Listen to your concerns
We discuss symptoms, bleeding, prior care, health history, and pregnancy plans.
Fibroid care · Folsom, California
Heavy periods? Pelvic pressure? Diagnosed with fibroids?
Understand what your fibroids may mean—and which treatments fit your symptoms, health, and future plans.
Haven OBGYN offers individualized gynecologic evaluation and medical, uterus-preserving, or surgical care. We’ll talk through what matters to you before making a plan.
What would you like help with?
Fibroids can cause different symptoms—or none at all. Your experience and goals help guide what to evaluate.
Heavy or prolonged periods
Pelvic pressure or fullness
Frequent urination
Pain or discomfort with sex
Fibroids and family-building plans
Understanding a fibroid diagnosis
These symptoms can have other causes. Evaluation helps clarify whether fibroids may be contributing.
Education before decisions
Size matters. Location matters. Your goals matter.
Fibroids are common, noncancerous growths in or around the uterus. Some need no treatment. The number, size, location, symptoms, and effect on the uterine cavity help shape what options may be appropriate.
Fibroids may affect fertility in some situations, particularly when they change the uterine cavity. The relationship is individual; having fibroids does not automatically mean pregnancy will be difficult.
Learn about fibroid types and locationFibroid types and where they grow
Submucosal fibroids project into the uterine cavity and may affect bleeding or cavity shape. Intramural fibroids grow within the uterine muscle. Subserosal fibroids grow toward the outside of the uterus and may contribute to pressure. Pedunculated fibroids attach by a stalk. More than one type can be present; location and symptoms matter more than a label alone.
Fibroids, fertility, and pregnancy
Effects can depend on whether a fibroid changes the uterine cavity, as well as its size and location. Some fibroids do not affect fertility. If you are trying to conceive or planning a pregnancy, discuss that goal before choosing treatment; surgery itself can involve uterine scarring and may affect pregnancy planning.
Fibroids over time and after treatment
Fibroid growth and symptoms vary. Some changes occur with hormonal shifts, including around menopause. After myomectomy, existing or new fibroids can grow later, so symptoms may recur and follow-up may be useful. A treatment plan should include what to watch for and when to check back.
When bleeding needs prompt attention
Heavy bleeding can contribute to iron deficiency or anemia. Contact a clinician about new, prolonged, or disruptive bleeding. Seek urgent help for severe bleeding with fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, or marked weakness.
A clear, considered evaluation
How Haven evaluates fibroids
We start with the questions that matter to you, then choose tests that can help answer them.
Understand the findings
Pelvic ultrasound, including 2D or 3D imaging, may help assess fibroid size, number, and location.
Discuss your choices
We review what the findings may mean and whether additional evaluation or referral is useful.
Bring prior imaging or records if you have them. You do not need to know what treatment you want before you come in.
What imaging or evaluation might be considered?
Transvaginal or pelvic 2D ultrasound can assess the uterus and ovaries; 3D ultrasound may add detail about uterine contour and cavity shape. A saline infusion sonogram (SIS) can provide a closer view of the cavity when appropriate. MRI may be considered selectively when ultrasound does not answer a planning question. Not everyone needs every test. Recommendations depend on symptoms, exam, imaging, and goals.
Could hysteroscopy be part of evaluation?
Hysteroscopy uses a slender camera passed through the cervix to look inside the uterine cavity. It may be considered when a cavity finding needs closer assessment or treatment. It is not a way to treat fibroids in every uterine location. We can discuss why it is being considered and what comfort options may be available.
Explore procedure guidesA decision made together
What can help—and how do I choose?
Treatment depends on symptoms, imaging, medical history, and whether keeping the uterus or future pregnancy is important to you. Each option has limits and trade-offs.
Monitoring
May be appropriate when symptoms are absent or manageable. Follow-up is based on your situation.
Key limitation: Monitoring does not reduce current symptoms.
Medicines for bleeding or discomfort
Can help manage some symptoms without an operation; the choice depends on your health and needs.
Key limitation: Medicines generally do not remove fibroids.
Hormonal IUD, when suitable
May help with bleeding for some people when the uterine cavity is suitable for placement.
Key limitation: It does not remove fibroids; cavity distortion may make it unsuitable.
Hysteroscopic myomectomy
A camera and instruments pass through the cervix to treat selected fibroids that project into the cavity.
Key limitation: This approach is for suitable cavity fibroids—not fibroids in every location.
Laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy
Removes selected fibroids while keeping the uterus; approach depends on size, number, location, and surgical assessment.
Key limitation: Fibroids may recur; surgery can cause uterine scarring and has other risks.
Hysterectomy
Removes the uterus and is a definitive option for uterine fibroids when appropriate and chosen.
Key limitation: Future pregnancy is not possible. Ovarian removal is not automatic.
Another option to discuss: Uterine artery embolization (UAE) may be appropriate for some people. It is performed by interventional radiology; when relevant, your clinician can discuss coordination and referral. It is not an in-clinic procedure at Haven.
Can I keep my uterus?
Often there are options to consider. Keeping the uterus and preserving the ability to become pregnant are different goals; we’ll discuss what may fit your priorities.
Your appointment
What to expect at your fibroid visit
A respectful conversation, time for your questions, and a next step you understand.
Tell us what has changed
We’ll talk about symptoms, bleeding, daily life, and your family-building plans.
Review your symptoms and findings
We’ll discuss prior imaging and whether a new exam or additional testing may help.
Build a plan together
We’ll review options, possible trade-offs, and what happens next.
Bring questions, a current medication list, and copies of previous imaging if available. You can ask us to pause or explain any part of a visit.
Procedure guides
Planning a procedure? Know what comes next.
Explore the relevant guide for an overview of preparation, procedure day, and aftercare. Your clinician’s instructions for your situation take priority.
Hysteroscopic Myomectomy
Removes selected fibroids that project into the uterine cavity through the cervix, without abdominal incisions. Fibroid size and depth influence whether this approach is suitable, and more than one procedure may be needed. The setting and pain-control plan depend on your procedure.
Before your procedure
- Review medicines, allergies, pregnancy possibility and your individualized pain-control plan.
- Confirm timing, eating or fasting instructions and whether you need an escort.
On the day
- Review consent and the planned treatment with your care team.
- Discuss local anesthesia, sedation or other comfort options appropriate to the setting.
After your procedure
- Follow your written recovery restrictions and medication instructions.
- Review expected cramping or spotting, warning signs, and any tissue or pathology results.
Before an office hysteroscopy
A short educational overview to help you understand the procedure. It does not replace your personal instructions or a conversation with your care team.
Office hysteroscopy preparation and aftercare
This is general information, not personal medical orders. Follow the written instructions from your clinician and contact the office if anything is unclear.
- Scheduling: When possible, timing is often planned near the end of a period, after bleeding has stopped or is only light spotting. If cycles are irregular, discuss scheduling with your provider; do not start Provera or another medicine on your own.
- Medication preparation: Cervical preparation such as misoprostol (Cytotec), or vaginal estrogen, is used only if prescribed. Follow your own prescription. Your pain plan is individualized; do not combine Toradol and ibuprofen unless a clinician specifically advises you to.
- Food, drink, and getting home: Eating or fasting instructions depend on whether anesthesia or sedation is planned. Follow your written instructions. Arrange an escort and do not drive if you receive a sedative or opioid.
- Aftercare: Light spotting and cramps may occur. Follow your personal instructions about sex, tampons, bathing, and activity. The clinic generally plans follow-up around one week to review healing and any pathology; confirm your appointment date.
Call the office promptly at (916) 269-8865 for fever or chills, worsening pain, or heavy bleeding. For fainting, chest pain, shortness of breath, or other severe symptoms, seek urgent care or call 911—do not wait for a particular temperature.
Laparoscopic or Robotic Myomectomy
Removes selected fibroids through abdominal incisions while keeping the uterus. The approach depends on size, number, location, surgical history and pregnancy goals. An open approach may sometimes be needed.
Before your procedure
- Review imaging and discuss bleeding risk, scarring, recurrence and pregnancy plans with your surgeon.
- Follow the surgical team's specific medicine and fasting instructions; arrange transportation and help at home.
On the day
- Meet the surgical and anesthesia teams and review consent.
- The hospital or surgical team will explain the operation and discharge plan.
After your procedure
- Follow individualized incision care, activity and return-to-work guidance; recovery varies.
- Discuss follow-up and when pregnancy may be safe, including whether future cesarean delivery may be recommended.
Hysterectomy
Removes the uterus and treats uterine fibroids definitively, but future pregnancy is no longer possible. Whether to remove the cervix, fallopian tubes or ovaries is discussed separately. The surgical route is individualized.
Before your procedure
- Review alternatives, the planned surgical route and which organs will be removed.
- Discuss medicines, anesthesia, fasting and help needed during recovery with your surgical team.
On the day
- Confirm consent, anesthesia and the expected hospital or outpatient plan.
- Ask your team about pain control, walking and discharge instructions.
After your procedure
- Follow your surgeon's instructions for activity, vaginal restrictions, incision care and follow-up.
- Report fever, worsening pain, heavy bleeding or difficulty urinating promptly; seek emergency care for chest pain, shortness of breath or fainting.
More procedure education videos
Procedure education · Video 1
Educational material to support a conversation about procedure options. Ask your clinician how it relates to your specific plan.
Procedure education · Video 2
Use this overview as a starting point for questions; your care team can explain which details apply to you.
Procedure choice, preparation, recovery, and follow-up vary. Your care team will review the risks and instructions that apply to you.
Clear answers, without pressure
Questions patients ask
Do all fibroids need treatment?
No. Fibroids that do not cause symptoms may only need monitoring. Treatment depends on bleeding, pain or pressure, anemia, fibroid size and location, pregnancy plans and your preferences. Symptoms can have other causes, so evaluation comes before choosing treatment.
Will I need a hysterectomy?
Not necessarily. Monitoring, medicines and uterus-preserving procedures may be appropriate. Myomectomy removes selected fibroids while leaving the uterus in place. Hysterectomy removes the uterus and prevents future pregnancy; removing the ovaries is a separate decision. Your clinician will explain the options that fit your findings and goals.
Can fibroids affect pregnancy?
Some fibroids, particularly those that distort the uterine cavity, can affect fertility or pregnancy. Many people with fibroids conceive without difficulty, and other causes of infertility are more common. Tell your clinician if you hope to become pregnant. Keeping the uterus does not guarantee fertility, and a myomectomy can affect future pregnancy and delivery planning.
Can fibroids return after myomectomy?
New fibroids can develop after myomectomy, even when the treated fibroids have been removed. Some people need further treatment. Medicines generally manage symptoms rather than permanently remove fibroids. Follow-up depends on your symptoms, the procedure and your pregnancy plans.
Will insurance cover my evaluation or procedure?
Coverage depends on your exact plan, network, medical necessity and any referral or prior-authorization requirements. Office visits, imaging, laboratory tests, surgery, anesthesia and facility services may have separate costs. Haven can review your benefits and estimated responsibility; verification is not a guarantee of payment.
Understand your fibroids. Choose your next step.
Bring your questions and goals. We’ll help you understand the options.
Educational information supports—not replaces—individual medical care.