Any Women facing AAA?

Hello
I am a 65 year old female that was diagnosed with a 4.2 dilated aorta
It
Hasn’t changed in 6 ‘months but it is concerning

Even if your aneurysm is on the ascending or abdominal that measurement should not be concerning. Just make sure your cardiologist follows up with either ECHO or CTC yearly. The concerning values are 5.0 cm or more. Not to worry

Yes, this is true. You do need to keep your blood pressure low and cholesterol. Stress can contribute to this and heavy lifting. Keep watching all of the above and you should be fine

@gims:
Its always concerning, but you did not say if it is an ascending or descending, thoracic or abdominal aortic aneurysm. If its descending either thoracic or abdominal, not a peace of cake but minimally invasive. If its a ascending aortic aneurysm, less than a peace of cake. I have two ascending aortic aneurysms but take comfort in the statistics that only 1 percent of the ops are not successful. 99 to 1 odds, I''ll take those odds.
I hope this eases the concern.

I’m a 57 yo woman with bicuspid valve and diagnosed in October with a 4.4cm aaa. I went six months later an they said it grew a lil 4.8cm. It caused blockages in both legs. I live in very rural Mississippi so no options here. I was sent to only dr in this area and he said “it’s rare you being a woman” and “when it ruptures we’ll have to fix it”???? This needless to say got to me but I’m looking into Vanderbilt in Nashville it’s only about 3 hr/one way. But I’ve read being a woman and the fact I’m very small - 5’6” and 103 lbs will cause it to grow faster? And because of the bicuspid I will require open surgery? I’m just overwhelmed

Do your research and stay on to of this and you will be fine!

You're going to be okay. You now KNOW you have a problem and you can therefore proactively do something about it. No smoking, no drinking, keep your blood pressure down. Vanderbilt is a great choice. Get a referral or self-refer immediately to a thoracic aorta specialist. Make sure to see a surgeon who can assess your current CT scans with contrast dye. The idea that you will repair it after it ruptures is absolutely ludicrous. I understand why you're overwhelmed. You’ve got a 4.8 cm ascending aortic aneurysm and a bicuspid aortic valve. That combination demands careful, experienced monitoring — not shoulder shrugs and passive comments like “we’ll fix it when it ruptures.” That’s not a plan. That’s a gamble. You’re not wrong to feel unsettled by that kind of dismissal, and I want you to know you’re right to take this seriously.

I am a male who had a Type A aortic dissection at age 50 — completely out of the blue. Emergency open-heart surgery, Dacron graft, weeks in a coma, and I lived to tell about it. Yes, being a woman with a bicuspid valve and a smaller body size does impact how aneurysms behave. The standard intervention threshold of 5.5 cm isn’t always safe or appropriate for someone your size. Some centers adjust for body surface area (BSA), and in patients like you, with a small frame, surgery is often considered sooner — especially with bicuspid anatomy in the mix. You’re not just a number on a chart. That nuance matters.

The rapid growth from 4.4 to 4.8 cm in six months is concerning. It may not be a perfect measurement (CTs can vary slightly), but that kind of increase warrants close surveillance and likely surgical consultation now — not after a rupture. And you’re absolutely correct: bicuspid valve-related aneurysms often require open surgery, not TEVAR (stent grafts), because of the location and connective tissue abnormalities. The good news? When it’s planned, not emergent, it’s safe and effective — especially at major centers like Vanderbilt.

You’ve got this. You’re doing exactly what you need to do — getting informed, seeking a second opinion, and pushing for care that matches the seriousness of your diagnosis. I would absolutely recommend making the trip to Vanderbilt. You want a surgeon who sees hundreds of these cases a year — not one who sees one every few. You’re not alone. And you’re not overreacting. You’re advocating for your life. Peace.

What you describe sounds like an abdominal aortic aneurysm not ascending. Please have your doctor clear that factor. The surgery for abdominal aneurysms is different and less invasive than for ascending aortic aneurysms. However the rapid increase in size is a concern in either type of aneurysms

Aortic ascending aneurysms do not occlude the legs arteries

I am 65 with the same issue but mine is thoracic
From I have heard keeping Blood pressure low and cholesterol is key
Also moving a lot is helpful and watching it on a regular basis
Good luck to you