Can fibroids cause heavy periods and pelvic pressure?

Fibroids can cause heavy periods and pelvic pressure, although some women with fibroids have no symptoms. Other uterine fibroid symptoms include longer periods, bleeding between periods, back pain, pain during sex and needing to pee often. Constipation and a feeling of fullness in the lower belly can also be signs of fibroids. These symptoms can have other causes, so a doctor's check can help identify the problem.

What causes fibroids, and who is more likely to get them?

The exact cause of fibroids is unknown, but genes and hormones appear to play a role. Estrogen and progesterone, hormones involved in the menstrual cycle, can support fibroid growth. Fibroids become more common with age before menopause, when periods stop permanently. Black women, women with a family history of fibroids and women with obesity have a higher chance of developing fibroids.

No, uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths and do not increase the risk of uterine cancer. Uterine sarcoma is a rare, separate cancer of the uterus's muscle or supporting tissue that can look like a fibroid. Symptoms can overlap, so bleeding or pain alone cannot tell the difference. See a doctor about bleeding between periods, new or lasting pelvic pain, or any bleeding after menopause.

What's the difference between fibroids and uterine polyps?

Fibroids grow from the muscle of the uterus, while uterine polyps grow from its inner lining, called the endometrium. Both can cause heavy periods or bleeding between periods, so symptoms alone cannot show which growth you have. Most uterine polyps are noncancerous. An ultrasound, which uses sound waves to make pictures, and sometimes other tests help a doctor tell them apart.

Are fibroid, myoma and leiomyoma the same thing?

Fibroid, myoma and leiomyoma mean the same noncancerous growth when a doctor is describing fibroids in the uterus. Leiomyoma is the medical name for a growth made from smooth muscle, the type of muscle in the uterine wall. Seeing "myoma" or "leiomyoma" on a scan report does not, by itself, mean cancer.

How do doctors check for fibroids?

Doctors usually confirm fibroids with a pelvic ultrasound, a scan that uses sound waves to show the uterus. A pelvic exam may first suggest fibroids, and the ultrasound shows their size and location. An MRI, a scan that uses magnets and radio waves, may be added when more detail is needed or when treatment is being planned.

Can fibroids cause anemia and make me tired?

Fibroids can cause iron-deficiency anemia when heavy periods lead to ongoing blood loss. This means the body lacks enough iron to make healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen. Anemia may cause unusual tiredness, weakness, dizziness or shortness of breath. A doctor can check your blood counts and iron levels, then treat both the anemia and the bleeding that caused it.

When should I see a doctor about fibroids?

See a doctor for fibroid symptoms that disrupt daily life, such as heavy bleeding, ongoing pelvic pain or trouble emptying your bladder. To talk with a fibroid specialist in Chicago, call MIMIT Health at (708) 486-2600. Get urgent medical care for severe vaginal bleeding or sudden, sharp pelvic pain. For heavy bleeding with fainting, chest pain or severe shortness of breath, call 911.

Uterine Fibroids: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment Options

What are uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths made of muscle and other tissue in or around the uterus. They can grow inside the uterine wall, into the space inside the uterus or on its outer surface. Many women have no symptoms, while others have heavy periods, pelvic pressure or pain. Fibroids are common, and several treatments can help.

Uterine fibroid symptoms

Uterine fibroids can cause a variety of symptoms, but the most common symptoms are heavy menstrual bleeding and pelvic pain. Pelvic pain can also come from enlarged pelvic veins, called pelvic congestion syndrome. Other symptoms include:

Pain during intercourse
Anemia due to heavy bleeding
Lower abdominal pain/swelling, which can be mistaken for weight gain or pregnancy
Frequent urination
Difficulty emptying the bladder
Constipation
Backache or leg pains
Sometimes there aren't any symptoms at all!

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Woman at home suffering from abdominal pain

What are the different types of fibroids?

Subserosal

Subserosal fibroids grow on the outer wall of the uterus and can grow quite large.

Submucosal

Submucosal fibroids form under the lining of the uterine cavity.

Pedunculated

Pedunculated fibroids actually appear as a peduncle, which is an attaching stalk of sorts.

Intramural

Intramural fibroids which grow within the wall of the uterus.

Exophytic

Exophytic fibroids, which bulge outward from the uterus into the pelvis, are often called ‘proud’ fibroids.

Causes of uterine fibroids

Doctors don’t yet know the cause of fibroids. However, the following could increase your risk of developing fibroids:

Genetics

If fibroids run in your family, you’re more likely to develop them, too.

Hormones, specifically estrogen

Estrogen is the chemical that makes your uterine lining thicken at each period. Therefore, prolonged use could increase your likelihood of developing fibroids.

Woman lying on a sofa with abdominal pain and a headache

Risk factors for developing fibroids

Women 35-years-old and older have the highest risk, but remember that fibroids can develop before then.
Fibroids can and do occur in women under the age of 35, even as young as the early 20s.
Women who are Black are also at-risk.
Some statistics indicate that up to 80% of African-American women will develop uterine fibroids.
Those who have fibroids run in their family are at an increased risk, too.

Doctor pointing to a diagram of the uterus while explaining fibroids to a patient

Ultrasound

Fibroids develop in the uterus, so ultrasound imaging is a reliable way to visualize any potential fibroids growing inside a woman’s body.

This type of ultrasound also helps determine the size, shape, and location of the fibroid so treatment options can be explored more fully.

Ultrasound has become a go-to option for initial diagnosis of fibroids because it is painless and cost-effective, making it accessible for anyone who might have concerns about any possible abnormalities in the uterus.

Uterine fibroid diagnosis

MRI

While ultrasound imaging can diagnose fibroids, it does not offer the 3-D resolution of an MRI. The higher-resolution MRI can not only offer a clearer image of the fibroids, but can also show their size, number, and location. An MRI will often see things that were not seen on the ultrasound exam, too.

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Fibroids, fertility and pregnancy

Many women with fibroids get pregnant and have healthy pregnancies. Depending on their size and location, some fibroids can make it harder to get pregnant or can cause problems during pregnancy. If you are planning a pregnancy, talk with your doctor about whether your fibroids could affect it.

Pregnant woman smiling during a consultation, with a diagram of the female reproductive system on the screen

Treatment options for uterine fibroids

Treatment for uterine fibroids depends on your symptoms and your pregnancy plans. Fibroids that cause no symptoms may only need monitoring. Medicines can ease heavy bleeding or pain. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) shrinks fibroids without surgery and keeps the uterus. Surgery can remove the fibroids (myomectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy).

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Uterine Fibroids FAQs

Fibroids can cause heavy periods and pelvic pressure, although some women with fibroids have no symptoms. Other uterine fibroid symptoms include longer periods, bleeding between periods, back pain, pain during sex and needing to pee often. Constipation and a feeling of fullness in the lower belly can also be signs of fibroids. These symptoms can have other causes, so a doctor's check can help identify the problem.
The exact cause of fibroids is unknown, but genes and hormones appear to play a role. Estrogen and progesterone, hormones involved in the menstrual cycle, can support fibroid growth. Fibroids become more common with age before menopause, when periods stop permanently. Black women, women with a family history of fibroids and women with obesity have a higher chance of developing fibroids.
No, uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths and do not increase the risk of uterine cancer. Uterine sarcoma is a rare, separate cancer of the uterus's muscle or supporting tissue that can look like a fibroid. Symptoms can overlap, so bleeding or pain alone cannot tell the difference. See a doctor about bleeding between periods, new or lasting pelvic pain, or any bleeding after menopause.
Fibroids grow from the muscle of the uterus, while uterine polyps grow from its inner lining, called the endometrium. Both can cause heavy periods or bleeding between periods, so symptoms alone cannot show which growth you have. Most uterine polyps are noncancerous. An ultrasound, which uses sound waves to make pictures, and sometimes other tests help a doctor tell them apart.
Fibroid, myoma and leiomyoma mean the same noncancerous growth when a doctor is describing fibroids in the uterus. Leiomyoma is the medical name for a growth made from smooth muscle, the type of muscle in the uterine wall. Seeing "myoma" or "leiomyoma" on a scan report does not, by itself, mean cancer.
Doctors usually confirm fibroids with a pelvic ultrasound, a scan that uses sound waves to show the uterus. A pelvic exam may first suggest fibroids, and the ultrasound shows their size and location. An MRI, a scan that uses magnets and radio waves, may be added when more detail is needed or when treatment is being planned.
Fibroids can cause iron-deficiency anemia when heavy periods lead to ongoing blood loss. This means the body lacks enough iron to make healthy red blood cells, which carry oxygen. Anemia may cause unusual tiredness, weakness, dizziness or shortness of breath. A doctor can check your blood counts and iron levels, then treat both the anemia and the bleeding that caused it.
See a doctor for fibroid symptoms that disrupt daily life, such as heavy bleeding, ongoing pelvic pain or trouble emptying your bladder. To talk with a fibroid specialist in Chicago, call MIMIT Health at (708) 486-2600. Get urgent medical care for severe vaginal bleeding or sudden, sharp pelvic pain. For heavy bleeding with fainting, chest pain or severe shortness of breath, call 911.