Fibroids are benign tumors that are composed of clumps of uterine muscle cells. They may grow inside your uterus or on the exterior, too.
Up to 80% of women develop uterine fibroids at some point in their lives, although many may not know it. Fibroids can be as small as a pea or as big as a grapefruit. As you might imagine, larger fibroids are more likely to cause symptoms, the same with large clusters of fibroids.
Fibroids seem to be related to higher-than-normal levels of estrogen. Is your pelvic pain the result of fibroids? Or something else?
Our Florida Woman Care of Jacksonville expert team investigates your pelvic pain through examinations and imaging studies. Based on the findings, our OB/GYNs, Daniel McDyer, MD, FACOG, and Julian Stephen Suhrer, MD, design a treatment plan for you.
Do you think you might have fibroids? Following are some signs that suggest you do.
Fibroids create more surface area within your uterus, even more so with large fibroids. That means the lining of your uterus covers more area than typical. When you menstruate, the extra lining sheds, too, causing heavy bleeding.
If you need to change your tampon or pad every hour, you have abnormally heavy bleeding. Shrinking or removing the fibroids can ease the pressure in your pelvis and normalize your menstrual flow.
When your fibroids are large enough to press against your bladder, you may head to the bathroom every hour or so, particularly during your period. A clear sign that you might have fibroids is if you wake up often during menstruation to change pads and tampons and pee.
The pressure on your bladder can even become painful if you can’t get to the bathroom. Never ignore pelvic pain, even when it only occurs with the urge to pee. Fibroids are benign, but other conditions that could cause pelvic pain may not be.
The pressure and weight of the fibroids in your pelvic area can radiate toward your back, too. Sometimes, a large fibroid outside your uterus can press against nerves or muscles in your back.
However, back pain is common, even among people who lack uteruses. If your back hurts, but you don’t have other symptoms of fibroids, you may look for other causes for your back pain.
Most women with fibroids have no trouble getting pregnant and delivering a healthy child. However, if you have issues conceiving, your fibroids might be large or numerous enough to make implantation more difficult for a fertilized egg. They’re also probably on the inside, rather than outside, of your uterus.
Even when you do become pregnant, you may have difficulty giving birth. Uterine fibroids raise your risk for a cesarean section by six times. About 20 to 80 percent of women claim that fibroids are hard to live with.
If your OB/GYN tells you that you have fibroids, and it comes as a complete surprise to you because you have no symptoms, there’s nothing further to do. Fibroids are common and are usually benign.
But if you learn you have fibroids and have struggled with symptoms, relief is in sight. Depending on the size and number of your fibroids, you could benefit from interventions such as:
Don’t put up with pelvic pain or other symptoms that could be related to fibroids. Find out why you have intermittent pain and what to do by contacting our helpful team in Jacksonville, Florida, by phone or online for a fibroid evaluation today.
