Women’s Health
What Are Uterine Fibroids?
If diagnosed with uterine fibroids, your first reaction would be fear because anything that has to do with your uterus can be alarming. But now that you’ve stumbled across this short article, we can demystify this common occurrence. Because in addition to diagnosing and treating medical conditions, X-Ray Associates of New Mexico also aims to remove the veil on a variety of health issues affecting women today.
Growing Pains
Uterine fibroids form during your childbearing years. But don’t worry. Because these growths on your uterus are benign and non-cancerous. They’re also extremely common and occur in most women.
Fibroids differ in size, ranging from miniscule dots to full-grown tumors that can enlarge your uterus. And the number of growths vary from person to person — from single entities to large overcrowded groups.
How Will I Know If I Have Uterine Fibroids?
It’s actually very difficult to diagnose the existence of fibroids without a proper screening. This is mostly due to the fact that women with uterine fibroids don’t typically have any noticeable symptoms.
In fact, the symptoms of uterine fibroids are largely based on its size, frequency, and location. Just to be safe, look for specific indicators including:
- Longer than average menstrual periods
- Substantial menstrual bleeding
- Pressure and pain in the pelvic region
- Frequent urination
- Constipation and trouble urinating
- Aching legs and back
If you experience any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your doctor right away.
Treatment
A visit to your doctor may lead to him or her recommending an ultrasound to verify the presence of uterine fibroids. If the imaging scans come back positive, you may be eligible for XRANM’s uterine fibroid embolization procedure. The minimally-invasive treatment is non-surgical and involves blocking off the uterine fibroid’s blood supply — effectively starving it and reducing its size.
And as always, our team of expert radiologists at X-Ray Associates of New Mexico will guide you through every step of the process. Because at XRANM, we work overtime to ensure your safety and comfort through each and every procedure.