Do Fibroids Continue Growing After Menopause?
Many women expect that fibroids after menopause will simply disappear once their periods stop, but the reality is more nuanced. While declining estrogen levels can cause some fibroids to shrink, others may remain stable, and in certain cases they may continue to grow, particularly in women using hormone replacement therapy. If you have been living with fibroids and recently reached menopause, understanding what happens next can help you make informed decisions about your health. To speak with a specialist about your specific situation, contact South Florida Vascular Associates and ask to schedule a consultation.
What Actually Happens to Fibroids After Menopause?
Fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyomas, are noncancerous growths that develop in or around the uterus. They are fueled in large part by estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that drive the menstrual cycle. When menopause causes a natural decline in these hormones, many women and even some clinicians assume fibroids will resolve on their own.
The Shrinkage Expectation vs. Reality
Research suggests that fibroids may shrink after menopause in a meaningful number of women. However, shrinkage is not guaranteed, and the degree varies considerably from one individual to the next. Larger fibroids that were present for many years before menopause may reduce in size only modestly. Calcified fibroids, which have accumulated calcium deposits over time, may not shrink at all because they are no longer as metabolically active.
When Fibroids May Continue to Grow
Fibroids after menopause can sometimes continue to grow, particularly in women who are taking hormone replacement therapy. HRT replenishes estrogen and progesterone to manage menopausal symptoms, which may inadvertently provide the hormonal environment fibroids need to remain active. Women with higher body weight may also maintain higher circulating estrogen levels after menopause because fatty tissue produces estrogen, which can similarly support continued fibroid activity.
Symptoms such as pelvic pressure, urinary frequency, or a sense of fullness that persist into menopause should not be dismissed as unrelated aging changes. They may reflect ongoing fibroid activity worth evaluating with a qualified specialist. To learn more about available treatment options, visit the SFVA treatments overview.
Symptoms of Fibroids After Menopause That Should Not Be Ignored
One of the more important reasons to stay informed about fibroids after menopause is that symptoms can overlap with other conditions, some of which require timely evaluation. Postmenopausal bleeding is never normal and should always prompt a conversation with your physician, as it may signal fibroid activity, hormonal changes, or other uterine concerns that warrant investigation.
Common Ongoing Symptoms
Even without menstrual bleeding, fibroids may continue to cause discomfort after menopause. Depending on their size and location, they may press on the bladder, causing frequent urination or a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying. Pressure on the rectum can cause constipation or a sense of fullness in the lower abdomen. Back and leg pain may result from fibroids pressing on surrounding nerves.
Why Symptom Persistence Matters
Some women reach menopause and assume that any symptoms they are experiencing are simply part of aging. In practice, persistent pelvic pressure or bulk symptoms after menopause may reflect fibroids that have not meaningfully shrunk and may still be affecting quality of life. You do not have to accept these symptoms as your new normal. Minimally invasive options exist that are well-tolerated by most patients and do not require a hospital stay.
Patient experiences shared in SFVA patient testimonials frequently describe how life changed after addressing long-standing fibroid symptoms, even for women who had been managing discomfort for years before seeking care.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization as a Treatment Option for Fibroids After Menopause
For women who are still experiencing persistent fibroid symptoms after menopause, uterine fibroid embolization, or UFE, is a meaningful treatment option worth discussing with a specialist. UFE is a minimally invasive procedure performed by an interventional radiologist or vascular specialist. It works by blocking the blood supply to fibroids, causing them to shrink and symptoms to improve.
How UFE Works
During the procedure, a physician guides a thin catheter through a tiny needle puncture, typically in the wrist or groin, to reach the uterine arteries. Small particles are then delivered through the catheter to reduce blood flow to the fibroids. Without a sustained blood supply, fibroid tissue gradually diminishes. Research suggests UFE may help alleviate or improve fibroid symptoms in a substantial majority of women who undergo the procedure.
What to Expect After UFE
UFE is performed in an outpatient setting, meaning patients do not require a hospital stay. Most uterine fibroid patients return to their normal activities within approximately one week. This stands in contrast to traditional surgical options such as hysterectomy, which involve significantly longer recovery periods. UFE also preserves the uterus, which carries important psychological and physiological benefits for many patients.
Because SFVA has built a focused identity around embolization procedures across multiple conditions, patients benefit from a concentrated depth of expertise. For women traveling from outside the area to seek care, the out-of-town patient program at SFVA offers same-week scheduling and dedicated support. Insurance coverage is accepted for UFE at SFVA, addressing a concern many patients have about whether these procedures are covered. You can review coverage details through the SFVA insurance information page.
Why Choose South Florida Vascular Associates for Fibroids After Menopause?
When evaluating care for fibroids after menopause, the treating physician’s experience and credentials matter significantly. Dr. William Julien is a board-certified vascular interventional physician, fellowship-trained at the Miami Cardiac and Vascular Institute, and the founder of South Florida Vascular Associates. He co-founded the Outpatient Endovascular and Interventional Society and helped pioneer one of the first advanced outpatient endovascular surgery suites in the United States.
All procedures at SFVA are performed in a state-of-the-art outpatient suite, which means all patients go home the same day. There is no hospital admission, no overnight stay, and no need to navigate a large hospital system. SFVA serves patients throughout South Florida and welcomes patients from across the country and internationally through a structured out-of-town program. For women researching fibroid treatment options and seeking a specialist with deep embolization expertise, Dr. Julien’s clinical background and experience represent a meaningful resource. Consultations are available, and the team is committed to helping each patient fully understand their options before making any decision.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are experiencing ongoing symptoms related to fibroids after menopause, you have options worth exploring with a qualified specialist. South Florida Vascular Associates offers minimally invasive, outpatient fibroid treatment for patients throughout South Florida and beyond. All patients go home the same day. To schedule a consultation with Dr. Julien and his team complete the online contact form.
Dr. Julien has performed more than 40,000 vascular procedures across a 30-year career. Double board-certified in Interventional Radiology and Diagnostic Radiology by the American Board of Radiology, he is the co-founder and past president of the Outpatient Endovascular & Interventional Society, a national faculty speaker at SIR, TCT, VIVA, and the Southeastern Angiographic Society, and a published author. Named a Boca Magazine Top Doctor 2025.
