If you have uterine fibroids you may hope that menopause will provide a cure. Or that your intrusive symptoms will disappear along with your period. However, that's not the case for every woman. So, how does menopause affect fibroids? Keep reading to find out.
Menopause is the permanent end of your menstrual cycle. We say you've entered menopause when you haven't had a period for 12. (Typically when you're in your early fifties.) However, you could also experience medically induced menopause after a hysterectomy or other medical procedures.
Menopause won't shrink all fibroids. Now, some of the tumors will decrease in size due to a reduction in hormone levels. But the shrinkage may not be enough to relieve symptoms like back or pelvic pain. Plus, even though your hormone levels will fall during menopause, some fibroids may keep growing. For that reason, you should track any ongoing symptoms and discuss them with your doctor.
After entering menopause, there may be changes in your fibroid symptoms. Now, for some women, that means seeing symptoms becoming more manageable. But for others, symptoms may worsen, or new ones could develop. So keeping track of all symptoms and discuss them with your doctor or our fibroid specialists in Dallas.
You may be able to reduce your symptom burden with exercise and dietary changes. But be sure to avoid overly strenuous exercise, so you don't get fatigued or make your symptoms even worse. Not sure where to begin? Here are some of the best workouts to try with fibroids.
Discuss any post-menopausal vaginal bleeding with your healthcare provider. It could mean that your fibroids are still causing problems for you. But it could also be a sign of serious underlying health conditions.
Menopause can't be seen as a “cure” for fibroids, though your tumor size and fibroids symptoms are usually reduced at this stage of life. Still, though a reduction in estrogen and progesterone production often causes fibroids to shrink, they may not disappear entirely. The result? Some women experience fibroid symptoms after menopause. So you may need to seek treatment even after you stop getting your period.
Experiencing persistent, painful fibroid symptoms after menopause? Treatment could help you find relief. Of course, menopausal women don't need to worry about preserving fertility after treatment. But you may still wish to avoid an invasive surgical procedure such as a hysterectomy or even a myomectomy.
Want fibroid relief without surgery or an overnight stay in the hospital? Click here to request an appointment with our Dallas fibroid specialists, providing Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). This minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure shrinks your fibroids while preserving your uterus. And, if that sounds like a great treatment option, we'll review your UFE candidacy when you come into the office.
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