fibroids Archives | Best Uro-Gynecologist Los Angeles, OB/GYN Glendale | Dr. Michael Tahery

Do Fibroids Affect Pregnancy?

admin — Fri, 15 Apr 2022 22:51:35 +0000

Fibroids are common benign tumors many women have to deal with at some point in their life. An estimated 70 percent of females develop fibroids by the time they’re 50. While these tumors are non-cancerous, they can cause a myriad of issues.

Depending on the location and size of the fibroids, you might experience heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, discomfort during sex, and other unwanted symptoms. But do fibroids affect pregnancy and fertility?

Fibroids and Fertility

Unfortunately, fibroids can impact your ability to get pregnant. However, the good news is that most women with fibroids can conceive naturally. With guidance and care from a fibroids specialist, the odds of having a successful pregnancy are even higher. Fertility issues are relatively rare. Whether or not they cause infertility depends on many factors.

One crucial detail that makes fibroids affect pregnancy and fertility is location. These tumors can develop in various parts of the uterus. Submucosal fibroids generally have the most impact on fertility. These growths appear just under the endometrium and protrude into the uterine cavity. This type of fibroid makes up just five percent of all fibroid cases. They’re the rarest but also one of the most problematic.

Larger fibroids over six centimeters in diameter are also to blame for fertility issues. Regardless of the tumor’s location, the sheer size of the growth can cause significant fertility problems.

These types of fibroids can affect fertility in a few different ways.

First, the growths can change the shape of the uterus entirely. As a result, fewer sperm can enter the uterus. Furthermore, the malformed nature of the uterus can disrupt the sperm’s movement as it makes its way to the egg during conception.

Fibroids can also block the fallopian tubes or change the size of the uterine lining. Even if the sperm successfully penetrates the egg, there’s no guarantee that the embryo will implant in the uterine wall. Fibroids can restrict blood flow, stopping development before it even begins.

It’s true that fibroids affect pregnancy, but these cases are rare. Most women with these tumors can conceive without any issues. If you’re in doubt, don’t hesitate to reach out. Dr. Tahery specializes in fibroid evaluation and treatment.

Fibroids During Pregnancy

One of the most common questions people have about these non-cancerous growths is whether or not fibroids affect pregnancy and delivery. Once again, it’s possible but rare.

Between two and 12 percent of pregnant women receive a fibroid diagnosis. But an estimated 10 to 30 percent of that figure develop complications during pregnancy. That means most women with fibroids have perfectly normal pregnancies without any challenges.

In those instances when fibroids affect pregnancy, it’s usually in the first trimester. Experts believe that these growths rely on estrogen to grow. Because your body produces more estrogen during the first third of the gestation period, that’s when complications manifest.

The biggest concern due to fibroids in pregnant women is preterm births and the possibility of miscarriage. Unfortunately, women with fibroids have an estimated 14 percent chance of miscarriage. That’s noticeably higher than the 7.6 percent risk in women without fibroids. The dangers increase with larger tumors.

Fibroids can also put you at a higher risk of preterm birth before 37 weeks and cesarean delivery.

Other potential concerns include extreme pain and developmental problems. As the uterus expands in the second and third trimesters, it can push against the tumors. The fibroids may twist or even outgrow their blood supply, creating severe stomach pain that could result in miscarriage.

In cases of extreme fibroid growth, placental abruption can occur. When this happens, the placenta tears away from the uterine wall, cutting off oxygen to the fetus and causing heavy bleeding.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Fibroids

The best way to minimize the ways fibroids affect pregnancy is to be proactive about treatment. Diagnosing these uterine tumors is a straightforward process. We use 3D ultrasound technology to evaluate the size, location, and the number of growths.

After diagnosis, we can recommend a course of action that’s right for your needs. Possible treatment options include hormone therapy, radiofrequency ablation, and embolization. Hormone therapy uses gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists to decrease estrogen and progesterone levels that feed the fibroids. Meanwhile, ablation and embolization aim to reduce the size of the tumors and cut off their blood supply.

Whether you have plans to get pregnant or not, contact Dr. Michael Tahery to explore treatment options for your fibroids. Dr. Michael Tahery is a urogynecologists who understands the complex nature of fibroids and their potential impact on pregnancy and fertility. Contact our offices today to learn more and schedule your appointment.

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Minimally Invasive and Non Surgical Fibroid Treatment Options

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2021 23:16:57 +0000

70 percent of women are diagnosed with fibroids during their reproductive years. The non-cancerous growths are so common that the average woman typically has six to eight without even knowing. While a vast majority of fibroids are benign, many still require treatment.

Also known as myomas, fibroids are complex structures that can grow in many different ways. How they develop within the uterus ultimately affects how they impact your health and comfort. Fibroids have the potential to interfere with your menstrual cycle, cause pain during intercourse, and more. They can also present risks during pregnancy.

Fortunately, there are many ways to address symptoms. Contrary to popular belief, invasive surgery isn’t the only solution available. Non surgical fibroid treatment options can manage symptoms and provide relief.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization

Uterine Fibroid Embolization, also known as UFE, is a unique procedure that usually requires minimal downtime. In many cases, it’s an outpatient procedure that requires only moderate sedation. However, exact techniques can vary from case to case.

Either way, the goal of embolization is not to remove the fibroids. Instead, UFE aims to reduce the size of problematic growths. The goal is to provide relief from issues like heavy uterine bleeding and pain. Fibroid embolization can cut off the fibroid’s blood supply, which may prevent future development and spread.

To perform this non surgical fibroid treatment, your doctor will create a small incision in the groin to insert a flexible catheter into an artery on the leg. The catheter is carefully guided to the blood vessels of the uterus. There, your doctor can inject an embolic agent to block the blood flow that feeds the fibroids. This process essentially starves the fibroids and deprives them of the nutrient supply they need to grow.

Slowly but surely, the fibroids shrink by 30 to 50 percent. While results can vary, many women notice their menstrual cycle returning to normal after two to three months.

RELATED: Diagnosis of Fibroids

Fibroid Radiofrequency Ablation

Here’s another non surgical fibroid treatment option that utilizes tiny incisions on the abdomen to gain access to the uterus. Like the previous fibroid embolization technique, this procedure reduces a fibroid’s size rather than removing it. However, fibroid radiofrequency ablation utilizes heat to provide near-instant change.

Using traditional laparoscopic techniques, your doctor will locate the fibroids and attack them with targeted energy. The energy generates heat through a minute needle array. Thanks to the small size of the tools, your doctor can strategically heat the fibroids while sparing the surrounding uterine tissue.

The heat causes the fibroid to shrink immediately. Fibroids continue to decrease in size in the following months as well. Tissue from the growths are reabsorbed into the body, so the recovery process typically doesn’t involve passing anything. Many women will experience relief from symptoms shortly after recovery. However, the most significant benefits usually come three to six months later.

Fibroid Hormone Therapy Treatment

This non surgical fibroid treatment option targets the hormones that govern your menstrual cycle. There are many approaches to fibroid hormone therapy, and your physician can make recommendations based on your unique needs.

If your most prominent fibroid symptoms are pelvic pressure and heavy bleeding, a progestin-releasing intrauterine device might be a suitable solution. An IUD doesn’t affect the fibroid directly, but it can provide relief from excessive bleeding and pain.

One of the most common non surgical fibroid treatment methods is to use gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists, also known as GnRHa.

GnRHa medications target the same hormones that trigger your ovaries to produce estrogen and progesterone. However, it has the opposite effect as the body’s natural hormones. The GnRHa works to decrease estrogen and progesterone. This process can stop the menstruation cycle entirely, which will cause the fibroids to shrink over several months. Furthermore, red blood cell counts can slowly recover.

GnRHa medication is a temporary measure, but hormone therapy can buy time and prepare the fibroids for other treatments.

If your fibroids produce symptoms that interfere with your health and everyday life, contact Dr. Michael Tahery. Urogynecologist serving women in Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, Dr. Tahery is well-versed in the complexities of fibroid treatment. Call us today to schedule an appointment and learn more about your non surgical fibroid treatment options.

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Pelvic Pain: When is it Serious?

admin — Wed, 25 Sep 2019 20:11:45 +0000

Pelvic Pain is pain that is felt in the lower part of the abdomen where the bladder, bowels, uterus, and ovaries are located. This kind of pain usually stems from the reproductive system, urinary system or the digestive system and can be classified as either chronic or acute pain. There are a number of serious and non-serious reasons as to why a woman might experience pain or discomfort in the pelvic region, therefore it is important to distinguish between the two so as to seek medical attention when appropriate. The following are some of the serious conditions which present pelvic pain:

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition that can cause pelvic pain in women and may need medical attention depending on the symptoms being presented by the patient. It is a disorder in which endometrial tissue grows outside of the lining of the uterus. Endometriosis usually causes a stabbing pain during menstruation or repeatedly during the cycle.

Fibroids

Fibroids are benign tumors that grow on the lining of the uterus and can be quite painful. The pain can be dull or sharp and is experienced during sex or menstruation. The size and number of fibroids are likely to affect the severity of the pain because the pain originates from the tumor pushing against the nerves or organs.

Adenomyosis

Adenomyosis is another condition that is associated with pelvic pain because of the severe menstrual cramps in causes. Adenomyosis is when the endometrium is in the muscular wall of the uterus. Women get to experience pain from adenomyosis between periods, when urinating, during sexual intercourse or bowel movement.

Pudendal Neuralgia

This is a condition that causes pelvic pain and yet it is oftentimes undiagnosed or unrecognized. Pudendal neuralgia is caused by irritation or damage to the pudendal nerve. Pain from pudendal neuralgia can be felt in the form of aching, burning or itching in between the anus and vagina.

Interstitial Cystitis

Interstitial Cystitis is a bladder condition that causes pain or discomfort in the pelvic region. Women with Interstitial Cystitis usually experience dull aches or piercing pain in the pelvic area because of bladder inflammation.

Ovarian Cysts

An ovarian cyst is a noncancerous pocket in or on the ovary. They are usually asymptomatic and disappear by themselves unless they rupture or get too big. Symptoms of ovarian cysts include sharp or dull aches in the abdomen or severe sudden pelvic pain which might indicate a rupture of the cyst.

Contact a medical professional if you are experiencing pelvic pain because treatment options are dependent on the diagnosis. We offer many different options for pelvic pain treatment in our West Los Angeles and Glendale locations and always happy to welcome new patients.

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Advantages of Laparoscopic Myomectomy

admin — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 23:44:41 +0000

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that grow in the muscle or wall of the uterus and usually only require treatment when symptoms such as heavy bleeding, pain, infertility, and frequent urination becomes a problem. There are various ways of treating fibroids and your doctor will take into consideration the size and number of fibroids, your age and whether you plan to have children in the future before deciding on what kind of treatment to offer you. Laparoscopic Myomectomy is one of the ways in which fibroids can be treated while also preserving the uterus. It is a type of minimally invasive procedure in which a thin laparoscope and other small instruments are placed through tiny incisions in the abdomen in order to remove fibroids from the uterus. Laparoscopic Myomectomy is the preferred type of fibroid treatment because of the number of advantages it has over abdominal myomectomy.

Less Bleeding

Since the majority of women with fibroids usually experience excessive blood loss and may be anemic, less bleeding during the operation is very important. Laparoscopic myomectomy is a minimally invasive procedure, which means that incisions are very small and blood loss during the procedure is usually less compared to abdominal myomectomy.

Less Pain

Compared to other types of myomectomy, patients that undergo laparoscopic myomectomy tend to experience less postoperative wound pain. Less pain after the surgery is directly related to the small cuts unlike the big ones made during an abdominal myomectomy.

Reduced Recovery Time

Reduced recovery time and a short hospital stay are some of the advantages of laparoscopic myomectomy. Laparoscopic myomectomy allows a quicker return to normal life activities.

Laparoscopic myomectomy is also considered the best option for select women who wish to have children in the future because of the decreased risk of scar tissue formation.

Consult your physician for diagnosis and evaluation of your fibroids early and monitor its growth and effect on your body. This way treatment can be considered early when you have many options for treatment and preservation of vital organs.

If you are diagnosed with fibroids and have questions, or looking for a second opinion, please let us know. We offer many different options for treating fibroids in our West Los Angeles and Glendale locations and always happy to share them with you.

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Patient Suffers from Chronic Pain with Sex

admin — Sat, 09 Apr 2016 19:57:55 +0000

Anna had stopped by my office today for a six month follow up. Anna is a 25 year old woman who complained of chronic pain with sex a year ago. Anna lives in Texas and had come to see me because she did not feel that the physicians she had seen for this problem in Texas were able to help her with her condition. After a complete history and physical evaluation, the source of her condition became clear to me. She had suffered with this pain for so long that any thought of penetration or manipulation of the genitalia created anticipation of pain which magnified her condition. With detailed explanation of the findings, a course of action was planned that gradually resolved the source of the pain and allowed Anna to enjoy intimacy with her partner.

This is a common occurrence in my office. On a daily basis, I see women who have suffered from pain with intercourse for years. The oldest patient, who was 73 years old, wondered why no one diagnosed the problem that had given her so much pain and led to an avoidance of intimacy.

At any one time, 30 million women complain of pain with intercourse. One third of all women have pain with intercourse that lasts more than 3 months. The pain can occur with arousal, penetration, intercourse and sometimes even after intercourse. It is also possible that the pain during intercourse overlaps with other pelvic conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids or interstitial cystitis.

In my experience, women with chronic pain with sex feel confused and frustrated. As a result, they have low libido, avoid sexual activity, suffer from increased anxiety and depression and increased relationship difficulties. A third do not seek care and those that do are usually not satisfied with the treatments received because very few physicians, even OB/GYNs, understand or have any experience in treating chronic pain with sex.

Fortunately, as Anna and many of our patients can attest, with expert care, sexual pain can resolve or improve, normal function can be restored, and quality of life can improve.

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