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Uterine fibroids and PCOS are common female reproductive disorders, affecting one in five women, and one in ten women, respectively. A fibroid typically strikes women in the twenty-five to thirty-five age range, while PCOS may affect girls who are just starting the menstrual cycle. Both conditions may contribute to infertility, but doctors have made many treatment advances, helping women in both situations to conceive.

An uterine fibroid is a benign tumor that grows within the muscle lining. Growth occurs when a single cell experiences genetic mutation, and begins to multiply uncontrollably. The growth is non-cancerous, and most women have no symptoms, and thus do not require treatment. However, some women do experience symptoms, like frequent urination, incontinence, pressure or pain in the pelvis, and severe bleeding.

Doctors may find a fibroid during an MRI, an ultrasound, or a simple pelvic exam. When a fibroid penetrates into the interior of the uterus, fertility may be decreased by as much as seventy percent. The decrease occurs because the presence of a fibroid increases the risk of miscarriage, by either decreasing the fetal blood supply, or causing inflammation of the uterine lining.

After a fibroids treatment, many women completely regain fertility. Women may deliver prematurely, however, or require a cesarean section, depending on the fibroid’s location. Women may also experience heavy bleeding, after delivery, and should be monitored carefully by their obstetrician.

Many treatments for a fibroid preserve fertility. Doctors may remove the fibroid using instruments and a camera, which are inserted through the cervix. Or, doctors may perform traditional surgery to remove the fibroid, called a myomectomy. Additionally, uterine artery embolization stops the blood supply to the fibroid, which causes it to shrink and die. There are also many natural remedies for uterine fibroids that can help to prevent them occurring in the future.

PCOS consists of clusters of small ovarian cysts. Cysts are usually two to nine millimeters in diameter, and are created when the female body produces too many androgens, which are male hormones. Elevated levels of androgens prevent ovulation, thus causing infertility.

PCOS includes many classic symptoms. These symptoms may include irregular menstrual cycles, or amenorrhea, weight gain and difficulty losing weight, and excessive hair growth on the body, with thinning hair on the scalp. Patients may also exhibit acne, along with symptoms of insulin resistance.

Ultrasound, MRI, or blood tests help doctors to make a PCOS diagnosis. Treatment is usually non-invasive, involving increased exercise, a nutritious diet, and quitting smoking. To help PCOS patients to ovulate, doctors may prescribe medications, to both lower insulin, and to stimulate egg production. There are also many other natural home remedies for PCOS to help relieving the symptoms.

Women have many options beyond hysterectomy. Doctors may treat both ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids with methods that do not damage the reproductive system. Women should keep this in mind, because experts believe that two-thirds of hysterectomies are performed unnecessarily. To preserve fertility, women should always obtain a second opinion, if hysterectomy is presented as the only option.

Before being treated for uterine fibroids, or PCOS, women should explain their desire to preserve fertility to their doctors. Many treatment options exist today, for both disorders, which are completely non-invasive, allowing women to become pregnant, and to carry babies to term. If a doctor does not respect that goal, and does not offer treatment alternatives beyond hysterectomy, women should take the time to obtain an additional consultation.