedicated to treating fibroids and helping you live pain-free. Request a consultation to determine if you are eligible for the non-surgical fibroid treatment Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). Most insurance companies cover the cost of UFE.
As medical director and founder of Fibroid Institute Dallas, Dr. Suzanne Slonim has built a 5-star rated fibroid practice where thousands of women have been treated for fibroid symptoms with UFE. She is a board certified interventional radiologist, trained to perform minimally invasive procedures with x-ray guidance. She is among only 12 percent in a highly specialized field who is a women. By performing UFE in-office, Dr. Slonim is fulfilling her passion to help women live fibroid free without major surgery.
Call for a telehealth consult or an in-office appointment at 214-838-6440 or complete the form below.
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This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Prior to starting any new treatment or if you have questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider.
Fibroid Institute Dallas serves the DFW area including Garland, Mesquite, Richardson, Dallas, Addison, Carrollton, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, HEB, Arlington, Hutchins, Irving, Duncanville, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Cockrell Hill, Highland Park, University Park, Park Cities, and all of North Texas.