How Your OBGYN May Treat Abnormal Bleeding Due To Uterine Fibroids
Abnormal bleeding between periods can be quite a hassle to deal with. If your OBGYN has diagnosed you with uterine fibroids, then at least you know why you have abnormal bleeding. But knowing does not quite solve the problem. To do away with the bleeding and help restore a more regular cycle, your OBGYN may recommend one or more of the following treatments.
GnRH Agonists
These are medications that basically act as gonadotropin-releasing hormones in your body. In other words, they reduce the action of estrogen and progesterone throughout your body, but especially throughout your reproductive organs. Since fibroids usually need estrogen in order to grow, taking a GnRH agonist will stop the fibroids from growing any larger, and in many cases, shrink them. You may need to take the GnRH for up to 6 months in order to shrink the fibroids to the point that they no longer cause irregular bleeding. GnRH can cause side effects like hot flashes and mood swings, though, so it is not for everyone.
Contraceptive Pills
If you cannot take GnRH due to side effects, your OBGYN may recommend trying a traditional birth control pill that contains estrogen and progesterone. This won't decrease the size of your fibroids, but it may regulate the bleeding and help control your spotting between periods. Most women do not get full relief from spotting with contraceptive pills, but it's likely you will bleed far less.
Focused Ultrasound Surgery (FUS)
If your fibroids are causing significant bleeding and pain, your OBGYN may recommend a procedure called a focused ultrasound surgery. This procedure uses an ultrasound device to focus sound waves on the fibroids. The tissue basically heats up to the point that it is destroyed, and then your body will slowly reabsorb it. The procedure is done on an outpatient basis. Most women experience some cramping and discomfort for a few days after FUS, but once these symptoms ease, you shouldn't have any more trouble due to the fibroids.
In the most serious of cases, your OBGYN may want to surgically remove the fibroids. However, this is only done when other treatments have failed, and it is usually only necessary when the fibroids have become very large and painful. Irregular bleeding alone is not usually a reason for surgical removal.
If you're experiencing irregular bleeding due to fibroids, there is hope. Most women get relief from medications or FUS. An OBGYN can tell you more about abnormal bleeding treatment options.
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