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Uterine Fibroids
- Topic Overview
-
Health Tools
- Cause
- Symptoms
- What Happens
- What Increases Your Risk
- When To Call a Doctor
- Exams and Tests
- Treatment Overview
- Prevention
- Home Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Other Treatment
- Other Places To Get Help
- Related Information
- References
- Credits
Uterine fibroid symptoms can develop slowly over several years or rapidly over several months. Most women with uterine fibroids have mild symptoms or none at all and never need treatment.
For some women, uterine fibroid symptoms become a problem. Pain and heavy menstrual bleeding are the most common symptoms. In some cases, difficulty becoming pregnant is the first sign of fibroids.
Uterine fibroid symptoms and problems include:
- Abnormal menstrual bleeding. Up to 30% of women with fibroids have menstrual period
changes, such as:1
- Heavier, prolonged periods that can cause anemia.
- Painful periods.
- Spotting before or after periods.
- Bleeding between periods.
- Pelvic pain and pressure,
such as:
- Pain in the abdomen, pelvis, or low back.
- Pain during sexual intercourse.
- Bloating and feelings of abdominal pressure.
- Urinary problems, such as:
- Frequent urination.
- Leakage of urine (urinary incontinence).
- Kidney blockage following ureter blockage (rare).
- Other symptoms, such as:
- Difficulty or pain with bowel movements.
- Infertility. Sometimes, fibroids make it difficult to become pregnant.
- Problems with pregnancy, such as placental abruption and premature labor.
- Miscarriage.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: August 11, 2009 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Anne Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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