Pennsylvania Vascular Institute and Dr. James McGuckin are here for you when you're struggling with fibroid disease in King Of Prussia, PA. Fibroids can cause painful symptoms but your doctor can devise a treatment plan for you to get you back to feeling your best.
What is a fibroid?
Fibroids, or uterine fibroids, are benign tumors that develop inside the uterus. Many remain small and harmless but some develop into large tumors, causing pain and other symptoms. Fibroids are very common and many women develop tumors without ever having symptoms so they don't seek treatment. If you are having severe symptoms, you'll want treatment to ease your pain. Keep reading for the main symptoms of fibroids and contact us if you think you have fibroid disease.
What are the main symptoms of fibroid disease?
If you have fibroid disease in King Of Prussia, PA, you may experience a variety of symptoms. If you are going through menopause, you may not experience symptoms at all. It's normal for fibroids to shrink during menopause because your levels of estrogen and progesterone are hormones that stimulate fibroid growth. The levels of these hormones drop during menopause, shrinking the fibroids, and as a result symptoms can subside. You should see your doctor for a pelvic exam if you are concerned about fibroids at any point, but the most common symptoms of fibroid disease include:
Bleeding
One symptom of fibroids can be heavy bleeding during or in between your periods which includes blood clots.
Longer menstrual periods
If you notice periods lasting longer than a week this could be a symptom of fibroids.
Pelvic pain and intense cramps
Fibroids can contribute to pain in the uterus, pelvis, and lower back.
Painful sex
Some women with fibroids experience pain during sex. This can also be a symptom of other conditions like endometriosis so get examined if you notice pain during intercourse.
Frequent urination or incontinence
Frequent urination and constipation can both be symptoms of fibroids, due to extra pressure on the bladder or bowel from a tumor.
Treating fibroids
Your treatment will depend on the size and number of fibroids detected. In some cases, fibroids are simply observed and monitored through menopause and you don't need treatment because symptoms subside. In other cases, medication can ease your pain, or hormone therapy can help reduce the size of the fibroids.
Pennsylvania Vascular Institute can help patients with fibroid disease in King Of Prussia, PA. To make an appointment with Dr. James McGuckin, contact us at (800) 296-9294.