The doctors that make up the Women’s Specialists of Plano (972.379.2416) see their fair share of uterine fibroid tumors weekly at their North Texas OBGYN office. Uterine fibroid tumors are one of the most common gynecological conditions affecting American women today—in fact, this year alone, almost 1 in 4 will be diagnosed with a uterine fibroid tumor. While the majority of uterine fibroid tumors are non-cancerous, there is the incidence of malignancy in about 1 in 10,000—making fibroids a worrisome diagnosis for thousands of women. There are new and successful treatment options for uterine fibroid tumors on the market today. The Women's Specialists of Plano doctors share this information in this article.

1. This article originally published on Hubpages on May 12, 2010.
Uterine Fibroid Tumors | Plano, TX | Treatment of Uterine Cysts
The doctors that make up the Women’s Specialists of Plano
(972.379.2416) see their fair share of uterine fibroids weekly at
their North Texas OBGYN office. Uterine fibroid tumors are one of
the most common gynecological conditions affecting American
women today—in fact, this year alone, almost 1 in 4 will be
diagnosed with these benign uterine tumors. While the majority
of uterine fibroid tumors are non‐cancerous, there is the incidence
of malignancy (cancer) in about 1 in 10,000—making fibroids a
worrisome diagnosis for thousands of women.
Not too long ago, most American women were sent down the
road of having a hysterectomy when diagnosed with uterine
fibroids. I recently interviewed a group of Plano, Texas‐based gynecologists—as well as some of
their patients—and was pleasantly surprised to learn that there are in fact several options for
patients suffering from uterine fibroids.
Fibroids are tumors that develop in the uterus, most often, affecting women over the age of 30
and still in childbearing years. They can be very small, exist as one or in groupings, can be
slow or fast growing, and for many, symptoms will be almost non‐existent. For many women,
on‐going and at times continuous cramping, bloating, constipation, heavy bleeding and a
feeling of pressure and pain in the uterus can exist. For women with a personal or family
history of cancer, knowing that these tumors exist within the uterus can be troublesome
making the treatment of uterine cysts a very important decision for them.
When I met with Patricia, a patient of Dr.
Murray Fox, a physician with the Women’s
Specialists of Plano practice, she described
symptoms that sounded more like a
pregnancy than a uterine fibroid. Her non‐
cancerous uterine tumors presented
themselves years earlier and over time began
to grow until the end result was a cantaloupe
size tumor. With a growth so large, she
decided to have a full hysterectomy because
once the tumor was removed, much of her
uterus would have to be removed with it.
Since Patricia was past her child‐bearing
years, a hysterectomy was an acceptable
route to take.

2. According to Dr. Jules Monier, a gynecologist with Women’s Specialists, most women will be
diagnosed in the earlier stages through routine pelvic exams.
“We are able to diagnose uterine fibroids early on in most cases and monitor them with each
patient. During this time, conservative treatment of uterine cysts can be provided. It’s
important for women to be cognitive of their symptoms and pay attention to what their body
is telling them so that a more aggressive treatment option can be considered if necessary. No
woman should be expected to endure the harsher symptoms that can come along with uterine
fibroids.”
The exact causes of fibroid tumors are unknown. The Women’s Specialists of Plano experts
agree that treatment of uterine cysts is not necessary with uterine fibroids unless at least one
of the following conditions are occurring:
• The uterine fibroid is greater in size than a 12‐week pregnancy
• The uterine fibroid(s) is growing
• The uterine fibroid(s) is causing bleeding
• The uterine fibroid(s) is causing pain
• The uterine fibroid(s) is associated with pregnancy loss
Treatment options available today are vastly different than years ago. “Before our patients
have to consider a hysterectomy for their uterine fibroids, they do have other treatment
options, that in most cases, are successful. Uterine artery embolization and myomectomy
procedures are highly effective treatment options and are generally recommended before a
hysterectomy,” Says Dr. Daryl Greebon, a Plano, Texas‐based OBGYN.
During a uterine artery embolization procedure, physicians use an x‐ray camera to inject
small particles through a catheter directly aimed at the fibroid. These particles block the
arteries that provide blood flow and essentially cause the fibroids to shrink.
A myomectomy is a surgical procedure where the fibroid tumors are surgically removed. This
procedure can be done with an open incision or using a more minimally‐invasive technique
such as the robotic myomectomy. The robotic method reduces the side effects of the surgery
and overall recovery. A myomectomy, in general, is considered one of the only surgical
treatment options that preserve fertility.
In the procedures mentioned above, a large majority of women experience relief with their
symptoms.
Robin is another patient of Women’s Specialists I interviewed and one who had a dramatically
different outcome than my earlier subject. She also battled uterine fibroid tumors since she
was in her late 20’s and because she still desired to have children, she opted to have a robotic
myomectomy. Dr. Dennis Eisenberg performed the surgery robotically and today, she remains
symptom free from her fibroid tumors. Although the risk of them returning does exist; she
has not had any real significant growths or reoccurrences.

3. Dr. Murray Fox explains, “Uterine fibroid tumors can affect the quality of life. I have had
young women who are afraid to go to their places of business for fear they will soak through
their clothes due to heavy bleeding caused by fibroids, and others who have experienced
weight gain in the abdominal area because of fast growing and oversized tumors. The
question I go over with my patients first is should the fibroid tumors be treated? If the answer
is yes, we discuss how.”
It is extremely important to talk to your gynecologist, get all of the facts revolving around your
specific uterine fibroid tumors and review all of your options to help you decide the best
outcome for your particular situation, future desires and current lifestyle.
About the writer:
Kristy Theis is the Medical Content Editor for eMedical Media and is a
Dallas‐based freelance communications writer.
The gynecologists and patients of the Women’s Specialists of Plano
contributed to this article.Visit them on the web at www.obgynplano.com.