O.K. Please tell me what this means?

I had my ultrasound done, and of course she couldn't tell me anything.. She did say that my uterus was not that large and I asked her , then why am I having a hysterectomy. She said well you have a few fibroids, what ever that is.. I told her that I didn't get to see my doctor until Monday, but she couldn't tell me anything more.. What are fibroids and why should I have to have a hysterectomy because of them?.... Please help.. I am worried.

Are you having heavy periods? Are you anemic? Do you pass big clots during yoru period? Do you have a lot of pain during your period? These can all be caused by fibroids and can affect your health or quality of life.

As for her telling you that you have a "few" fibroids. Well, my ultrasound showed just one, the size of a lemon. After my surgery just 30 days later, the lab report came back that I had way more than one...look at my signature line. Not all fibroids show up on ultrasound. A fibroid is related to a cyst in a way - though they're not cancer, they can still cause problems in your day to day and monthly functions.

And, that's exactly an example of why ultrasound technicians aren't supposed to tell you anything about what they see. They take a number of photos of what is found, and a radiologist is supposed to do an official report that talks about exactly what is seen and what size things are. Then your doctor is responsible for helping you understand what is seen in relation to your specific medical information.

Be sure to ask your doctor why a hyster is being recommended. You have the right to understand and be satisfied that this is or isn't the best choice for your health before you go forward.

Fibroids can grow inside OR outside the uterus. They are basically an overgrowth of uterine tissue. One will not necessarily have bad periods because of fibroids, as in my case because my fibroids are on the outside of the uterus, 3 total, the largest being the size of an small orange. The problem is that my uterus has prolapsed, so the fibroids on the outside of my uterus are causing tremendous pressure on my vaginal walls. That is basically why I am having a LAVH, and also a bladder suspension.

I have fibroids too and just recently they found polyps. This morning I had a D&C and a hysteroscopy - removed the polyp. Doctor is hoping this helps with the bleeding and the cramping and th clotting - but he didn't want to rush into a hysterectomy, even though at this point I'm ready.

I hope that your doctor will be able to talk to you sooner rather than later.

No, fibroids do not automatically mean hysterectomy. Some studies indicate that 70% of women have some fibroids - so it's actually normal to have them.

It's just when they get out of hand that warrants action. Your choices are probably not limited to hysterectomy. There are other surgical options, such as myomectomy where they remove only the fibroid. Uterine Fibroid Embolism is often successful not only for the bulk of fibroids but also excessive bleeding.

Some women also find some help with hormone therapies.

The most common complaint among women with large fibroids is bulk that intrudes on other systems, such as the bladder, kidneys or bowels. Many women can also have severe bleeding because of the excessive size their uterus grows to.

(Yes, mine were big and there were many. If I'd looked into alternatives while they were smaller, I might still have my uterus.)

The good news is that fibroids are not fatal in and of themselves. Take some time and read up on them and your options so when you do talk to the doctor, you get the answers you need. This site is a good place to start.

Take care.

If the fibroids are causing you problems as mine were, then that is a reason some have a hyst. I had tried the endometrial ablation first even though I knew it wouldn't get rid of the fibroids. It was to help the heavy bleeding. It worked for only a few months.

In January of 2005, the heavy bleeding started again and having my period every two weeks. I had chronic lower back pain and pain in my right side. Went to the doctor thinking it was an ovarian cyst. Wrong, it was the fibroid, even thought the doctor and I knew I had 3 of them, this one had grown so much the whole ultrasound screen was this fibroid. It had grown from the size of a golf ball to grapefruit size. I am 2 weeks post-op and I haven't found out if it was the one on the outside of my uterus or inside, but my husband said DR said one was a softball size too. If fibroids don't grow or cause any pain then sometimes they will shrink after menopause, which is what I was hoping. Because of my pain, couldn't wait on that. I think after my ablation the blood supply was good and they just grew and grew. I am glad they are gone! I have the pains of recovering right now, but my lower back has not hurt me since my surgery. It just all depends on what kind of problems the fibroids are causing as to what to do about them. Good luck!

Hi - Check out the forum "Hysterectomy Options and Alternatives".

Fibroids does not mean automatic hysterectomy! Please make sure that your doctor has discussed all your options with you and that you are clear and ready for whatever course of treatment you decide on. If you are not getting enough information form your doc - please, seek another opinion.

I can tell you that my U/S reports (and examination) kept coming up with the same thing - that the uterus was not greatly enlarged. I found this strange since they found several fibroids and I had horrible, terrible, agonizing periods.

During surgery it was discovered that I had "the weirdest firbroids" my doc has ever seen! Ususally, they grow in a round (spercial) form - like balls or solid cysts. Mine were growing like grapevines and were about to breach the abdominal wall! THey were wrapped around the ovarian and round ligaments as well as the tubes. No wonder I was in so much pain!!! And that's why the uterus was not greatly enlarged: there were no large firbroids, only diffuse ones! Doc said he'd only seen this once before but that my case was much worse than the first one.

It is uncommon to have growth like this but I tell you to illustrate that there are a lot of possibilities... so, make sure they explain everything to you satisfactorily. And, even one small-looking fibroid in the "right" place can cause a lot of grief!

Hello! Prolapse is the main reason I'm having a HYST (I gave birth vaginally 5 times and by c-section once) but I also have a single fibroid (detectable by ultrasound, that is) about the size of a golf ball in the anterior part of my uterus. The problem with it is that it is intramural meaning it is in the muscle and not easily accessible. My UroGYN said that trying to remove a fibroid located deep in the tissue often causes more problems and the patient ends up needing a hysterectomy anyway. This one fibroid is most likely the cause of my heavy bleeding and cramping for 2 days of my period each month. Truly, I just gush and can't go anywhere far from a bathroom for those 2 days. Do you have heavy periods and lots of cramping? My doctor did tell me that the correct name for a fibroid is a "leiomyoma". I am sending some definitions with links that I found on a websearch for fibroids. Hope they help!

* non-cancerous growths in, on, or within the walls of the uterus.
www.luhs.org/health/topics/glossary/f.htm

* Uterine fibroids are tumors that grow from cells forming the muscle of the uterus; they can project from the wall of the uterus into the uterine cavity. Fibroids can be as small as a pea or as large as a basketball and are almost always benign.
www.babycenter.com/glossary/F

* Non-cancerous growths of the uterus consisting of muscle and fibrous tissue, growing independent of surrounding tissue and having no positive physiological function. Usually benign, but can turn malignant under certain conditions. A common cause of heavy bleeding in women.
www.project-aware.org/Resource/glossary.shtml

* are benign tumors made of fibrous and muscular tissue.
craniofacial.seattlechildrens.org/resources/glossary.asp

* are benign tumors of fibrous and muscular tissue that grow in the muscle wall of the uterus. They increase in midlife women, and decrease after menopause. They are commonly without symptoms but often discovered because they are associated with heavy menstrual flow (menorrhagia).
www.cemcor.ubc.ca/glossary.shtml

* Benign tumors located in or around the uterus. Can cause miscarriages, but not always.
preconception.com/resources/glossary.htm

* Tumors of the muscle wall in the uterus. They are non-cancerous, but can potentially cause miscarriages, trouble in the growth of the baby, and trouble in the delivery. Fibroids are also sometimes painful.
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/pla...rmstoknow.html

* These are smooth muscle tumors of the uterus which are benign in nature. They tend to occur mainly towards the end of the reproductive life and usually present with heavy periods. They are more common in black females. GCT: The glucose challenge test is offered between 24-28 week of gestation and screens mum for gestational diabetes.
www.awc-obgyn.com/pages/glossary.htm

* Fibroids are non-cancerous tumours which grow on the smooth muscle layer of the uterus. They can consist of the muscle cells, collagen, proteoglycan, and fibronectin. As many as 80% of all women will have fibroids during their thirties and forties, and for the vast majority of these women, they will simply shrink harmlessly as they go through menopause. It is very rare that they will become malignant (cancerous). (more info - fibroids (uterine leiomyomas)) find all NHC pages containing: fibroids (uterine leiomyomas)
naturalhealthcare.ca/medical_terms.phtml

* a fibrous, noncancerous growth, most commonly found in the uterus. They may cause heavy, prolonged menstrual periods.
womenstudy.cla.umn.edu/courses/3202/vocab.html

* benign or non-cancerous tumors in the uterus that sometimes cause pain, heavy menstrual periods, or other symptoms
yourmedicalsource.com/library/laparoscopy/LAP_glossary.html

* Also called a leiomyoma or fibromyoma (or myofibroma, for that matter), it is an encapsulated tumor made up of disorganized and irregular connective tissue. A uterine fibroid is benign, there may be one or many, they grow slowly, have unknown causes, and may or may not cause painful menses or mid-cycle bleeding. Much depends on where they are in the uterus and whether or not they extend far enough into the cavity to impair and thin out the endometrium. If they do, they cause distress.
www.healthsuperstore.com/hni/glossary-f1.asp

* Also called myomas. Benign tumors arising from the muscular wall of the uterus. Location can be on the outside of the uterus (subserosal), in the uterine wall (intramural), or pressing into the uterine cavity (submucosal). Fibroids cause uterine enlargement, heavy and abnormal vaginal bleeding, bladder pressure, need for frequent urination, and pelvic pain. May interfere with reproduction, especially if submucosal in location.
www.northernfertility.com/fert_lib/glossary.htm

Wow, OrahDeb, you are one thorough LIW! (I'm the same, so don't feel like I'm snubbing ya. I feel like you have to be educated!) I have had fibroids for over ten years. If your fibroids are asymptomatic and cause you know trouble, I would have left my uterus right where it was. It was that they didn't know how to act right! They got bigger and more demanding, despite EVERYTHING we did to shrink them. If you have a normal menstrual cycle, do not have pain from the fibroids, and they are not threatening any of your other organs, I say, let it be! In that ten years I gave birth twice, so I would not have gone for a hyster based on that when they first showed up. I say, make the choice that's right for you, and let us know when you speak to your gyn! Good luck!
Vanessa