Experiencing heavy or irregular periods, pelvic pain or pressure, frequent urination, constipation, or difficulty getting pregnant can be overwhelming and interfere with your daily life.
If you have symptoms that are frustrating or hampering your daily-life activities, it is good to ask doctor about fibroids. Also, you can check if you have any of these top early signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids mentioned in the article below.
Excessive menstrual bleeding
This is a symptom of submucosal fibroids, which grow on the interior of the uterus. It is also common for intramural fibroids, which grow embedded in the muscular uterine wall. Women facing this symptom can drastically have an impact on their quality of life as well as their physical and mental health. Intramural fibroids make cramps much more intense. This is because they interfere with the proper function of the uterine muscle.
Uncommon pain during sexual intercourse
Experiencing pain when having sexual intercourse is not surprising. However, if the pain is uncommon and lingers further after the intercourse, this can be a sign that you have fibroids.
If your doctor suspects that you have submucosal and intramural fibroids, they may recommend an MRI to determine whether or not the condition is causing problems for you sexually.
Submucosal and intramural fibroids can affect the normal operation of the uterus. They pull it out of shape and make contractions or pressure painful. This can cause difficulties during sex – including bleeding if the fibroids are located close to the cervix (which causes an increase in uterine size).
Fibroid symptoms also include:
- Difficulty becoming aroused.
- Decreased desire for sex.
- Lower levels of arousal than usual.
- Pain during intercourse.
- Reduced lubrication.
- Vaginal dryness between periods without being sexually aroused.
Pain in the pelvic area
A uterine fibroid is a tumour-like overgrowth of abnormal tissue that can cause symptoms such as a feeling of fullness or bloating. Submucosal fibroids may give you a feeling of heaviness in your uterus. Fibroids can also cause pain as they take up space for your uterus and other organs.
Constant weight gain
Weight gain is another common sign of fibroids. If you’re experiencing this symptom, it’s essential to make sure you connect with your doctor and get checked out as soon as possible.
Frequent urination
Frequent urination can be a sign that you have fibroids. If you’re peeing more than usual, it could mean your bladder is not contracting correctly and emptying fully. This can lead to urine retention and even urinary incontinence (a lack of control over when you urinate). You may also notice these symptoms:
- The urge to pee at night or in the middle of the night (nocturia)
- Increased urgency when trying to urinate
Final thoughts
It is essential to ask the doctor about fibroids if you have breast pain (pain during and after menopause), back pain, leg pain or pelvic pain, abdominal pain, etc. They can perform a physical examination and order tests to determine the cause of your symptoms and recommend the appropriate treatment. However, these are only some of the symptoms to be on the lookout for, but they are a good place to start.
Alicia Saxon did her degree in psychology at the University of Hertfordshire. She is interested in mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.