How do I know that I have fibroids?
Your doctor may find that you have fibroids when you have a regular pelvic exam to check your uterus, ovaries and vagina. The doctor can feel the fibroid during an ordinary pelvic exam, as a (usually painless) lump or mass on the uterus.
Your doctor can do imaging tests to confirm that you have fibroids. These are tests that create a "picture" of the inside of your body without surgery.
These tests might include:
- Diagnostic hysteroscopy - A small camera and light are inserted into the uterus through the vagina. This allows the doctor to look inside the uterus to see if there is anything abnormal.
- Ultrasound - This type of test uses sound waves to produce the picture. The ultrasound probe can be placed on the abdomen, or it can be placed inside the vagina to make the picture.
- Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) - This involves injecting x-ray dye into the uterus and taking x-ray pictures.
- Sonohysterogram - This involves injecting water into the uterus and making ultrasound pictures.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - This type of test uses magnets and radio waves to produce the picture.
Do you have questions for your doctors? Here are some conversation starters.
