Fibroids Specialist

Daniel Esteves, MD

Obstetricians & Gynecologists located in Lawrenceville, GA

Noncancerous, muscular tumors called fibroids often develop in the uterus. These tumors usually don’t cause symptoms, but some can result in pain and other complications that require management. OB/GYN Daniel Esteves, MD, offers evaluation and medical and surgical treatment for problematic fibroids. Women in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and the surrounding area who suspect they have fibroids should call his office or book an appointment online.

770-676-5878

Fibroids Q&A

What causes uterine fibroids?

Fibroids usually develop in your 30s and 40s and then start to shrink with menopause. Women who develop the growths often have a family history of fibroids, have a diet rich in red meat, or are overweight.

Uterine fibroids range from the size of a seed to the size of a grapefruit. As many as 80% of women have fibroids, but many of them never know because they don’t cause symptoms. Fibroids are almost never cancerous and don’t increase your risk of developing cancer.

What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?

Women who do have symptoms associated with fibroids may experience:

Pain during intercourse
Feelings of fullness in the pelvis
Heavy bleeding
Frequent urination
Bloating and swelling in the pelvic region

If you have any of these symptoms, don’t ignore them. Call the office of Dr. Esteves for an evaluation.

How are fibroids treated?

If your fibroids cause no symptoms, Dr. Esteves may suggest you simply watch them for abnormal growth. He can schedule regular ultrasounds to monitor them.

If you have mild pain associated with fibroids, over-the-counter pain medications can help you manage the discomfort. If you’re anemic due to heavy bleeding linked to the fibroids, Dr. Esteves may recommend an iron supplement.

For women who have symptomatic fibroids and don’t plan to have children in the near future, he may prescribe low-dose birth control pills to slow their growth and ease heavy bleeding. Progesterone injections and some IUDs are also options for treatment.

Dr. Esteves may also recommend you take gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists to shrink your fibroids and relieve symptoms. The drugs induce temporary menopause, so they can cause side effects, such as hot flashes.

If you have an especially large fibroid or symptomatic fibroids that don’t respond to less-invasive treatments, surgery may be required. A minimally invasive procedure, called a myomectomy, removes just the fibroid and preserves your reproductive organs. In some cases, however, a full hysterectomy or endometrial ablation that destroys the lining of the uterus is required to treat fibroids.

Call the office or schedule an appointment if you have symptoms that suggest uterine fibroids.

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