Re: How Often Should Fibroids Be Checked

June 7, 2001

.... One question I have is how often should your fibroids be

> checked for growth. I told my doctor last year that no matter what

> I did, I couldn't lose weight anymore. Can this be a result of

> the fibroids? I have always been overweight, but when I really

> tried to lose, I have been successful up until the last year. I am

> wondering if this is related to the fibroids as well. In fact, I

> have not changed my eating habits, but have put on 20 pounds in

> the last year. Does anyone know if the size of a quarter is big or

> not in relation to fibroids? Please help me get my head out of the

> sand!

My doctor wanted to check me every 6 months before I decided to have

them removed. I don't know if that is standard or not though.

Quarter sized isn't that big but it depends on where they are and how

many you have, not just the individual size. It sounds like you need

to look at treatment rather than just monitoring growth if you're

bleeding that much.

Also, I've heard lots of anecdotal information about the relationship

between fibroids and weight gain but I've hunted and hunted for any

medical studies to no avail. There was one that started in Germany

but as near as I can tell the researcher gave up on it.

It makes a lot of sense to me though. Hormones play a significant

role in weight gain and loss and fibroids not only produce hormones

but the higher levels of hormones make fibroids grow. So it's a

vicious cycle of rising hormone levels. Certainly it should come as

no surprise if they end up causing weight gain. Isn't that the most

common side effect of birth control pills?

DeAnn

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