Elarged Uterus

While you have had some good responses below, it is not entirely true that all fibroids disappear after menopause. My mom had a hysterectomy after menopause last year due to fibroids, as did two of her friends within the last two years.

Please do not be concerned about the ultrasound. As stated before, it's for dianostic purposes, and at this time, you have a ggood chance of being just fine. I encourage you keep communicating with your doctor; your doctor is there to address and concerns you have!

Good luck, take a deep breath, and remember, you will be ok.

I have fibroids and had them at the time of my pregnancy at 39. I haven't had any other issues with them....I think lots of women our age have them and it's very common. If they cause issues, them you might have to get them removed. I belleve they usually disappear after menopause but before menopause they can cause other symptoms that you may not reealize are from the fibroids:

"The causes of uterine fibroids are unknown, but estrogens, especially estradiol, promote their growth. After menopause fibroids disappear. But because estrogen levels can rise during the early menopausal years, previously asymptomatic fibroids may grow in the years just before the cessation of menses, resulting in symptoms such as feeling of heaviness in the belly, low back pain, pain with vaginal penetration, urinary frequency or incontinence, bowel difficulties, or severe menstrual pain and flooding."

I had a hysterectomy because of fibroid tumors and the pain that they caused. I was having a lot of pain also because of endometriosis. My situation sounds very much different than yours.

You may not ever have symptoms and will not need to have them removed. The purpose of the ultrasound is diagnostic. You need to be sure that the tumors are fibroid. The doctor needs to know where they are on and/or in your uterus so that she can better know how they will affect you over time.

I strongly urge you to have the ultrasound and continue to know, as you are doing asking on this site, how fibroids may affect your future well being.

Your doctor and you will have a better idea about removal or not after the ultrasound.

If you are NOT having any problems or pain, then leave them alone! I had them, but with severe pain and bleeding each month. I had one good week a month, so it was time to get them out. WOW! It was wonderful! Honestly, if you are not having any problems, leave them alone. You don't want unnecessary surgery. They will shrink after menopause.

Most of the time, fibroids are harmless, but I have heard of 2 cases (including my mother) where the doctor said they were harmless but removed them anyway at the insistence of the patient only to find out that they were riddled with cancer. I personally would have them removed just to be on the safe side.

All I have to say is if you have to have a hysterectomy, don't let them take out your ovaries. Be firm. If you have them taken out, you will have to take hormones for the rest of your life. And that is not pleasant.

Dear L.
I had a big fibroid that bled and caused all sorts of problems. I decided not to have it out and wait for menopause. Everyone warned me of all kinds of problems. My doctor urged me to see a specialist who of course wanted to do a vaginal removal. My husband said no. I decided I did not trust the specialist he had no information for me.
I waited out my menopause for five years. Then when I had not bled for a year I went to a gyn specialist. The fibroid was the size of a quarter on the side of my uterus.
I gambled for we had no knowledge at that time that this would work. It did.
I have never been troubled by the fibroid since.
Doctors are technocrats who know not too much. If you are having no trouble ignore them. You are getting close to menopause. Fibroids without estrogen cease to exist.