Uterine Fibroids (cont.)
What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?
Most women with uterine fibroids have no symptoms.
However, fibroids can cause a number of symptoms depending on their size,
location within the uterus, and how close they are to adjacent pelvic organs.
Large fibroids can cause:
- pressure,
- pelvic pain,
- pressure on the bladder with
frequent or even obstructed urination, and
- pressure on the rectum with pain
during defecation.
Abnormal uterine bleeding is
the most common symptom of a fibroid. If the tumors are near
the uterine lining, or
interfere with the blood flow to the lining, they can cause heavy periods,
painful periods, prolonged periods or spotting between menses. Women with
excessive bleeding due to fibroids may develop iron deficiency anemia. Uterine fibroids that are deteriorating can sometimes cause
severe, localized pain.
While fibroids do not interfere with ovulation, some studies suggest that
they may impair fertility and lead to poorer pregnancy outcomes. In particular,
submucosal fibroids that deform the inner uterine cavity are most strongly
associated with decreases in fertility.
Do untreated uterine fibroids pose a risk?
For the most part, uterine fibroids that do not cause a
problem for the woman can be left alone. In some cases, even fibroids that are
not causing symptoms require removal or at least close observation. Rapid growth
is a reason to watch more carefully, since a rare cancerous form of fibroid
(referred to as a leiomyosarcoma) is usually a fast-growing tumor, and it cannot
be differentiated from a benign fibroid by
ultrasound, MRI , or other imaging
studies. However, this type of tumor occurs in less than 1% of uterine fibroids.
Another risk of leaving these tumors alone is that they sometimes grow to a size
that eventually cause significant symptoms, thus requiring removal. If fibroids
grow large enough, the surgery to remove them can become more difficult and
risky. Occasionally, fibroids are the cause of recurrent
miscarriages. If they are not
removed in these cases, the woman may not be able to sustain a pregnancy.
Next: What are the usual ways of diagnosing uterine fibroids? »
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