The ovaries and fallopian tubes also may be taken out at the same time. Talk to your doctor if you are not close to menopause about age 50 and you're thinking about having your uterus and ovaries taken out. Experts say that women live longer when they keep their ovaries until at least age This may be because women who have their ovaries have fewer hip fractures and are less likely to get heart disease.
Most women do not have problems after either surgery to treat fibroids. But problems can include:. These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. Uterine fibroids made me miserable for a week to 10 days every month.
Since my husband and I did not want any more children, I decided it was time to take action. Not only was the pain getting to me, but I was losing enough blood that I had anemia I couldn't beat. I was tired all the time! I knew a hysterectomy was the only sure cure for the pain caused by uterine fibroids. My doctor talked with me about the discomfort and risks of a hysterectomy. She also said she might have to remove my ovaries. I had a hysterectomy, and my ovaries were removed.
The first 2 weeks after the surgery were pretty rough, but my family and I managed. I now take estrogen every day. It's been a year since my surgery, and I feel great. My periods were really painful about 5 years ago. I went to my doctor, and he asked a lot of questions about my periods and did an exam and some tests.
When all the tests came back normal, he said uterine fibroids might be the cause of my pain. He said the only sure treatment for uterine fibroids was a hysterectomy. I didn't want to have surgery, so I asked if waiting a few months would be dangerous.
He said waiting would be fine, and maybe I should try birth control pills and taking ibuprofen during my periods. After a few months, the pain eased up. I am glad I decided to wait and see if my pain decreased before having surgery. I have large uterine fibroids and have had them since I was in my early 30s. They didn't cause any problems until I got pregnant with my first child.
I went into labor about a month early, and my daughter had to spend several days in the intensive care unit. My husband and I would like to have one more child, but I want to avoid another preterm labor if I can.
My doctor has told me about a procedure called a myomectomy. It doesn't guarantee that I won't deliver early, but it may help. He will be able to remove the uterine fibroids from my uterus without taking my uterus out.
I won't have to have a large incision in my abdomen either. I am looking forward to having this done. We will wait several months and then try to have another child. Even if I need to deliver by cesarean after a myomectomy, I'm happy to have the chance of a full-term pregnancy!
I was surprised when my doctor told me that uterine fibroids could be the cause of the pain I was having with my periods. I had never heard of uterine fibroids before. He told me all about uterine fibroids and the treatments I could try. When he said using ibuprofen for a few days right before my period starts and then for several days during my period might stop the pain, I thought I might as well try it.
It took a couple of months of using this system, but now I hardly have any pain. I am glad that I did not have surgery. Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. I'm having trouble getting pregnant because of fibroids, so I want to have them taken out.
I have so much bleeding and pain that I'm miserable part of every month. I'm not close to menopause, and I can't stand my symptoms, so I want surgery. I'm close to menopause, so I'd rather try hormones and pain medicine until menopause. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. How sure do you feel right now about your decision?
Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Surgery to take out just my fibroids is the best choice if fibroids are keeping me from getting pregnant. If I'm close to menopause, taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs and maybe hormones may be all that I need to help my symptoms.
Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
The transcervical — or through the cervix — approach to radiofrequency ablation Sonata also uses ultrasound guidance to locate fibroids. Laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy. In a myomectomy, your surgeon removes the fibroids, leaving the uterus in place.
If the fibroids are few in number, you and your doctor may opt for a laparoscopic or robotic procedure, which uses slender instruments inserted through small incisions in your abdomen to remove the fibroids from your uterus. Larger fibroids can be removed through smaller incisions by breaking them into pieces morcellation , which can be done inside a surgical bag, or by extending one incision to remove the fibroids.
Your doctor views your abdominal area on a monitor using a small camera attached to one of the instruments. Robotic myomectomy gives your surgeon a magnified, 3D view of your uterus, offering more precision, flexibility and dexterity than is possible using some other techniques.
Endometrial ablation. This treatment, performed with a specialized instrument inserted into your uterus, uses heat, microwave energy, hot water or electric current to destroy the lining of your uterus, either ending menstruation or reducing your menstrual flow. Typically, endometrial ablation is effective in stopping abnormal bleeding. Submucosal fibroids can be removed at the time of hysteroscopy for endometrial ablation, but this doesn't affect fibroids outside the interior lining of the uterus.
Women aren't likely to get pregnant following endometrial ablation, but birth control is needed to prevent a pregnancy from developing in a fallopian tube ectopic pregnancy.
With any procedure that doesn't remove the uterus, there's a risk that new fibroids could grow and cause symptoms. Abdominal myomectomy. If you have multiple fibroids, very large fibroids or very deep fibroids, your doctor may use an open abdominal surgical procedure to remove the fibroids.
Many women who are told that hysterectomy is their only option can have an abdominal myomectomy instead. However, scarring after surgery can affect future fertility. This surgery removes the uterus. It remains the only proven permanent solution for uterine fibroids.
Hysterectomy ends your ability to bear children. If you also elect to have your ovaries removed, the surgery brings on menopause and the question of whether you'll take hormone replacement therapy. Most women with uterine fibroids may be able to choose to keep their ovaries. Morcellation — a process of breaking fibroids into smaller pieces — may increase the risk of spreading cancer if a previously undiagnosed cancerous mass undergoes morcellation during myomectomy.
There are several ways to reduce that risk, such as evaluating risk factors before surgery, morcellating the fibroid in a bag or expanding an incision to avoid morcellation.
All myomectomies carry the risk of cutting into an undiagnosed cancer, but younger, premenopausal women generally have a lower risk of undiagnosed cancer than do older women. Also, complications during open surgery are more common than the chance of spreading an undiagnosed cancer in a fibroid during a minimally invasive procedure.
If your doctor is planning to use morcellation, discuss your individual risks before treatment. The Food and Drug Administration FDA advises against the use of a device to morcellate the tissue power morcellator for most women having fibroids removed through myomectomy or hysterectomy. In particular, the FDA recommends that women who are approaching menopause or who have reached menopause avoid power morcellation. Older women in or entering menopause may have a higher cancer risk, and women who are no longer concerned about preserving their fertility have additional treatment options for fibroids.
Hysterectomy and endometrial ablation won't allow you to have a future pregnancy. Also, uterine artery embolization and radiofrequency ablation may not be the best options if you're trying to optimize future fertility. Have a full discussion of the risks and benefits of these procedures with your doctor if you want to preserve the ability to become pregnant. Before deciding on a treatment plan for fibroids, a complete fertility evaluation is recommended if you're actively trying to get pregnant.
If fibroid treatment is needed — and you want to preserve your fertility — myomectomy is generally the treatment of choice. However, all treatments have risks and benefits. Discuss these with your doctor.
For all procedures except hysterectomy, seedlings — tiny tumors that your doctor doesn't detect during surgery — could eventually grow and cause symptoms that warrant treatment. This is often termed the recurrence rate.
New fibroids, which may or may not require treatment, also can develop. Also, some procedures — such as laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy, radiofrequency ablation, or MRI -guided focused ultrasound surgery FUS — may only treat some of the fibroids present at the time of treatment. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Some websites and consumer health books promote alternative treatments, such as specific dietary recommendations, magnet therapy, black cohosh, herbal preparations or homeopathy.
So far, there's no scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of these techniques. Your first appointment will likely be with either your primary care provider or a gynecologist. Because appointments can be brief, it's a good idea to prepare for your appointment.
Make sure that you understand everything your doctor tells you. Don't hesitate to have your doctor repeat information or to ask follow-up questions.
Uterine fibroids care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. As well as making bleeding lighter, some contraceptive pills can help reduce period pain.
Oral progestogen is synthetic man-made progesterone one of the female sex hormones that can help reduce heavy periods. It's usually taken as a daily tablet from days 5 to 26 of your menstrual cycle, counting the first day of your period as day 1. Oral progestogen works by preventing the womb lining growing quickly. It's not a form of contraception, but can reduce your chances of conceiving while you're taking it. The side effects of oral progestogen can be unpleasant and include weight gain, breast tenderness and short-term acne.
Progestogen is also available as an injection to treat heavy periods. It works by preventing the lining of your womb growing quickly. This form of progestogen can be injected once every 12 weeks for as long as treatment is required.
Injected progestogen also acts as a contraceptive. It does not prevent you becoming pregnant after you stop using it, although there may be a significant delay up to 12 months after you stop taking it before you're able to get pregnant. If you're still experiencing symptoms related to fibroids despite treatment with the above medicines, a GP can refer you to a gynaecologist.
They may prescribe medicine called gonadotropin releasing hormone analogues GnRHas to help shrink your fibroids. GnRHas, such as goserelin acetate, are hormones given by injection.
They work by affecting the pituitary gland, which stops the ovaries producing oestrogen. The pituitary gland is a small, pea-sized gland located at the bottom of the brain.
It controls a number of important hormone glands within the body. GnRHas stop your menstrual cycle period , but are not a form of contraception. They do not affect your chances of becoming pregnant after you stop using them. If you're prescribed GnRHas, they can help ease heavy periods and any pressure you feel on your stomach. They also help improve symptoms of frequent urination and constipation.
Sometimes a combination of GnRHas and low doses of hormone replacement therapy HRT may be recommended to prevent these side effects. Osteoporosis thinning of the bones is an occasional side effect of taking GnRHas. A GP can give you more information about this, and may prescribe additional medicine to minimise thinning of your bones. GnRHas is only prescribed on a short-term basis a maximum of 6 months at a time. Your fibroids may grow back to their original size after treatment is stopped.
Ulipristal acetate Esmya is a medicine that can be used to treat fibroids. However, it should only be prescribed for occasional use if:. If your doctor thinks ulipristal acetate may be suitable for you, they should discuss the risks and benefits with you so you can make an informed decision. If you decide to try ulipristal acetate, your liver function will be closely monitored using liver function tests before, during and after treatment.
There are currently no concerns with the emergency contraceptive pill ellaOne , which also contains ulipristal acetate. Surgery to remove your fibroids may be considered if your symptoms are particularly severe and medicine has been ineffective.
Several different procedures can be used to treat fibroids. A GP will refer you to a specialist, who'll discuss the options with you, including benefits and any associated risks. Complete recovery takes 2 to 6 weeks. Laparoscopy is used for women who have smaller and fewer fibroids. During laparoscopy, your surgeon makes two small cuts in your belly. A telescope is inserted into one of the openings to help your doctor see inside your pelvis and around your uterus.
A tool is inserted into the other opening to remove your fibroids. Your surgeon may cut your fibroids into small pieces before removing them. In robotic laparoscopy, your surgeon uses robotic arms to perform the procedure. Laparoscopic procedures may require an overnight hospital stay but have a faster recovery than abdominal myomectomy. Hysterectomy removes part or all of your uterus.
The surgeon may leave your ovaries and cervix in place. Then you will continue to produce female hormones. Complete recovery from an abdominal hysterectomy takes 6 to 8 weeks. Recovery from laparoscopic and vaginal hysterectomy is quicker. Hysterectomy is the only surgery that cures uterine fibroids and fully relieves their symptoms. However, you will no longer be able to have children. It destroys the lining of your uterus.
It works best in women who have small fibroids located close to the inside of the uterus. You may get general anesthesia during the procedure. Or, you may get spinal or epidural anesthesia to numb you from the waist down.
During the procedure, the doctor will insert a special instrument into your uterus and burn off your uterine lining using one of these methods:.
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