Recognizing the Signs of Problematic Fibroids

If you’re a woman in her reproductive years, the odds are fairly high that you have a uterine fibroid or two. These benign growths in the uterus affect up to 77% of women, though most are none the wiser as the fibroids don’t create any symptoms.

For a minority of women, however, fibroids can lead to problems, and the team of board-certified OB/GYNs here at Bay Area Physicians for Women’s Health wants to outline some of the more common telltale signs of problematic fibroids. Let’s take a look.

A quick word about fibroids first

When you hear the words fibroid or growth, your mind might automatically jump to cancer, but this isn’t the case. In 99% of cases, uterine fibroids are benign growths in the walls of your uterus, and most are so small that you don’t even notice their presence.  

Once you pass through menopause, these growths tend to shrink with the loss of estrogen.

What we describe here are asymptomatic fibroids — and this is the case most of the time — but when they do create symptoms, they often include the following five signs.

1. Pelvic pain or pressure

Fibroids can range in size from a small seed to the size of a grapefruit — and everything in between. It stands to reason that the larger the fibroid, the more you can become aware of the problem.

Large fibroids can often lead to pelvic pain and discomfort. Sometimes, it can feel like pressure in your lower abdomen, or you might cross over into pelvic pain, as well as lower back pain.

If the fibroid is really large, you might even be able to see an enlargement in your lower abdomen.

1. Pain during intercourse

Another common complaint with problematic fibroids is pain during intercrouse. If your fibroids are in a certain location or they’re large, they can be disturbed during sex, which can lead to discomfort.

1. Heavy bleeding during your periods

Uterine fibroids are often the cause of heavy or abnormal bleeding, as well as painful periods.

1. Pregnancy problems

Uterine fibroids don’t tend to affect fertility, but they can create problems during pregnancy and childbirth. Women with uterine fibroids are at a six-time greater risk of having a Cesarean section than women who don’t have fibroids.

1. Urination issues

If you have a large fibroid that’s pressing against your bladder, you might urinate more frequently due to the additional pressure.

If you’re experiencing any of the issues we describe above, and you can’t pinpoint a reason for them, it's time to come see us. A quick pelvic exam and an ultrasound are all it takes to see whether fibroids are behind your issues. 

If they are, we can discuss treatment plans, which range from hormone therapies to shrink the growths to a myomectomy procedure to remove the fibroids.

For expert diagnosis and treatment of uterine fibroids, please contact our office in Mobile, Alabama, to schedule an appointment with one of our gynecology experts.