Talk to me about fibroids.

[hellymelly]

Background- a year ago I had a couple of periods where I bled from one to another, saw GP, who shrugged his shoulders in a "what do you expect at your age" sort of way. Periods went back to normal, aside from one which was just a couple of days of spotting, but I am 49 so assumed it was all just peri menopausal stuff. Anyway a few weeks ago I had pain on one side, and pain in that ovary, and spotting, so I had an ultrasound. This showed a "functional" (not sure what he meant by that) cyst on each ovary, and a small fibroid at the top of the uterus. (slight possibility it is scar tissue from c-sections). So what does that mean? Will it keep on growing? I have now had another period that seemed to stop at the right time,on Monday but yesterday and today I am bleeding again. Is this all because of the fibroid? And what happens with HRT? I was planning to go on it as my mother has osteoporosis and I am at higher risk, but do fibroids rule that out? Am a bit shocked as I've never had any gynae issues, had my dds easily in my 40s, no period pain etc. Am not sure what to expect now as I was given no info. Does it mean lots more ghastly internal scans? Will I need surgery? I try and avoid google as I get too freaked out!

Hi, i don't know the answers to all the above, but will do my best and bump at the same time.

I have 2 smallish fibroids diagnosed 4 yrs ago.. i'm 50 now. Also had an ovarian cyst at my last scan, which i presume is the same as what your GP referred to as 'functional', that is a follicular cyst produced in the ovary before an egg is released, like a little bubble. Quite ok at our age, as they go back down again.

Fibroids don't necessarily grow particularly fast, each one is different.. when i had excessive bleeding because of them, i was offered a mirena coil, which releases a small amount of Progesterone into the uterus, the theory being Fibroids are Oestragen fed, i declined partly because i was approaching the meno and am hoping the lack of Oestragen will eventually shrink them.
I'm not keen on HRT, but it was offered in the summer by my gynae, who knows i have fibroids, so i would presume you can still go on it.
Should add i now haven't had a period for 3 months, so it can all come and go.

If your bleeding continues why not ask for a referral to see a gynae? It must be making you knackered, plus he/she will be able to explain everything in more detail then your GP who sounds a bit crap tbh.

HTH to put your mind at rest a bit.

Oh thanks, that is kind of you. All v helpful. Don't think my periods are heavier really, just that I am having this random bleeding. I am keen to have HRT if possible, as my mother has broken a lot of bones from her mid-50s onwards, and now in her 80s has a very twisted spine, a dowagers hump I think it is called! I suppose I will have to see a gynae, i have ishoos about internals but I guess I am just going to have to steel myself for another.

Well, see how it goes if it's not heavier, previous period patterns go out of the window when peri meno starts.. Have a skim of the Menopause threads on here, and you'll see a fair few MNers going through all sorts of haywire things.

I presume you're up to date with smears, and have been ultrasounded recently, which didn't result in your GP referring you through concerns. So you won't necessarily need an internal. I always ask why it's necessary, and give them the ok or not depending on the reasons given.. Have had enough too, so you can always 'no thanks', and just go to discuss things.

Smears are up to date, yes. I haven't discussed the ultrasound with my GP yet, the receptionist gave me the results, but the consultant had talked me through it anyway at the time. Hadn't thought that I could just pass on the results to a gynae, I'd assumed another exam would be standard, so that is a really helpful tip, thank you.