WOMENS-HEALTH Messages for October, 2002: Re: Fibroid tumors

Re: Fibroid tumors - alternative treatments

From: William McIntosh, MD (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Tue, 1 Oct 2002 14:52:39 -0500 (CDT)

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In reply to: Tracey: "Fibroid tumors - alternative treatments"

At Tue, 1 Oct 2002, Tracey wrote: >
>I am 38 years old, have no desire to have children, and have been
>diagnosed with fibroid tumors. My mother has them as well, and they
>have lasted far beyond her menopause. There are two fibroids - a 6 cm
>subserosal on my left side, and a 2 cm intramural on my right side. I
>have also had a history of ovarian cysts on my left side that come and
>go. I have been on Ortho birth control pills for 17 years.
>
>I am currently scheduled to have super-cervical hysterectomy - using
>laproscopy (sp?) surgery in December, but am having second thoughts. I
>was given the alternative to get a myomectomy, but if I am going to have
>surgery at all, I don't care about losing my uterus, and I would prefer
>to have a quicker recovery rate.
>
>However, I'm not really thrilled about the concept of having the surgery
>at this point. My doctor told me that it wasn't an emergency that I get
>the surgery now, but indicated that I would probably have to do it at
>some point. Here's my questions:
>
>- Would it help for me to go off of the pill at this point? I have heard
>conflicting things about the effect of birth control pills on fibroid
>tumors.

The effect of the pill on fibroids is fairly minimal, generally making them slightly smaller, though there are exceptions. The odds are that stopping the pill would allow them to grow a bit larger.

>
>- I do have some pain, but it comes and it goes. What is the downside
>of postponing the surgery at this point, if any?

Only that you will have whatever pain and bleeding you have.

>
>- Does the fact that my mother still has fibroids after menopause mean
>that mine will stick around as well?

Fibroids do not spontaneously resolve. They are likely to shrink a bit after menopause, but they won't go away entirely.

>
>Thanks.

-- William D. McIntosh, MD, FACOG

This is for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for consultation and examination by a licensed medical professional.

Next message: amy: "breastfeeding and insomnia"
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