What are fibroids?
No one knows why fibroids occur. You can also have them for years without any problems. But sometimes they grow and cause complications like excessive bleeding during your period or intense abdominal pain.
There isn’t just one type of fibroid, however. The various kinds include:
- Intramural fibroids: You’ll find these in the walls of your uterus; they sometimes grow large enough to stretch out your womb
- Submucosal fibroids: These growths develop within the middle layer of your uterus
- Subserosal fibroids: Found outside of the uterus, they may get big enough to make one side of your womb seem bigger
- Pedunculated fibroids: These subserosal fibroids have a stem attached for support
Certain factors can encourage the growth of fibroids, including:
- Family History
- Hormones produced by the ovaries
- Pregnancy
- Being of African-American descent
- Obesity
How does an OB/GYN treat fibroids?
Dr. Gotlin will examine you to determine the severity of your condition. He might also wish to perform one of the following tests:
Ultrasound
High-frequency sound waves create images of your uterus that get projected to a screen for viewing. That gives Dr. Gotlin a clearer view of what’s going on inside of you.
Pelvic MRI
This scan uses magnets and radio waves create high-definition images of your uterus tissues without any obstructions.
Dr. Gotlin might recommend managing your condition with medication or other alternative treatments. If he feels the growths are large enough to be a concern, he may present surgical intervention as your best chance for relief.
What are the surgical options for fibroid removal?
Dr. Gotlin only recommends surgery if it's necessary, and he takes your wishes and the severity of your condition into account in such cases. The surgical possibilities include:
Abdominal myomectomy
Dr. Gotlin accesses the uterus through a large cut in the abdomen and removes the growths. That leaves the uterus and surrounding organs intact.
Laparoscopic myomectomy
Several small cuts are made to access the uterus to remove the fibroids.
Myomectomy with robotic minimally invasive surgery
3-D imaging and controlled robotic arms help Dr. Gotlin remove your fibroids even more precisely than with standard laparoscopic surgery. He’s one of only two surgeons certified to perform this technique in the Miami Beach area.
If you have fibroids or suspect they're the cause of issues you’re having, it pays to see a doctor like Dr. Gotlin who’s helped many patients deal with these situations.
