Uterine Fibroids: The Complete Guide (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)

You've called in sick today. Your back and legs hurt. Your abdomen is bloated and more than a little uncomfortable. You are having your period, and the bleeding is so heavy you can't even think about leaving the house. You have uterine fibroids.One in every four women see their lives affected by uterine fibroids, which can cause heavy bleeding, abdominal bloating, pain, and infertility. The symptoms can be mildly annoying or life altering in severity. Until recently, hysterectomy was the only way to cure fibroids, and each year more than 200,000 hysterectomies are performed in the United States to treat these noncancerous growths. But hysterectomy isn't always the best solution. The procedure can be devastating for women who were planning to get pregnant, and it is a significant surgery for anyone. In this comprehensive and compassionate guide, Dr. Elizabeth A. Stewart helps women understand the treatment options now available.An internationally recognized expert on fibroids, Dr. Stewart describes all the available medical and surgical treatments as well as alternative and complementary therapies. In addition to hysterectomy, she explains uterine artery embolization (UAE), noninvasive focused ultrasound (FUS), and innovative hormone treatments. Simple diagrams and photographs illustrate the condition -- and its treatment. Dr. Stewart encourages women with fibroids to learn as much as they can before choosing a treatment plan. Providing the most reliable and up-to-date information on this very common and difficult disorder, she helps women understand uterine fibroids and make the best possible choices about their care. (September 2008)