Uterine fibroids can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain and other symptoms
You or someone you know may have uterine fibroids. Although the term sounds scary, about 99% of the time, these fibrous growths are noncancerous, or benign. They can grow inside the uterine wall or cavity or outside the uterus, and are very common during women’s reproductive years. If you are experiencing heavy menstrual bleeding or other symptoms, you may have fibroids, also known as leiomyomas or myomas. Our San Antonio OBGYNs can help alleviate your symptoms with expert diagnosis and treatment.
Causes and risk factors
While nobody knows exactly what causes fibroids, researchers think that women’s estrogen and progesterone hormone levels during their reproductive years may affect a myoma’s growth. There are also certain known factors that increase a woman’s risk of developing fibroids.
- Age: More women develop fibroids in their 30s and 40s
- Having a mother or sister who also had fibroids
- More African-American women develop fibroids than other ethnic groups
- A diet that includes a lot of red meat and ham
- Being overweight or obese
Symptoms and complications of uterine fibroids
Often, women who have uterine fibroids don’t know they have them until our San Antonio OBGYNs find them during an annual wellness visit or other examination. Most myomas don’t cause symptoms, but here are the symptoms you should be aware of, so you can schedule an appointment with our physicians if you experience them.
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Painful cramps during menstruation
- Spotting and vaginal bleeding between periods
- Pain in the pelvis, abdomen or lower back
- A feeling of fullness in the pelvis
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Urinary issues, such as urinating frequently or problems urinating
- Constipation
- A distended abdomen, making you look pregnant
Myomas can cause health complications, so it’s crucial for women not to ignore the symptoms of uterine fibroids. Complications include heavy bleeding that can lead to anemia, problematic pain, and fertility issues.
How fibroids can affect your fertility and your pregnancy
It’s rare for fibroids to cause infertility, but they can cause fertility problems. They may prevent an embryo from implanting in the uterine wall, or they can block your fallopian tubes.
Most of the time, women who have fibroids will not have problems during pregnancy. Our OBGYNs monitor the growths and deal with any problems that arise. Women with fibroids are more likely to need C-sections. In a few cases, the growth could increase a woman’s risk for preterm delivery, interfere with labor progression, or cause placental abruption.
Our San Antonio OBGYNs provide expert diagnosis and treatment for uterine fibroids
If our OBGYNs discover uterine fibroids during your examination or ultrasound, don’t jump to any conclusions. Instead, talk to our San Antonio team about their diagnosis. Our physicians have years of experience treating myomas. Contact us for an appointment.
