Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are growths that women can get in the uterus that are not cancerous. The growths often appear during childbearing years. The cause of uterine fibroids is not known, but risk factors include overweight and being African American.

Uterine fibroidsmay also be called fibromyomas, leiomyomas or myomas. The growths are not associated with any type of cancer and do not present an increased cancer risk, according the the Mayo Clinic website. The fibroids are very common, a condition that as many as three our of four women get. Most women have no symptoms and are completely unaware that they even have uterine fibroids.

The uterine fibroids do not usually require any treatment, unless they are causing pain or discomfort. Complications of the growths that may require medical intervention include sharp pelvic pain or heavy menstrual bleeding.

Symptoms of uterine fibroids include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolongs menstrual periods (7 days plus), pain or pressure in the pelvic region, frequent urination, trouble emptying the bladder, constipation, backache and leg pains.

Most women with fibroids can get pregnant naturally, but they can cause infertility. If that is the case, fertility treatments may help.

The location of the fibroid affects the possible symptoms. Fibroids that grow inside the uterus are probably responsible for symptoms of heavy menstrual bleeding, which is a problem for women who are trying to get pregnant. Fibroids that project outside the uterus may press on the bladder care urinary symptoms, such as frequent urination. They may press on the rectum, causing constipation or a backache.

A doctor should be consulted if the pelvic pain persists, periods are overly heavy or painful, there is bleeding between periods, intercourse is painful, you have trouble emptying the bladder and/or trouble having a bowel movement.

If the uterine fibroids are not causing pain or problems treatment is probably not necessary. Consult a doctor for information on treatment. Treatments may include hormone therapy, treatment to shrink the growths, surgery or hysterectomy.

Information in this article is not intended as medical advice. If you have questions about a medical condition, please consult a physician.

Resources:
Mayo Clinic website
NIH Medline

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