Sharon Stone announced in a social media post that she was diagnosed with a large uterine fibroid and would need surgery to remove it. The award-winning actress had been experiencing increasing pain and had even undergone an incorrect procedure with a double epidural to try to resolve her symptoms. Only after a second opinion did she realize she had been misdiagnosed.
A uterine fibroid, also known as a fibroid tumor or mass, is a noncancerous growth. The size of fibroid tumors can vary widely from nearly undetectable to “bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus.” Symptoms of fibroids include:
- Pelvic pain and pressure
- Unusually heavy or long menstrual periods
- Leg or back pain
- Elimination problems, including constipation, frequent urination and difficulty emptying the bladder
Fibroids are also linked to infertility, miscarriage and premature labor.
According to Johns Hopkins Medicine: “An estimated 20% to 50% of women of reproductive age currently have fibroids, and up to 77% of women will develop fibroids sometime during their childbearing years. Only about one-third of these fibroids are large enough to be detected by a health care provider during a physical exam, so they are often undiagnosed.”
Uterine fibroids are often found by chance during a routine pelvic exam. For women experiencing pain and other symptoms, a doctor might suggest an ultrasound to confirm the diagnosis as well as the size and position of any tumors.
If ultrasound doesn’t provide enough information, other imaging options are available. An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) exam can show more detailed measurements and locations, identify types of masses and help determine treatment. Hysterosonography, hysterosalpingography and hysteroscopy are additional uterine-specific exams that can address specific concerns including infertility caused by blocked fallopian tubes.
Uterine fibroids can have huge quality of life impacts for women of all ages. If you’re having trouble getting to the root of your pain, contact SecondOpinions.com for an unbiased review of your medical records and potentially imaging exams. As Sharon Stone advised: “Ladies in particular: Don’t get blown off…GET A SECOND OPINION… It can save our life.”
