What You Should Know About Using Birth Control to Treat Your Fibroids

Fibroids are a common condition that many women develop during their childbearing years. You can have fibroids without any complications. However, if you need treatment for large fibroids, birth control may be a solution to consider.

At The Guirguis Obstetrics & Gynecology Group, our experienced gynecology team offers comprehensive care for bothersome fibroids. We take a personalized approach to care, recommending the best possible treatments for your fibroid symptoms.

The basics of fibroids

Fibroids are growths that develop on the walls of the uterus. Some women have fibroids without even knowing it, while others become aware of the growths when they develop symptoms, such as:

• Heavy bleeding
• Lower abdominal swelling
• Increased and frequent urination
• Pain during sex

These growths are most common when you’re in your 30s and 40s, and many fibroids start shrinking during menopause, the time when your periods stop for good. However, if you have fibroids that grow large, and your symptoms become persistent, you may need treatment before you transition to menopause.

Our gynecology team offers on-site testing services to confirm that fibroids are the cause of your symptoms. Ultrasounds can pinpoint the locations of fibroid growths and their size.

Treating fibroids with birth control

Based on your testing results, we can customize a treatment plan that focuses on reducing the size of your fibroids and relieving your symptoms. Because your hormones play a role in the growth of fibroids, the use of birth control can affect the growth process of fibroids. This is why birth control is often the first treatment we recommend to relieve discomfort.

Low-dose birth control pills can help control heavy bleeding and slow the growth of existing fibroids. We may also recommend progesterone injections or a hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) to relieve bothersome fibroid symptoms.

In cases where fibroids are large, our gynecologists may prescribe gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists to address heavy bleeding. These agents can also shrink your fibroids, so you can find long-term symptom relief.

Candidates for treating fibroids with birth control

Not every woman is a candidate for birth control to treat fibroids or fibroid-related symptoms.

You may not be a candidate for birth control pills or an IUD if you're over age 35, have underlying health issues that increase your risk for blood clots, or if you’re trying to become pregnant. We carefully evaluate your medical history and your existing health to determine if birth control will be safe and effective in the treatment of your fibroids.

If you’re not a candidate for birth control, our team may recommend endometrial ablation to destroy the lining of your uterus, so new fibroids can’t grow. We also offer surgery.

Treating fibroids with surgery

The surgeons at The Guirguis Obstetrics & Gynecology Group use advanced, minimally invasive techniques to surgically remove large uterine fibroids, a procedure known as a myomectomy.

We may also recommend the removal of your uterus (hysterectomy) to prevent the growth of additional fibroids. A hysterectomy is generally a last-resort treatment for women who are done having children and need long-term relief from persistent fibroid symptoms.

If you want treatment for fibroids, or if you want to see if you have them, book an appointment online or over the phone with The Guirguis Obstetrics & Gynecology Group today.