Is it possible to have fibroids after reaching the age 50? Research suggests that fibroid growth is linked to hormones, specifically estrogen and progesterone.
For many women, fibroids grow during times when hormone levels are high, such as times during pregnancy. On the other hand, fibroids do tend to shrink when hormone levels are reduced, such as after menopause. Therefore, the risk of getting fibroids after menopause decreases. While they may shrink once you enter menopause, they can also continue to cause symptoms.
Keep reading to learn more about menopause and fibroids so you can make the most informed decision about your care.
Signs of Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the precursor to menopause, but it can begin at different times in a woman’s life. Some may notice symptoms as early as their mid-30s, while other women may be closer to 50 before they become aware of their symptoms. Signs of perimenopause to watch for include:
- Irregular periods that may be longer, shorter, or heavier than in the past
- Hot flashes
- Insomnia
- Fatigue (may be caused by anemia due to heavier than normal blood loss during menstruation)
- Night sweats
- Vaginal dryness
During Menopause
At this stage, the number of ovarian follicles declines, and the ovaries become less responsive to the two other hormones involved in reproduction: Luteinizing Hormone (LH) and Follicle-Stimulating Hormone (FSH). As you age, you release fewer FSH and LH hormones, making it difficult to regulate the other hormones: estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.
Progesterone and estrogen levels are lower during menopause than during previous stages of life. As your progesterone levels drop, the uterine wall builds up over an extended period of time. This will eventually get to the point where menstruation no longer occurs. Menopause occurs once periods have stopped completely.
Aging isn’t the only factor in what triggers menopause. A hysterectomy, a surgery that involves removing the uterus and sometimes the ovaries that produce hormones, can induce menopause. If you have a hysterectomy and are not taking hormones, there’s a large possibility you will experience the symptoms of menopause immediately and potentially more severely.
Fibroids During Menopause
It is a common misconception that fibroids will go away with menopause. However, this is not always the case. Recent studies have found that uterine fibroids are dependent on estrogen and progesterone. When these hormones decrease during menopause, so do fibroids.
These studies also show that fibroid regression during menopause may depend on race. Fibroids in African American and white women grow at similar rates up to the age of 35, when growth rates decline in white but not African American women. Another study found that while women may experience relief from their fibroid symptoms during menopause, postmenopausal women between the ages of 50 and 54 are affected by fibroids at higher rates.
Even with this information, more research is needed to understand the effects of fibroids during menopause.
Hormones During Fibroids and Menopause
Progesterone and estrogen levels are lower during menopause than during previous stages of life. As your progesterone levels drop, the walls of the uterus build up over longer periods of time. This will eventually get to the point where menstruation no longer occurs. Menopause occurs once periods have stopped completely.
What hormone feeds fibroids? Hormones like estrogen feed uterine fibroids. Without their source of “food,” fibroids shrink and eventually die. This is similar to what happens during fibroid treatment. Instead of removing the fibroid entirely, the blood flow is cut off so that symptoms are relieved.
When you experience fibroids and menopause, fibroids then shrink over time without enough blood supply.
Fibroids After Menopause: Do I Have to Get Fibroids Removed?
As the most common tumor of the female reproductive tract, fibroids affect more people than you might expect. In fact, 70-80% of women will have developed them by the age of 50.
If you already have fibroids and are approaching the stages of perimenopause, you’re probably wondering if you can delay treatment and let them resolve on their own. It’s important to remember that fibroids will not go away without treatment. When left untreated, they will continue to cause uncomfortable or painful symptoms. Over time, this chronic pain may decrease from fibroids after menopause, but this is not a guarantee.
In the past, the only fibroid treatment available was surgery that would remove either part or all of a woman’s uterus. Now, minimally invasive treatment called Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is available. “We’ve helped countless women find freedom from painful fibroid symptoms by performing UFE, a non-surgical method that keeps the uterus intact and has a short recovery period,” says Dr. Aaron Shiloh, an experienced interventional radiologist (IR) at USA Fibroid Centers.
Can Fibroids Cause Bleeding After Menopause?
You can experience bleeding even after you’ve gone through menopause if you have fibroids. This symptom is most common in women taking HRTs, because the added hormones allow the fibroid to continue to grow.
Calcified Fibroids After Menopause
Calcification occurs when a fibroid doesn’t get enough blood supply to maintain its growth. The result is that the edges of the fibroid begin to calcify as the fibroid reaches the end of its life cycle.
Hormones that have been shown to play a role in fibroid growth are reduced during periods like menopause, which can help lead to calcified fibroids. While you might expect it to mean the symptoms will go away and life can return to normal, sometimes the symptoms may worsen and increase both bleeding and discharge. Even in situations after menopause, when infertility is no longer an issue, you and your doctor may decide what treatment is the best decision for your fibroids.
If you have uterine fibroids, it’s best to get them treated right away. Thankfully there are treatments available today that don’t require surgery for the removal of the fibroids.
Fibroid Treatment and Menopause
With the recent development of new technologies, the surgical removal of fibroids is unnecessary for symptom relief.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a non-surgical treatment that uses x-ray technology to deliver an embolic agent to the arteries that supply blood to the uterus. This blocks the blood flow to the fibroids and eventually causes them to shrink. UFE is done as an outpatient procedure, does not require a long recovery, and allows for fertility preservation.
One of the benefits of UFE is that it does not interfere with hormones like a hysterectomy or hormone therapy.
Women start menopause at different ages; therefore, you need to consult with a fibroid specialist to determine if UFE is right for you.
Hormone Replacement Therapy and Menopause
Many women approaching menopause want to preserve their uterus by taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). If you are thinking about taking HRTs to prevent the symptoms of menopause, it’s important to be aware of the risks.
HRTs can provide significant benefits for women diagnosed with osteoporosis or cardiovascular disease. On the other hand, hormone replacement can have negative effects on health, and can sometimes increase the risk for fibroid growth.
Talk with your doctor or one of our specialists about what will work best for you and your long-term well being.
Fibroids After Menopause: Will They Go Away?
As the most common tumor of the female reproductive tract, fibroids affect more people than you might expect. In fact, approximately 33 percent of women develop them during their childbearing years and 70-80% of women will have developed them by the age of 50.
Because fibroids are noncancerous, many people experience a few problematic symptoms, and some may not know they have fibroids at all.
If you already have fibroids and you’re approaching the stages of perimenopause, you’re probably wondering if you can delay treatment and let them resolve on their own. Although fibroids are not cancerous, they can cause serious complications if left untreated. In some cases, these complications can impact the uterus long term, causing unpleasant symptoms of fibroids after menopause.
If you have uterine fibroids, it’s best to get them treated right away. Thankfully there are treatments available today that don’t require surgery for removal of the fibroids.
Fibroids and Menopause: Do I Have to Get Fibroids Removed?
In the past, the only fibroid treatment available was surgery. This would remove either part or all of a woman’s uterus. This influenced a lot of women to do the “watch and wait” method. It’s important to remember that fibroids will not go away without treatment. When left untreated, they will continue to cause uncomfortable or painful symptoms. Over time, this chronic pain may decrease from fibroids after menopause, but this is not a guarantee.
With the recent development of new technologies, removal of fibroids is unnecessary for symptom relief. Hysterectomy is still the only true cure for fibroids, however it is now only used for very serious, rare cases.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a treatment method that uses x-ray technology to deliver a medical agent to the uterus and fibroids. This blocks the blood flow to the fibroids and eventually causes them to shrink. UFE is done as an outpatient procedure, does not require a long recovery, and allows for preservation of fertility.
How Does Menopause Change Fibroid Symptoms?
After menopause, fibroids cause similar symptoms to pre-menopausal fibroids. Since women don’t have periods after menopause, they don’t experience the intense menstrual cycles associated with fibroids. However, they can experience intermittent bleeding, cramps, a protruding belly, and frequent urination. If you have post-menopausal fibroids, you could also have symptoms like:
- Inability to empty bladder fully
- Pain during intercourse
- Fatigue
- Swelling and fullness in the abdomen
- Lower-back or leg pain
If you notice these symptoms, you could have uterine fibroids. A medical professional can provide the diagnosis and treatment needed to give you relief.
Do I Need a Different Treatment for Post-Menopausal Fibroids?
Many of the treatments for fibroids after menopause resemble the ones used for pre-menopausal women. If you have post-menopausal fibroids, you can also choose a minimally invasive treatment which can shrink your fibroids without surgery.
UFE is a non-surgical procedure that utilizes the arteries, to treat fibroids. Interventional radiologists use advanced technology to cut off blood supply to the fibroids, forcing them to starve and die. One of the benefits UFE is that it does not interfere with hormones like a hysterectomy or hormone therapy.
Women start menopause at different ages; therefore, you will need to consult with a fibroid specialist to determine if UFE is right for you.
Visit USA Fibroid Centers for Help
At USA Fibroid Centers, we offer Uterine Fibroid Embolization for women with fibroids during menopause and suffering from fibroids after menopause. Our fibroid specialists can answer your questions and address any concerns about fibroid treatment and menopause. Schedule online or give us a call at 855.615.2555 to plan a visit to one of our centers around the country.
