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Uterine Fibroids Treatment New Orleans LA
Fibroids are a common type of growth that between 40% to 80% of people with a uterus experience at some point in their lives.1 These growths are noncancerous but often come with disruptive symptoms, like chronic pelvic pain, excessive bleeding during your period, pain during sex, chronic vaginal discharge, frequent urination, or the inability to empty your bladder completely.
The Fertility Institute can help you identify the right treatments to relieve the symptoms of uterine fibroids while preserving fertility. If you suspect you require uterine fibroid treatment, schedule an appointment at our New Orleans area locations, specifically in Metairie and Mandeville, LA.
Can Uterine Fibroids Affect Fertility?
Uterine fibroids can impact fertility for some people. However, many individuals with uterine fibroids still have successful pregnancies and families. The location, size, and number of uterine fibroids can determine whether your fertility will be affected.2 Some examples include:
- Fibroids that distort the cervix and uterus, impacting egg movement or embryo implantation.
- Fibroids that block fallopian tubes.
- Fibroids that create an unreceptive environment in the uterine lining (often larger than 6 cm in diameter).
- Fibroids larger than 2-3 inches in diameter inside the uterine cavity.
Our fertility specialists can determine if your uterine fibroids are impacting conception and can create a personalized fertility treatment plan to help you grow your family.
Uterine Fibroid Treatment Options
There are several treatment options for uterine fibroids. The right choice for you may depend on your individual health history, reproductive goals, and the extent of your symptoms. Some fibroid treatments may not be right for you if you are interested in growing your family now or in the future.
Medication
Fibroids with minor symptoms or not causing any fertility problems may be managed with medication. Medications are often used to minimize symptoms and reduce the size of the fibroids without surgery. The most common forms of these medications are hormonal birth control pills or other hormone-based medications.
Prescription or over-the-counter iron supplements can help mitigate the amenia that can come from heavy bleeding during your period.
Intrauterine Device (IUD)
IUDs, a long-term form of birth control, can also help manage uterine fibroid symptoms. These are placed inside the uterus during an in-office procedure by a gynecologist and prevent pregnancy for several years. They can be removed at any time.
Minimally Invasive Treatments
Uterine artery embolization is a minimally invasive treatment that involves directing embolic agents into the arteries that supply the fibroids with blood. This cuts off the blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink and die. The goal of this procedure is to preserve fertility while removing fibroids.
Radiofrequency ablation is a procedure that uses heat and radiofrequency energy to destroy uterine fibroids. This is often done via a transvaginal procedure or through small incisions in the abdomen. This is another procedure commonly used to preserve fertility because there is no cutting of uterine tissue.
Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (MIGS)
MIGS procedures are available to remove larger uterine fibroids. Dr. Stacey Scheib is the only certified MIGS surgeon on the Gulf Coast and offers treatment for uterine fibroids and fertility surgeries. She has earned national attention for her single-incision laparoscopy.
A myomectomy can be performed laparoscopically or hysteroscopically. It involves utilizing small incisions, a scope, and specialized tools to remove or destroy fibroids while preserving the uterus. A laparoscopic procedure is used for fibroids outside the uterus, while a hysteroscopic procedure is used for fibroids inside the uterus.
The goal of these procedures is to preserve the uterus in order to allow patients to build their families in the future after surgery.
Talk To a Fertility Specialist About Uterine Fibroid Treatment Options
If you’re interested in receiving treatment for uterine fibroids and maintaining your fertility options, schedule an appointment at The Fertility Institute near New Orleans in Metairie and Mandeville, Louisiana. Our fertility specialists will help you manage your uterine fibroid symptoms and create a personalized fertility treatment that helps you grow your family. Contact us to request an appointment today.
1 https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9130-uterine-fibroids
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