Is watchful waiting a better option than surgery?
Generally speaking, observation may be the more prudent course if the fibroids are not causing any problems. On the other hand, if the fibroids show a rapid increase in size, even without any symptoms, it is customarily felt that this may be a warning sign that they may be malignant (cancerous). Surgery is then the indicated course of treatment.
In women who are planning pregnancy, the presence of asymptomatic fibroids, which may be affecting their ability to conceive, usually indicates surgical intervention.
Carolyn’s comment:
I had known about my fibroid since discovering it in my first ultrasound when I was pregnant with my son. It was quite small and didn’t cause me any discomfort, so no one worried about it. While it was monitored from time to time over the last 8 years, it wasn’t until recently that it really became a problem. Suddenly it was large enough to distort my whole abdominal area.
I could feel the edges as far as my belly button! I was experiencing a lot of pressure, had more frequent urges to urinate, and just did not feel like myself. The medical opinion was that the fibroid needed to be removed.