Had Fibroid Removed Trying To Conceive

Dear Dr. Del Junco Jr.:

I had surgery to remove a fibroid the size of a grapefruit in March. I had 3 miscarriages prior to surgery. I am now trying to get pregnant without success for 3 months.

I realize this is a short time, but had no prior problems conceiving usually within the first or second cycle. Should I be alarmed? My doctor mentioned scarring.

Desperate for child.

Dear Missy-
I would recommend followup with your gynecologist.

For a tumor that large, I would advise my patients to wait much longer than 3 months to try to conceive.
FAS patients must wait 12 months prior to conception due to the thoroughness of the procedure. We want the uterus to completely heal before attempting to carry a child.
Make an appointment to see your doctor.
Good Luck

I am 33 years old and my doctor discovered a cyst near my right ovary around may of this year. It was very small then and not causing me any discomfort. She suggested that I go on the pill to possibly keep it from getting any bigger. Or we could monitor it and then decide. I opted for the later. A month later I started having severe pains during my periods. So I went in for a sonigram and she saw that it was a fybroid about the size of a gum ball. She suggested the pill again but I wanted to wait. We decided again to come back to it in two months. Two months later, no change in size and no pains, see you next year. I was relieved.
In late september(actually off and on throughout the month), I started having lower back pain. I thought it was my kidneys, the pain was so bad at times. I went back in yesterday and we looked at it and the fybroid wasn’t any bigger but a closer look we found a second, silently sleeping behind it. She suggested I consider having them removed. But, I opted for trying bcpills in hopes that the second will get smaller. She also prescribed an antiflammitory. I trust my doctor, the bcpills was my suggestion, which she explained would probably not work but would give it a try, if that’s what I wanted. Now after doing some internet research (including your site) I am really concerned that I should have them removed asap. I’m just terrified of surgery. I don’t like being put to sleep and my paranoia about waking up and finding my uterus gone totally freaks me out. Not that she would do that, but…you know, I’m just scared.

Dear Nick-
The birth control pills will only treat your symptoms and delay surgical removal of the disease. You need to have your fibroids removed. You still have 20 years to menopause and as long as you have your tumors, they will continue to grow. The larger they become the more difficult the removal.
Many patients are fearful of surgery and its outcome. This is why we have our FAS program. Our procedure is done under epidural anesthesia and patients can remain awake. We also do not consent patients for hysterectomy and do not remove the uterus. We have taken over 100 tumors from a single patient and removed tumors the size of a full term baby and have not removed the uterus. I know we can help you. Please give my office a call.

Dear Dr.Del Junco JR.

I have been diagnose with a fibroid on my uterus, due to heavey periods & being aniema my doctor recommend that I have my uterus removed or they could do a percedure which stops the blood flow but it would not entirely get rid of the fibroid. She suggested at my age 47, that it would be better since, I’m not planning on having any children. I’m apprenhsive about either procedure.
First of all I had three c-section and my tubes tied. My last c-section was very painful and they explained to me that the lining of my stomach was very thin. I informed the doctor that I’D rather have the tumor removed. The doctor informed me that I had begun permenopause and that we should wait to see if it would go away. However, it has increase and my blood count was 26. I’m taking slowfe iron pills three times a day. My question is are there any doctors in the connecticut or New york area that perform these same type surgey in which you do. Due not being financially unable to travel to your state. I’ve decide to cancel my surgey for December12,2001,until I can find a doctor who’s willing to do your type of procedure.

Dear VictoryG-
We are the only practice in the country offering FAS-with a laser tumor removal and reconstruction of the uterus. If you want to keep your uterus-I would search for a doctor who is willing to try to remove your tumors without removing your uterus. This may be difficult because many doctors rely on hysterectomy as the primary form of treatment for fibroids. Call some of the major medical centers near you and ask them for an alternative. Good Luck

I have very large fibroid tumors (my uterus is the
size of a 6 month pregnant woman). My doctor (female) is suggesting a hysterectomy. I’m 34,
with no children and desperately want to have
children. I either want to go ahead and try
pregnancy or have a myomectomy, which would
be my second. The first myomectomy the doctor
removed 15 tumors. I would like to know if there is a good chance for pregnancy now and/or after a myomectomy. I’m refusing to believe a hysterectomy is mandatory.

Dear Tina-
Many women carry pregnancies full term with fibroid tumors, however your chances are minimal due to the size of your uterus.
Unfortunately, although your first myomectomy removed 15 tumors, the procedure did not get ALL the tumors in your uterus at the time. That is the advantage to FAS over traditional myomectomy-we remove ALL palpable tumors and have a less than 2% regrowth rate, regardless of size, number or location in the uterus.
If you have surgery to remove your tumors, it will require waiting before a pregnancy is safe, however I would recommend removing the tumors before the pregnancy to give you the best possible opportunity to carry full term without complication.

I’m 31 and I have a fibroid tumor at least 5 cm in diameter (tangerine-orange). My nurse practioner (who I saw in an emergency) said I could start birth control pills, consider surgery, or do nothing (which she recommended against). I started the pills only to find out that they were estrogen based and that feeds tumor growth. I am off the pills, have not stopped bleeding for two weeks and feel that the tumor is growing rapidly. I feel constipated and my stomach boats up daily. I take Alieve and rub natural progestrone cream on my belly. I am avoiding soy (which is hard because I am a vegetarian) to limit estrogen influence and stop the growth. I don’t know if that is working. I am afraid of surgery and want children some day. Can I continue with progestrone treatment? Do I need surgery? Are there excellent doctors in Atlanta, Georgia who you would recommend?

Dear Cattnipp-
We do not recommend the “wait and see” philosophy for women who want to have children. The longer you wait the larger the fibroid(s) will become, and the more difficult a pregnancy.
We believe surgery is the best option….
Progesterone cream will help to balance your estrogen but may not significantly reduce the growth of the fibroids.
I know our FAS procedure can help you…but we are located in Los Angeles. We are not familiar with medical practices outside our immediate area.
I would recommend surgery but do not allow them to take your uterus. Good Luck