Fibroids

OBGYN serving Marina Del Rey, Hawthorne, South Gate and Carson, CA and the Greater Los Angeles, CA area

Fibroids services offered in Marina Del Rey, Hawthorne, South Gate and Carson, CA

If you experience heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, or infertility, it could be because of uterine fibroids. At Marina OB/GYN in Marina Del Rey, Hawthorne, South Gate, and Carson, California, skilled practitioners diagnose and treat this condition to ease unpleasant symptoms and reduce your risk of complications. Call the office to learn more or use the online booking tool today.

What are uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are growths that appear in your uterus, often during the childbearing years. While they usually don’t develop into cancer, fibroids can cause unpleasant symptoms or complications when left untreated. See the experts at Marina OB/GYN at the first sign of new or unusual symptoms. They may discover fibroids during a pelvic exam or pelvic ultrasound.

What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?

The common symptoms of uterine fibroids include:

Periods lasting longer than what is considered normal
Pelvic pressure or pain
Constipation
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Difficulty emptying your bladder
Backaches
Leg pain
Frequent urination

Fibroids can cause anemia due to heavy blood loss, fatigue, or in some cases, a need for a blood transfusion.

Uterine Fibroids that develop during pregnancy may shrink or go away after delivery when your uterus returns to its normal size.

What are the risk factors for uterine fibroids?

Some of the causes and risk factors associated with uterine fibroids include:

Hormone changes
Genetics
Growth factors
Reproductive age
Being a black woman
Starting your period at an early age
Vitamin D deficiency
Excess body weight
Eating a lot of red meat
Drinking alcohol
Diets low in fruits and vegetables

The cause of fibroids isn’t entirely clear, but adopting healthy habits is likely the best way to reduce your chance of developing them.

How does my provider diagnose uterine fibroids?

Your Marina OB/GYN provider might diagnose fibroids during a routine pelvic exam. They may feel irregularities in your uterus or discover them during a pelvic ultrasound. Your specialist might also order blood tests, an MRI, a hysteroscopy, or other diagnostic procedures.

How are uterine fibroids treated?

The main treatments for uterine fibroids include:

Watchful waiting

If your fibroids don’t cause bothersome symptoms, your specialist may suggest watchful waiting to determine if they increase in size or become problematic.

Medications

Taking medications can reduce unpleasant symptoms of fibroids and shrink them.

Medical procedures

The experts at Marina OB/GYN offer minimally invasive procedures that shrink or eliminate fibroids, such as radiofrequency ablation, injections, endometrial ablation, and hysteroscopic, laparoscopic, or da Vinci® robotic fibroid removal procedures.

To find out if you have fibroids or get treated for troublesome symptoms they can cause, call the Marina OB/GYN office or use the online booking feature today.