Uterine Fibroids
FIBROID & IMAGE-GUIDED CARE
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that can cause heavy bleeding, pelvic pressure, bloating, urinary symptoms, or pain. When symptoms are affecting daily life, evaluation can help determine size, location, and treatment options.
- Heavy periods or bleeding between cycles
- Pelvic pressure, bloating, or cramping
- Frequent urination or bladder pressure
- Options depend on size, location, symptoms
Evaluation & Next Steps
- Clear severity assessment and next steps
- Supportive care and recovery guidance
- Care across 4 Las Vegas locations
Call: (702) 703-4340
Hours: Mon–Fri: 8am–5pm
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Quick Summary
Key takeaway: Uterine fibroids are common noncancerous uterine growths that may cause heavy bleeding, pelvic pressure, pain, urinary symptoms, or fertility-related concerns depending on size and location.
Evaluation usually focuses on symptoms, imaging findings, fibroid location, bleeding severity, reproductive goals, and whether monitoring, medication, or image-guided treatment may be appropriate.
Overview
What are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are benign growths that develop from the muscle tissue of the uterus. They may be small and incidental or large enough to affect bleeding, pelvic comfort, bladder pressure, or quality of life.
Why Evaluation Matters
Fibroid symptoms can overlap with other gynecologic conditions. Evaluation helps confirm whether fibroids are contributing to symptoms and whether monitoring, medical care, or image-guided treatment should be considered.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on fibroid size, number, and location. Some people have no symptoms, while others develop bleeding, pressure, urinary, or pain-related changes that become difficult to manage.
Heavy or Prolonged Periods
Periods may become heavier, last longer, or include clots, sometimes leading to fatigue or anemia concerns.
Pelvic Pressure or Bloating
Fibroids may create fullness, pelvic heaviness, cramping, or a bloated feeling that persists beyond a normal cycle.
Urinary or Bowel Pressure
Larger fibroids can press on the bladder or bowel, causing frequent urination, urgency, constipation, or pressure symptoms.
Pain or Reproductive Concerns
Some fibroids may contribute to pelvic pain, pain with intercourse, pregnancy concerns, or fertility-related evaluation.
Seek care now if…
Seek prompt care if bleeding is very heavy, you feel faint or weak, pelvic pain is severe, symptoms worsen quickly, or you may be pregnant with concerning symptoms.
Causes & Risk Factors
Fibroids are influenced by uterine muscle growth, hormones, genetics, and individual risk factors. The exact cause is not always clear, and fibroids can change over time.
Common Causes
- Benign uterine muscle growth
- Hormone-sensitive tissue changes
- Genetic or family tendency
- Fibroid growth over time
Fibroids are not cancer, but their size and location can create symptoms that need monitoring or treatment planning.
Risk Factors
- Family history of fibroids
- Age 30s to 40s
- Heavy or painful periods
- Prior fibroid diagnosis
- Pregnancy history
- Hormonal factors
- Anemia from bleeding
- Symptoms affecting daily life
Diagnosis
Diagnosis usually starts with a symptom review and pelvic imaging. The goal is to confirm fibroids, understand their size and location, and determine whether they match the symptoms being reported.
Typical Evaluation
- Bleeding and symptom review
- Pelvic exam when appropriate
- Ultrasound imaging
- MRI when more detail is needed
- Anemia or lab review when indicated
What to Bring
- Prior ultrasound or MRI results
- Bleeding pattern notes
- Medication list
- Pregnancy or fertility goals
- Treatment goals and concerns
Treatment Options
Treatment depends on fibroid size, location, bleeding severity, pressure symptoms, age, reproductive goals, and overall health. Options may include monitoring, medication, or minimally invasive image-guided treatment when appropriate.
Related care: Treatment planning may include monitoring, medication review, gynecology coordination, or image-guided fibroid treatment discussion when symptoms and imaging support it.
Risk Management
- Bleeding assessment
- Anemia review
- Medication review
- Symptom tracking
Monitoring & Symptom Protection
- Cycle tracking
- Pelvic pressure monitoring
- Imaging follow-up
- Care coordination
Image-Guided Treatment
- Fibroid embolization discussion
- MRI-based planning
- Minimally invasive options
- Gynecology coordination
Follow-Up Evaluation
- Worsening bleeding
- Increasing pressure
- Anemia symptoms
- Treatment planning needs
Recovery
Recovery and long-term management depend on symptom severity, fibroid size and location, the treatment approach used, and whether ongoing monitoring is recommended.
What Helps Most
- Symptom tracking: Monitor bleeding, pressure, and pain patterns.
- Follow-up imaging: Repeat imaging may be recommended when symptoms change.
- Anemia care: Fatigue or heavy bleeding may need lab review.
- Coordinated care: Gynecology and imaging teams may both be involved.
- Treatment planning: Match options to symptoms, imaging, and goals.
When to Follow Up
- Bleeding worsens: Periods are heavier or lasting longer.
- Pressure increases: Pelvic fullness or bloating is more persistent.
- Urinary symptoms change: Frequency or urgency becomes disruptive.
- Pain increases: Pelvic pain becomes more frequent or severe.
- Anemia symptoms appear: Fatigue, dizziness, or weakness should be discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Uterine fibroids are usually benign, noncancerous growths of the uterus. Evaluation helps confirm the diagnosis and determine whether symptoms need treatment.
Fibroids may cause heavy or prolonged periods, pelvic pressure, bloating, urinary frequency, constipation, pelvic pain, or reproductive concerns depending on size and location.
Diagnosis often includes a symptom review, pelvic exam when appropriate, ultrasound, and sometimes MRI to better define fibroid size, number, and location.
No. Some fibroids can be monitored if they are small or not causing significant symptoms. Treatment is considered when symptoms affect health, comfort, or daily life.
Fibroid embolization is a minimally invasive image-guided treatment that blocks blood flow to fibroids so they shrink over time. Whether it is appropriate depends on imaging, symptoms, and treatment goals.
Seek evaluation if bleeding is heavy, pelvic pressure is worsening, periods are changing, urinary symptoms are disruptive, or fibroids are affecting quality of life.
Locations
LVVIS offers vein evaluation and treatment planning at multiple Las Vegas locations. Choose the office that is most convenient when scheduling your visit.
LVVIS West Side Consultation Office
8930 W Sunset Rd, Suite 350
Las Vegas, NV 89148
Consultations and vascular evaluations
LV2 Limb & Vascular Division
8930 W Sunset Rd, Suite 350
Las Vegas, NV 89148
Limb preservation and podiatry partnership care
LVVIS East Procedure Office
2250 E Flamingo Rd, Suite 100
Las Vegas, NV 89119
Procedures, diagnostics, and circulatory care
LVVIS West Side Surgical Center
6120 S Fort Apache Rd, Suite 100
Las Vegas, NV 89148
Advanced vascular and interventional procedures