Hormone Treatment for Fibroids

Fibroids can cause an array of symptoms, from weight gain to pelvic pain. If you’re feeling any of the common symptoms — or you think you may be suffering from uterine fibroids, seek out the best fibroid specialists you can find. In Brooklyn, NY and Bronx, NY, that’s the Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists. Led by Dr. George Bolotin, this practice provides expert diagnostic capabilities, minimally invasive procedures and non-invasive treatment modalities, including hormone treatment for fibroids. Call today to schedule an initial consultation to discover if you need fibroid treatment.

What Is a Hormone Treatment for Fibroids?

Hormone treatment for fibroids alters the balance of hormones in your body that control your menstrual cycle. Regulating these hormones can relieve some of the many fibroid symptoms you may experience when you have uterine fibroids. Before your treatment, tell your doctor which symptoms you’re experiencing, such as:

• Unusual vaginal bleeding
• Unexplained weight gain
• Pain in your uterus  that may be caused by fibroids
• A feeling of an enlarged uterus
• Pain during intercourse
• Extraordinarily severe menstrual cramping
• An urge to frequently urinate
• Pain in your pelvis
• Unusually heavy periods

Fibroids affect approximately 80 percent of women by the time they reach 50, so you’re if you have uterine fibroids, it’s not unusual. But a hormone treatment can help many, maybe even you. Speak to a fibroid doctor like Dr. George Bolotin in Brooklyn and Bronx, and his team of Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists to determine if hormone treatment is right for you.

Why Choose a Fibroid Hormone Treatment?

While a hormone treatment probably won’t make your fibroids disappear, your physician may prescribe hormonal medication to handle the excessive bleeding, discomfort, and pelvic pressure associated with fibroids. Dr. Bolotin first must evaluate your condition to decide if you would benefit from hormonal treatment. There are various fibroid types and conditions that require different kinds of treatments. Fibroid types include:

• Calcified fibroids
• Intramural fibroids
• Subserosal fibroids
• Degenerated fibroids
• Fibroids during pregnancy
• A fibroid tumor or cancer, although cancer is rare

While hormone therapy can shrink existing fibroids, they only work as long as you take them, and you can only take them temporarily. Once you stop the hormone treatment, your fibroids may regrow. Fibroid specialists most commonly prescribe hormones to shrink fibroids before surgery, ut pre-menopausal women may also benefit from the treatment. Hormone treatment is also a solution if you can’t undergo surgery.

Are There Different Types of Hormone Treatments for Fibroids?

Dr. Bolotin offers several types of hormones to treat fibroids. If you’re a good candidate for the treatment, he selects the most appropriate one for you. The various hormones used for the treatment include:

• Gonadotropin-releasing hormones (GnRH). GnRH is hormonal analogs, meaning they’re artificial hormones. They suppress your ovaries’ ability to create estrogen. Once your fibroids are starved of estrogen, they stop growing or even shrink. Although usually administered through a slow-release injection that can last up to three months, a daily nasal spray is also available. It’s not recommended that you stay on this treatment for longer than a year, as you may also experience some side effects.
• Hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs). Also referred to as hormonal coils, IUDs are normally prescribed for birth control. The device is filled with an artificial hormone called progestin. It mimics the female hormone called progesterone, which is responsible for preventing the buildup of the uterine wall during menstruation. A small minority of women on this treatment, roughly 10 percent, report mild side effects.
• Birth control pills. Available as either a combination pill — containing estrogen and progestin — or a progestin-only pill, birth control pills reduce menstrual bleeding. If you take the combination pill for too long, your periods may stop altogether, so this is considered a temporary measure. Some women complain of mild side effects, but female smokers run a higher risk of blood clots from this treatment.

What Are the Alternatives to a Hormone Treatment for Fibroids?

Your Astra Fibroid Treatment Specialists in Brooklyn and Bronx may prescribe hormones by themselves or as a preparation for other treatments, such as surgery. If you don’t qualify for hormone treatments, you may be a better candidate for another fibroid treatment, such as:

• Fibroid embolization, one of Dr. Bolotin’s specialties
• A fibroid ultrasound, which has uses both as a diagnostic tool and as a focused treatment to remove fibroids
• Fibroid removal through a minimally invasive surgical procedure

Only after a thorough examination and review of your health history can Dr. Bolotin decide for certain which type of treatment is best for you. It takes an expert in Interventional Radiology to accurately diagnose your fibroids and then devise the best possible treatment. Don’t suffer from fibroids if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms. Contact Dr. Bolotin and his team of Astra Fibroid Team Specialists today to schedule your first visit.