Uterine fibroids are very common in women of childbearing age, but most don’t even know they have them, as fibroid symptoms can easily be mistaken for something else. 50% of women with fibroids have no symptoms and only now have fibroids during a pelvic exam or when they have trouble conceiving.
Here are some common symptoms to know about to know when it’s time to act.
Abdominal swelling: If your abdomen is bulging but feels hard when touched, this is a common symptom of fibroids. Many women with fibroids appear to be pregnant when they are not and find that the swelling worsens over time.
Heavy Menstruation: If you find that you have to constantly change your super plus tampons or the night pads are not enough during your period, this is also a sign that fibroids are causing abnormal bleeding. Some bleeding can be so bad that blood transfusions are needed.
Abnormal bleeding: In addition to heavy bleeding, you may have spotting between periods or your periods may last 6 days or more. Some women also shed a lot of heavy black clots in menstrual blood.
Vaginal bleeding after menopause: Women who have been through menopause may experience bleeding after several years without having periods. This is another indication that the fibroids are out of control.
Back pain or pain in the back of the legs: Women with fibroids sometimes experience pain in seemingly unrelated places. This is because the nerves that connect the uterus to the brain are located close to the nerves in the back and legs.
Cramps: Fibroids can cause strong spasms, as the uterus recognizes them as a foreign body that needs to be expelled. Some women may feel like they are going into labor, and the pain may be so severe that pain relievers do not relieve it.
Pelvic pain: This can present in the form of a constant dull ache, to sharp pains, depending on the type of fibroid. Some fibroids can compress other organs and make them feel under pressure too.
Urinary problems: Women with large fibroids may experience frequent urination, as the fibroid presses on the bladder, or difficulty urinating, if the fibroid blocks any part of the urinary system. Frequent urinary tract infections are also related to fibroids that interfere with the functioning of the urinary system.
Constipation – Fibroids pressing on the colon can prevent regular bowel movements, cause painful digestion, and are easily mistaken for irritable bowel syndrome. If you are in a relationship, fibroids can also cause painful intercourse, depending on where the fibroid is located. Having constant pain or feeling exhausted due to anemia or fibroid symptoms can also decrease sexual desire, causing relationship difficulties for some couples.
Infertility and miscarriage: Fibroids can hinder conception and have a healthy pregnancy. They can block the fallopian tubes, prevent implantation from taking place or in pregnant women, interfere with fetal development, or cause uterine spasms and miscarriage.
The most important thing to keep in mind is that it is essential to take steps to shrink fibroids now, rather than waiting until later. Even if your fibroids are small and not causing problems, they can grow very quickly and can have serious repercussions on the health of your other organs.
Remember that for every woman who appears to be 6 months pregnant due to her fibroids, or is bleeding so much that she is receiving blood transfusions, there was a time in her life when her fibroids were very small and were not causing her any problems. This is why it is so important not to procrastinate.
