Before Surgery on Uterine Fibroids, Ask Your Gyn these Questions

At some point in life, three out of four women will be plagued by uterine fibroids - but they may go unnoticed. Sometimes, however, uterine fibroids do cause extreme pain or other negative symptoms and must be surgically removed. Here are some facts you should know about uterine fibroids and how to find free questions to ask your GYN before surgery.

What are Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are growths of the uterus that are non-cancerous. They usually form during childbearing age and generally disappear after menopause. Uterine fibroids are often called fibromyomas, myomas or leiomyomas. If you have developed uterine fibroids and aren't aware of it, your doctor may find them during a prenatal ultrasound or a pelvic exam. In most cases, the condition goes unnoticed with no pain or discomfort.

Symptoms include heavy bleeding during menstruation, prolonged periods (seven or more days of bleeding), frequent urination, constipation, leg pains, backache, pelvic pain or pressure, or problems with emptying the bladder. Uterine fibroids can cause sharp pain when there's not enough blood supply to feed or supply nutrients to the growth. As the fibroid begins to die, byproducts may seep into nearby tissue, which can cause fever and pain.

Types of Uterine Fibroids

There are certain types of fibroids called pedunculated fibroids that hang by a stalk on the interior or exterior of the uterine wall. These can twist on the stalk and trigger pain. Submucosal fibroids are found in the inner cavity of the uterus, while subserosal fibroids are found on the exterior, projecting outside the uterus. Subserosal fibroids can press on the bladder and cause urinary symptoms, or may also press on the rectum and cause constipation. There are also cases in which these types of fibroids press on the spinal nerves and cause back pain.

GYN Surgery for Fibroids

There are two types of gynecological surgery to consider when uterine fibroids become more than a nuisance. Myomectomy is the removal of fibroids. This type of surgery can help to improve the chances of becoming pregnant if you've experienced infertility in the past. A hysterectomy is the removal of the entire uterus and sometimes the ovaries as well. This option should only be considered if you do not plan to have more children in the future. It is the only method to prevent the recurrence of uterine fibroids. Both surgeries are performed using laparoscopy with small incisions in the abdomen or through the vagina.

When to Seek a Gynecologist's Care

You should seek a GYN's care if you experience persistent pelvic pain, very heavy bleeding or painful periods, pain during intercourse, frequent constipation, bleeding between menstruation periods, or trouble with urination and emptying the bladder. Sharp pains in the pelvic area and severe bleeding are two common symptoms that prompt GYN surgery.

Free GYN Questions

When asking GYN questions, be sure to cover all your bases concerning the type of uterine fibroids you're dealing with, what surgery or treatment option is best, and how the surgery or treatment will affect your future. Ask about alternative fibroid treatments such as uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), which is a procedure used to destroy or shrink fibroids by cutting off the blood supply to the fibroid. There are also medicines and home treatments to consider if you're already nearing menopause and your symptoms are bearable.

If you're stumped as to which questions to ask your GYN during surgery, use online resources such as free mini-ebooks that already have a detailed list of proper questions to ask. This can save you time and help you be a little less anxious about fibroid surgery or any other procedure or condition, such as ovarian cysts, tubal ligation, etc. Arm yourself with GYN questions before seeing your gynecologist to ease your mind in the battle against uterine fibroids.

To learn more about subjects like uterine fibroids please visit the web site at: http://www.QuestionsToMyGynecologist.com

For more information and informative related articles and links about this subject matter and content, please visit Majon's Health Products | Health Vitamins | Dieting directory: http://www.majon.com/directory/health-products-health-vitamins-dieting. Also visit our Shopping Directory Marketplace for more related sites.

About the Author

+Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2011 (Fri Jan 01 2010) Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource internet marketing web site at: http://www.majon.com