What to Know About Fibroid Symptoms

The majority of women will get fibroids. According to the National Institutes of Health, by the age of 50, 80 percent of Black women and 70 percent of white women acquire these benign tumors that form within the uterine wall. But if fibroids are so widespread, why is there so little information on them?

Fibroids are muscular tumors that develop in the uterine wall (womb). Fibroids are almost always harmless (not cancerous). Not all fibroids cause symptoms in women. Women who do have symptoms typically find it difficult to live with fibroids. Some women experience pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. The treatment for uterine fibroids is determined by your symptoms.

The truth is that the growths might be so small that they pose no problems—and many women are unaware they have them. Larger tumors, on the other hand, might cause unpleasant symptoms, reproductive concerns, and pregnancy complications in some situations.

Read on to learn more about the symptoms of uterine fibroids. Doctors are baffled as to why some women get them while others do not. Doctors believe genetics have a role, but given the prevalence of fibroids, other variables are likely to be involved as well.

Fibroid Symptoms to Watch For
Tumors can emerge at any time throughout a woman's reproductive years, although they most commonly appear in her mid-to-late 30s and 40s. The most typical symptoms of fibroids are irregular bleeding and heavy periods because they grow in the uterine wall.

Fibroids remain small and slow-growing in many women. However, when they expand in size, they might induce symptoms related to their growth.

For example, you may feel pressure in your belly, a mass in your pelvis, or that you are in the early stages of pregnancy. Another symptom is frequent urination, which occurs when fibroids strain on the bladder. They can also harm the kidneys by compressing the tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Larger tumors may also cause pain. As fibroids grow, they may outgrow their blood supply, which is known as degeneration, and this can cause pain.

Submucosal fibroids, which protrude into the uterine cavity, may make it more difficult for a woman to become and remain pregnant because they interfere with an egg's ability to implant in the womb.

Miscarriage rates in women with these types of fibroids are doubled.

All forms of fibroids increase the risk of cesarean section, preterm delivery, and placental abruption, which occurs when the placenta prematurely detaches from the womb, producing potentially fatal hemorrhage. Fibroids are also more painful during pregnancy.

How Fibroids Are Treated
A simple pelvic exam can tell your OB-GYN if your uterus is swollen, and their initial guess will most likely be fibroids. They'll use an ultrasound or an MRI to confirm and count the number of tumors. (They frequently appear in multiples.)

Some women may not want or require therapy if they are not having any uncomfortable symptoms and do not want to try to conceive. Still, it's critical to keep an eye on fibroids throughout time because they might grow and cause problems with other organs later on.

Treatment choices are extremely diverse. Hormonal IUDs or birth control pills may help with heavy bleeding or unpleasant periods. And medications known as gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists help decrease tumors; however, they have been associated with menopausal-like side effects such as hot flashes. Another alternative is to have the fibroids surgically removed, a surgery known as a myomectomy. It can be done laparoscopically or vaginally for smaller fibroids.

Even if fibroids are removed, others are likely to form over time. So consult your doctor about whether you should take vitamin D or green tea extract. According to research, these supplements may slow the growth of malignant cancers.