Did You Have Fibroids but Once You Reached Menopause, They Shrank or Went Away ?

Hi,
May I suggest getting a second opinion? It sounds as if you're afraid of having to have the surgery and would prefer to wait it out until menopause. I was afraid too back in 1999. I saw 3 doctors before I decided to have a myomectomy (sp) but so glad that I did. My fibroids were so large that laser surgery wasn't even an option. Today, I hear a lot of new techniques are available but it really depends on what your doctor says is best.

I had to have c-sections for my 2 children years later bc my uterus would not take labor. It was too weak. But other than that, I'm good! I'm 45 now and no fibroids. No extreme periods. No unusual pain. No enlarged uterus making me look like I'm pregnant. (That's the worst!!!)

So, if you are afraid, don't be. :-)

I found this article about fibroids and menopause by the Fibroid Treatment Collective. They have a wide range of info on treatments.

http://www.fibroids.com/the-embolization-solution/menopause

This article suggests that fibroids tend to grow just before menapause and that treatment when they're causing symptoms is the best thing to do and not wait until menapause. It seems to me, having had a hysterectomy after several years of dealing with fibroid symptoms, that it's worth surgery to be free of the pain, heavy periods etc. especially considering that it's possible that the pain will continue after menopause.

I found out I had fibroids about 6 months ago. Initially the dr seemed to be pushing me for surgery, but I've opted for taking the birth control pill. It's put me back on a regular schedule, periods are not too heavy and I'm no longer curled up on the couch from cramps. She said they should shrink with menopause, but who knows when that may be.

I had a fibroid that was giving me issues, but when I had a c-section the ob took it out when she was there. I haven't had any problems since.

But....

My mom and my aunts all had them. Both of my grandmas had them and they all needed or had hysterectomies. My mom said it was the best thing she ever did and even though she hated not being able to have more kids (she was 36) it was worth it. She only had her uterus out so she still has her ovaries, etc.

I have seen the side where they are not treated and wait until menopause, my aunts did this and still had to have surgery before then because it was so bad. I personally would talk to you doc, but having them removed is really what makes it better.

I had fibroids when I was younger. They never really bothered me but I had to deal with them because they were interfering with my having children. They had to be surgically removed. Now that I'm in my 50's I haven't even thought of them and they haven't bothered me at all. I think they shrink at menopause. At least that's what I was told. Good luck!

I had fibroids in my breast. They hurt so I had to have them removed (one was the size of a ping pong ball). When the doctor took them out he said there were many others in there, but since they weren't bothering me he left them because "it would be impossible to get them all out".

The only time the bother me is when I drink too much caffeine, then they hurt. Other than that they don't bother me at all anymore. I'm not menopausal, but I had the initial ones as a teenager and now am well into my 30s, so there was a hormonal change involved.