What organ is affected by fibroids?

Fibroids primarily affect the uterus (womb), as they are noncancerous growths of muscle and connective tissue that form in or on its walls, but their size and location can also impact nearby organs like the bladder, causing urinary issues, and the bowels (colon/rectum), leading to constipation or digestive problems, and sometimes even affecting pregnancy.

What organs can fibroids push on?

Large fibroids can put pressure on surrounding organs, including the bladder and intestines. This pressure may lead to symptoms such as abdominal bloating, discomfort, or a sensation of fullness. It is possible to confuse the feeling of bloating due to fibroids with gastric problems.

Can fibroids cause hematuria?

Yes, large uterine fibroids, especially those pressing on the bladder or urinary tract, can lead to urinary issues, including blood in the urine (hematuria), often by causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) or obstructing flow, requiring prompt medical evaluation. Fibroids can also put pressure on the ureters, the tubes connecting kidneys to the bladder, potentially leading to kidney swelling (hydronephrosis) and kidney damage, which also causes blood in urine.
 

Can fibroids cause nausea and diarrhea?

Yes, uterine fibroids can absolutely cause nausea and diarrhea, primarily by pressing on the digestive tract (colon, intestines) or through hormonal influences, leading to symptoms like constipation, bloating, and sometimes the opposite (diarrhea), with severe cases potentially indicating a dangerous bowel obstruction, requiring prompt medical attention.
 

What happens to fibroids during pregnancy?

During pregnancy, fibroids often grow due to increased hormones and blood flow, typically in the first trimester, causing pain, pressure, and potential complications like miscarriage, preterm birth, or bleeding, but many shrink after delivery as hormones normalize, though large ones can increase C-section risk and disrupt labor. Most women have uneventful pregnancies, but symptoms and risks rise with fibroid size.
 

What Are Fibroids?

What is the root cause of fibroids?

Fibroids form from a single uterine cell that multiplies abnormally, driven mainly by the hormones estrogen and progesterone, though the exact trigger isn't known. Key factors include genetics (family history), age (reproductive years), ethnicity (higher in Black women), and lifestyle factors like obesity, with substances like insulin-like growth factor and increased extracellular matrix also playing roles in their growth.
 

Is having fibroids considered a high risk pregnancy?

Many patients with fibroids have safe and healthy pregnancies. However, the size, location and number of fibroids can affect pregnancy outcomes. Some patients with fibroids may have a premature delivery or need a cesarean section (C-section). Fibroids have also been linked to miscarriage.

How sick can fibroids make you?

Uterine fibroids can cause severe nausea and dizziness, especially if they cause anemia. Anemia, resulting from iron deficiency due to significant blood loss, is a common link between fibroids and these symptoms.

When should I have fibroids removed?

Fibroids should be removed when they cause significant symptoms like heavy bleeding (leading to anemia), severe pain, pressure, or fertility issues, or if they are large (often >5-6 cm) and affecting organs. Removal (myomectomy or hysterectomy) is considered if non-surgical treatments fail, the fibroids impact quality of life, or they interfere with pregnancy, but often isn't needed for asymptomatic fibroids which may shrink after menopause.
 

Can fibroids affect poop?

Yes, fibroids, especially larger ones located at the back of the uterus, can significantly affect bowel movements by pressing on the colon and rectum, causing constipation, difficulty passing stool, bloating, and abdominal pain, with severe cases potentially leading to bowel obstruction.
 

Do you pee a lot with fibroids?

Yes, uterine fibroids can definitely cause frequent urination because as they grow, they put pressure on the bladder, reducing its capacity and making you feel the need to go more often, sometimes even at night (nocturia). This pressure can make the bladder feel full even when it's not, leading to more frequent trips to the restroom, especially with larger or numerous fibroids, or those growing on the outside (subserosal) or within the uterine muscle (intramural).
 

What infection is caused by fibroids?

Uterine infection is usually related to contamination of a sloughing fibroid, possibly accompanied by endometritis (infection of the lining of the uterus), and has been reported in up to 1 in 200 women who have undergone UFE.

What does "red pee" mean?

Red pee, medically known as hematuria, means there's blood in your urine, which can range from pink to red or even brown, and while sometimes harmless (like from beets or intense exercise), it often signals underlying issues like infections, kidney stones, an enlarged prostate, or, less commonly, cancer, requiring prompt medical evaluation to find the cause. 

What is the red flag for bowel obstruction?

Diarrhea (usually a sign of a partial blockage). Rapid heartbeat, dark-colored pee (urine) and other signs of dehydration. Severe constipation (in cases of complete obstruction, you won't be able to pass gas or poop).

What parts of the body hurt due to fibroids?

The most common symptoms of uterine fibroids include:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding or painful periods.
• Longer or more frequent periods.
• Pelvic pressure or pain.
• Frequent urination or trouble urinating.
• Growing stomach area.
• Constipation.
• Pain in the stomach area or lower back, or pain during sex.

Can fibroids cause GERD?

Yes, large or multiple uterine fibroids can cause acid reflux (heartburn) by putting pressure on the upper abdomen and stomach, making it harder for the lower esophageal sphincter (LES) to close properly, allowing stomach acid to come up into the esophagus. This pressure can also lead to bloating, abdominal pain, and other digestive issues, though it's not a universal symptom.
 

Why don't doctors want to remove fibroids?

Cutting into the uterus to take out just the fibroids could cause a problem with how the uterus works in a future pregnancy. Pelvic pain that you had before either surgery may not get better. If you have just the fibroids taken out but not the uterus, the fibroids can grow back.

What age do you stop getting fibroids?

Fibroids usually develop during a woman's reproductive years (from around the age of 16 to 50) when oestrogen levels are at their highest. They tend to shrink when oestrogen levels are low, such as after the menopause when a woman's monthly period stops.

What are the signs of needing a hysterectomy?

Signs you might need a hysterectomy often involve debilitating symptoms like heavy/prolonged bleeding, severe pelvic pain, or pressure from fibroids/adenomyosis, uterine prolapse, and gynecological cancers, especially when less invasive treatments fail to provide relief and significantly impact daily life, sleep, and emotional well-being. These symptoms stem from underlying issues such as fibroids, endometriosis, or cancer and indicate the need for a definitive solution to restore quality of life, notes Johns Hopkins Medicine and the NHS. 

Can fibroids turn cancerous?

No, benign uterine fibroids almost never turn cancerous; they are non-cancerous growths, but in extremely rare cases, a different cancerous tumor, uterine sarcoma (leiomyosarcoma), can develop from the same uterine muscle tissue, though it's not considered a transformation of an existing fibroid. The key is that existing fibroids don't typically become cancerous, but a doctor needs to differentiate between benign fibroids and rare malignant ones, especially if you're postmenopausal and have new bleeding, notes MD Anderson Cancer Center and USA Fibroid Centers.
 

Do fibroids make you weak and tired?

Extreme fatigue is a symptom that many women with uterine fibroids report. This can be caused by heavy menstrual bleeding or the body's response to ongoing pelvic pain. Chronic fatigue can affect your ability to complete daily tasks and can lead to irritability, difficulty concentrating, and a reduced quality of life.

What size fibroids need surgery?

Fibroid surgery isn't just about size; it depends on symptoms like heavy bleeding, pain, or fertility issues, but fibroids over 5-10 cm (grapefruit to watermelon size) often need intervention due to pressure on organs, with very large ones (over 10cm) frequently requiring myomectomy or hysterectomy, while even small fibroids (under 3cm) might need treatment if they cause significant problems.
 

Can exercise help with fibroids?

Yes, exercise helps manage fibroid symptoms and may prevent growth by balancing hormones, managing weight, reducing inflammation, and improving blood flow, though it won't shrink existing fibroids; low-impact activities like walking, swimming, and yoga are best, while avoiding high-impact workouts and exercises that strain the abdomen (like crunches) is recommended. 

How long do fibroids take to grow?

Fibroid growth rates are highly unpredictable, varying significantly between individuals, but generally small fibroids can grow faster (doubling diameter in 4-5 years), while larger ones grow slower, often increasing 1-2 cm per year, and are fueled by hormones like estrogen and progesterone during reproductive years, often shrinking after menopause. 

Can fibroids cause insomnia?

Yes, uterine fibroids can definitely cause insomnia and poor sleep through pelvic pressure, frequent urination, heavy bleeding, pain, and stress, disrupting sleep cycles and leading to fatigue. Symptoms like abdominal bloating, cramping, and the need to change pads at night directly interfere with rest, while anemia from heavy periods adds to daytime exhaustion.