Fibroids: Symptoms and Care

If you’ve been told you have uterine fibroids, you’re not alone. Fibroids are benign growths that develop in or on the muscle wall of the uterus, and they are extremely common, affecting up to 70% of women. Some women have few or no symptoms. Others experience heavy periods, pelvic pain, urinary or bowel issues or discomfort during intercourse. Because symptoms vary, treatment should be tailored to each person. Here’s a look at common symptoms and care options.

Fibroid symptoms can vary widely. Common symptoms include:

• Heavy periods – quickly soaking through pads and tampons, lasting more than a week or spotting in between periods
• Chronic pelvic pain or lower back pain, feeling “heavy” or pressure in the lower abdomen
• Frequent urination, constipation or rectal pain
• Discomfort or sharp pain during intercourse
• Difficulty getting pregnant or recurrent miscarriages

A pelvic ultrasound is usually the first imaging test used to diagnose uterine fibroids, according to Victoria Schooler, PA-C, a board-certified physician assistant at Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital. “A pelvic MRI may be recommended if the diagnosis is unclear, there are multiple or very large fibroids, surgical planning is being considered or more detailed mapping of fibroid location is needed.”

She adds that monitoring depends on the size and location of the fibroids, whether symptoms are present and how severe they are, age and proximity to menopause and whether the fibroids are changing over time.

If fibroids are small and cause no symptoms or only minor discomfort, treatment may not be needed beyond regular monitoring.

To manage symptoms without medications, Schooler recommends lifestyle and supportive strategies, including:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Increasing fiber, hydration and regular movement to reduce pelvic pressure and discomfort
• Pelvic floor physical therapy to help with pelvic pain, pressure, muscle tension or urinary symptoms
• Heat therapy and over-the-counter pain medications

For more severe discomfort, medications can help manage symptoms or shrink fibroids. Other options include nonsurgical or minimally invasive procedures, surgeries that remove fibroids while keeping the uterus intact for those who want to preserve fertility, or hysterectomy, which removes the uterus.

Bottom line – there’s no one-size-fits-all treatment for fibroids. Talk to your healthcare provider about treatment options to manage your symptoms.