Listening to the signs: A path to fibroid relief

For more than three years, Aisha* believed her discomfort was simply the cost of being a middle-aged woman. She had heavy bleeding, pelvic pain and the constant sensation of needing to urinate. But she told herself the symptoms were due to perimenopause and the natural result of having given birth. 

Her friends agreed. Like many women, she accepted these symptoms as “normal” and adjusted her lifestyle to cope. She avoided long outings. She stopped hydrating if she had to leave the house. And she tried to sleep through the anxiety that came with bladder pressure every night.  

“I just assumed this was what all women go through,” said Aisha, now 51 and a lawyer in Denver. “I wrote it off as a part of my age and stage in life.” 

But when her father, a retired doctor, urged her to speak up at her annual exam, everything changed. Her gynecologist, Victor Dabelea, MD, identified what appeared to be a fibroid and ordered further testing. Once the diagnosis was confirmed, Aisha was fortunate that Dr. Dabelea — a highly experienced gynecologist at HCA HealthONE Presbyterian St. Luke’s - a part of HCA HealthONE, with more than three decades of practice — was already her doctor. Widely recognized for his expertise in managing complex gynecologic conditions, he developed a treatment plan that addressed her fibroid while preserving her uterus and avoiding the need for hysterectomy. 

Uterine fibroids: common but often overlooked

Fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus, but their impact can be anything but benign for the women who experience them.  

“About 30% of women develop fibroids at some point in their lives,” Dr. Dabelea said. “Fibroids can cause significant bleeding, pain and pressure on the bladder or bowels. Yet women often believe these symptoms are just part of being female.”  

Aisha’s story is just one of many that Dr. Dabelea has heard. Many women lack accurate information and silently suffer through this treatable condition. 

After reviewing her imaging, Dr. Dabelea explained several treatment options including laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that targets fibroid tissue with heat. 

“The goal is to shrink the fibroid by destroying the proteins inside, while leaving healthy tissue untouched,” said Dr. Dabelea. “Because we aren’t cutting into the uterus, recovery is faster, there’s less pain and, for women who still wish to have children, vaginal delivery remains possible.” 

The option resonated with Aisha, whose mother had undergone a full hysterectomy years earlier and faced difficult side effects. Wanting to avoid a similar outcome, she scheduled herprocedure in November 2023.  

Immediate relief, quick recovery and newfound freedom

The results were noticeable almost immediately.  

“I felt relief from the bladder pressure right away,” Aisha said. Heavy bleeding and pelvic pain were also relieved. Recovery from the procedure itself was quick, too. After her treatment on a Tuesday, she was back at work by the following Monday, though she felt she could have returned even sooner. The impact on her daily life was profound. She could go out without constantly worrying about finding a restroom, enjoying meals and social events without discomfort and sleep through the night uninterrupted. For the first time in years, she felt fully in control of her life again. 

Both Aisha and Dr. Dabelea hope her experience will encourage other women not to dismiss persistent symptoms.  

“Many of my patients find me because they’re looking for alternatives to hysterectomy,” Dr. Dabelea said. “The most important thing for women to recognize is that disruptive symptoms aren’t just part of aging. They should listen to their bodies, speak up and know that better options are available.” 

Aisha agrees.  

“I wish I hadn’t waited so long,” she said. “I want other women to know they don’t have to live with these symptoms. There are solutions.” 

Are you living in pain?

Are you living in pain or silently managing heavy bleeding, pressure or discomfort? It doesn’t have to be your normal. Find a gynecologic specialist today and take the first step toward relief. 

*Name changed to protect privacy.