100 Questions & Answers About Uterine Fibroids

128 Pages·2010·0.94 MB·English

by  Lloyd Greig

Dr. Lloyd Byron Greig is an obstetrician/
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gynecologist in private practice in Los Angeles,
California. Originally from Jamaica, Dr. Greig Acne Epilepsy Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Adult ADHD Erectile Dysfunction, 2e Myeloma, 2e
earned his MD from Meharry Medical College in
Advanced and Metastatic Esophageal Cancer, 2e Osteoporosis and Osteopenia, 2e
Nashville, Tennessee in 1969. He completed his Breast Cancer Fibromyalgia Ovarian Cancer, 2e
Aging Skin Gastric Cancer Overactive Bladder and
residency in obstetrics and gynecology at St. Joseph
Alcoholism Gastroesophageal Reflux Urinary Incontinence
Mercy Hospital and the University of Michigan in Allergies Disease (GERD): A Lahey Pancreatic Cancer, 2e
Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1973. In 1992 and 1997, Alzheimer’s Disease Clinic Guide Panic Disorder, 2e
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Dr. Greig led a team of medical specialists to Maputo, Mozambique,
Anxiety Tumors (GIST) Peripheral Artery Disease
where they lectured and treated patients at the medical school and the Arthritis Head and Brain Injuries (PAD)
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general hospital in Maputo. He has been honored by several organizations
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46398_FMxx_FINAL.QXP 2/10/10 12:05 PM Page i
100 Questions & Answers
About Uterine Fibroids
Lloyd B. Greig, MD
Obstetrician/Gynecologist
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
The Cedars Sinai Medical Group
Beverly Hills, CA
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Greig, Lloyd B.
100 questions and answers about uterine fibroids / Lloyd B. Greig.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-7637-4639-1
ISBN-10: 0-7637-4639-8
1. Uterine fibroids—Popular works. 2. Uterine fibroids—Miscellanea. I. Title.
II. Title: One hundred questions and answers about uterine fibroids.
RC280.U8G745 2010
616.99’366—dc22
2009019552
6048
Printed in the United States of America
14 13 12 11 10 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
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Dedication
To my wife,Sally,and our daughters,Tanya and Gabrielle.
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Contents
Acknowledgments vii
Introduction ix
Part 1:The Basics 1
Questions 1–12introduce uterine fibroids and provide background information
on this condition, such as:
• What are fibroids?
• Are there different types of fibroids?
• How are fibroids diagnosed?
Part 2:Fibroids and Pregnancy 15
Questions 13–21discuss the effect that fibroids have on fertility and pregnancy,
including:
• Do fibroids affect my ability to become pregnant and to have children?
• Do fibroids affect the mother during pregnancy?
• How may fibroids affect the baby during pregnancy?
Part 3:Initial Treatment 21
Questions 22–28discuss the treatment options available for women with
uterinefibroids, such as:
• Should fibroids be treated?
• Should I have specific goals before beginning treatment?
• Do I need a second opinion before beginning treatment?
Part 4:Nonsurgical Treatment 25
Questions 29–41 consider treatment options that do not involve surgery,
including:
• Has hormone therapy been used in the treatment of fibroids?
• How effective is the Lupron treatment for fibroids?
• Are any other medications available for treating fibroids?
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100 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT UTERINE FIBROIDS
Part 5:Surgical Treatment 31
Questions 42–46provide general surgical information for fibroids, such as:
• Does the use of additional medical treatment result in better surgical outcomes?
• If I have fibroids and wish to become pregnant, will the surgical removal of the
fibroids increase my chances of conceiving?
• If the fibroids are not causing any problems, is watchful waiting a better option
than surgery?
Part 6:Uterine Artery Embolization 37
Questions 47–63provide information about the UAE method of treating uterine
fibroids, including:
• What is uterine artery embolization (UAE)?
• What are some of the complications of UAE?
• What type of evaluation should a patient have to determine if she is a candidate
for UAE?
Part 7:Myomectomy 47
Questions 64–69explain myomectomy, a procedure used to treat uterine fibroids:
• My gynecologist is recommending myomectomy. Can you tell me more about
this alternative to hysterectomy?
• What is a hysteroscopic-assisted myomectomy?
• What is a resectoscope?
Part 8:Hysterectomy 53
Questions 70–100review this common procedure also used to treat uterine fibroids:
• My doctor has recommended a hysterectomy, but I understand there are pros
and cons to the surgery. What should I know about the big picture?
• How effective are less invasive alternatives?
• When should I consider a hysterectomy?
Appendix A: Specific Recommendations About Fibroids 97
Appendix B: Resources 99
Glossary 101
Index 109
vi
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Acknowledgments
I would like to express my gratitude to Ms. Aida Diaz-Winch and
Danielle Blum, CNM, RNP, MSN, for their assistance in creating
this book, and to Dr. Karyn Morse and Dr. Ronald Leuchter for
their objective reviews of the manuscript.
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