Jacklyn* has known about her uterine fibroids for two years. Her gynecologist discovered them during a routine exam, and both agreed to take a wait-and-see approach since the noncancerous growths were small and not creating discomfort. Fast-forward to today, and Jacklyn’s situation is different. She is experiencing several symptoms, most notably, pelvic pain and pressure and unusual changes to her menstrual cycle. Also, a more detailed MRI revealed that a few of her fibroids were beginning to calcify. Jacklyn had already done plenty of research on fibroids, but hearing her doctor refer to them as “calcified fibroids” was new for her. She was assured there was nothing to worry about, but she wanted to know more about her unique situation and the treatment options available to her.
While approximately 80% of all women will develop fibroids by the time they reach 50, it is likely that each of them will experience a different journey. Therefore, it is only natural for Jacklyn to want to know more about what calcified fibroids are and the next steps. The good news is that calcified fibroids are not more concerning than other fibroids. Furthermore, safe and effective non-surgical options like uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) give fibroid doctors the flexibility to treat many fibroid types. In some cases, that can include calcified fibroids.
Imagine Your Life Without These Fibroid Symptoms
- Cramps, pelvic pain, and pressure
- Heavy periods and abnormal bleeding
- Periods that last longer than a week
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Back or leg pain
- Urinary frequency
- Trouble urinating
- Constipation and rectum discomfort
- Weight gain
- Bloating in the abdomen
What Are Calcified Fibroids?
Fibroids come in all shapes and sizes and can be located throughout a woman’s uterus. In terms of their appearance and texture, they generally present as rounded, smooth bumps comprised of muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue. Calcified fibroids are older fibroids that have partially or entirely hardened over time due to a build-up of calcium deposits.
How does this happen? For starters, all fibroids need oxygenated blood to live. When they become too large too fast, the tissue can outgrow its blood supply and cause the fibroid to go through a process called degeneration. With degeneration, the fibroid shrinks to the size the current blood supply can feed.
Calcified fibroids are the result of dead tissue that has hardened. All types of fibroids have the potential to calcify if left untreated. Calcified fibroids are relatively uncommon for most women with fibroids.
Depending on a woman’s unique situation, this process can repeat itself more than once. As a result of this growth and shrinkage, minerals like calcium can sometimes accumulate on the surrounding fibroid tissue and harden. A fibroid becoming calcified doesn’t necessarily mean a woman will experience pain. However, they can become painful. Also, those who already have painful fibroids may notice aggravated symptoms. It is also important to note that the degeneration process can cause low-grade fever, bleeding, and localized sharp and stabbing pains in the abdomen.
Essentially, calcified fibroids are the result of dead tissue that has hardened. As a result, they can no longer grow. All types of fibroids have the potential to calcify if left untreated. That said, calcified fibroids are relatively uncommon for most women with fibroids. Besides an excess build-up of calcium deposits that harden all or part of the surrounding fibroid tissue, calcified fibroids are influenced by many of the same potential factors.
- Hormones — Estrogen and progesterone stimulate the development of the uterine lining during each menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy. This causes fibroids to swell and grow rapidly during reproductive years.
- Birth control pills — These can help with certain side effects of fibroids, but they can make existing fibroids grow.
- Insulin-like growth factors — Certain substances naturally help the body maintain tissue, leading to fibroid growth.
- Certain foods — Red, processed meat, high-fat dairy products, salty foods, and some carbohydrates cause growth.
Calcification of fibroids tends to occur more frequently in older or menopausal women. When a fibroid is large and not treated, it has a higher chance of calcifying. If a large uterine fibroid remains untreated and undergoes calcification, some of the symptoms associated with the fibroid’s size may continue.
When a fibroid is large and not treated, it has a higher chance of calcifying. If a large uterine fibroid remains untreated and undergoes calcification, some of the symptoms associated with the fibroid’s size may continue.
What Are the Treatment Options for Calcified Fibroids?
There is nothing normal about fibroids or the life-interrupting symptoms they cause. Regardless of whether you’re experiencing uncomfortable symptoms of calcified fibroids or not, it is important to talk to your doctor sooner rather than later about available treatment options. While every situation is different, the more calcified a fibroid becomes, the harder it is to treat—especially with non-surgical fibroid treatment alternatives such as UFE. This is because calcified fibroids are more likely to have less blood supply, which may reduce the effectiveness of UFE.
As a result, a woman with fully calcified fibroids may have no other option than to undergo a hysterectomy. Below is a list of surgical and non-surgical options for you and your fibroid doctor to consider, depending on your situation.
- Medications — This option is mostly to manage the pain associated with calcified fibroids, not removal.
- Acessa — This procedure involves inserting a small probe into the fibroid to heat it up and destroy it. Acessa is not an option if you have multiple large fibroids or fibroids that are difficult to access. It is also not covered by some insurance companies.
- Endometrial Ablation — If you have no interest in getting pregnant in the future, ablation can remove fibroids from the inside lining of the uterus. It will not treat fibroids located elsewhere.
- Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) — Rather than remove fibroids with numerous incisions, UFE stops blood flow to fibroids, causing the fibroids to shrink and die. UFE is low risk, has no incision, is faster than other options, and is an alternative to surgery.
- Hysterectomy — One of two surgical options, a hysterectomy removes the uterus and, in some cases, a woman’s fallopian tubes and ovaries to eliminate all traces of fibroids. It is effective, though many women hope to avoid it due to its invasive nature and longer recovery.
- Myomectomy — This invasive surgical procedure removes fibroids without taking out the uterus. As a result, it is often recommended to women who want to get pregnant. However, it eliminates the ability to have a vaginal birth in the future.
- MR-Guided Ultrasound — With this procedure, an ultrasound beam is focused on the fibroid to break it down.
- Sonata System — This alternative treatment option uses an intrauterine ultrasound device to shrink troublesome fibroids. However, it is not recommended for all fibroids. Studies show Sonata works with non-pedunculated submucosal fibroids and fibroids larger than 5.0 cm may require the application of multiple ablations.
Out of all the options, UFE is a unique procedure because of its ability to treat uterine fibroid symptoms—regardless of location or size—without having to go through painful surgery and lengthy recovery time. As a result, you have a quicker recovery time and a greater chance of avoiding additional complications.
Over 90 percent of patients experience significant improvement and satisfaction after undergoing the non-surgical fibroid embolization procedure UFE, which preserves the uterus. A similar percentage of patients report being satisfied with their results even five years later. Abnormal fibroid bleeding typically stops within one to two months, though it can stop immediately in some cases. On average, fibroids decrease in size by about 40 to 60 percent within six months, and they may continue to shrink for a year or longer.
Visit a 100% Fibroid-Focused Practice: Fibroids Institute Texas
Please don’t suffer in silence when it comes to your menstrual health. Calcified fibroids are no less treatable than any other fibroid type, and it is possible to reclaim the pain-free life you’ve been sorely missing for all this time. That said, the longer you wait and the more calcified your fibroids become, the number of treatment options available begins to shrink. Ideally, a woman should have complete control over her fibroid journey and which fibroid treatment makes the most sense for her.
While surgeries such as hysterectomy and myomectomy used to be the most recommended, they are no longer the only options. At Fibroid Institute, we do believe you do not need to decide between suffering in silence and having invasive surgery. That is why we are dedicated to treating fibroids using uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), the gold standard in non-surgical fibroid treatment.
Not all fibroid doctors are the same. Our fibroid clinics focus on uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) with a team specifically trained to handle every aspect of these procedures, from pre-op to post-op care. With over 25 years of experience and thousands of successful cases, our specialists have developed a high level of expertise in UFE.
Request a free 10-15 minute phone screening to determine if you are eligible. After the screening, if you qualify for UFE, you can schedule your onsite or telehealth consultation. The procedure is covered by most major medical insurance providers. Get started now in Dallas at 214-838-6440 or in Houston at 713-903-3733 or complete the form below.
Fibroid Institute Texas serves the Dallas and Houston areas including Hutchins, Irving, Duncanville, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Cockrell Hill, Highland Park, University Park, Park Cities, Garland, Mesquite, Richardson, Dallas, Sherman, Houston, Sugar Land, Katy, Webster, Clear Lake, The Woodlands, Universal City, Spring, Kingwood, Stafford, Conroe, Texas City, Cypress, League City, Bellaire, Addison, Carrollton, Plano, Frisco, Craig Ranch, McKinney, Allen, Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Arlington, and more.
Before 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. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.
*Patient names and/or photos may be changed to protect patient confidentiality.