Do You Have Uterine Fibroids Symptoms?

Fibroid symptoms are many!

"Leiomyomas" simply is the medical term for fibroids.

Symptoms include:

Pelvic pain

Heavy Menstrual Bleeding

Pelvic Pressure

Severe Pain with Periods

Infertility

Uterine fibroids are extremely common! In fact, about 40-50% of women will have them.

Of course, most women will have no symptoms at all.

Fibroids are benign (almost always) fibrous growths. They can be located in multiple places in the uterus.

Size of the fibroids is extremely important when discussing fibroids. Fibroids that grow rapidly are worrisome, although rare.

Where the fibroids are located in the uterus will contribute to the different symptoms you might experience as well.

Size and location of the fibroids determine if treatment is needed. Treatment is discussed here.

Although what causes fibroids isn't completely understood, there is a genetic component.

Interestingly, there is a racial component as well. African-Americans tend to have a higher fibroid rate. Why? I don't know.

Fibroids that don't cause symptoms and aren't worrisome in size don't need intervention.They just need to be watched by your doctor. Typically, an ultrasound (sonogram) is used to monitor fibroids.

Although hysterectomy is the most common treatment for fibroids that have symptoms, that isn't always necessary!

There are many options these days. Click here for a further discussion.