Uterine fibroids are common: Up to 80 percent of women develop fibroids by the age of 50, according to the U. While they may sound scary, uterine fibroids are typically not life threatening, and they are treatable.
For some, uterine fibroids cause no symptoms at all. For others, they can contribute to a host of uncomfortable symptoms, such as:. Heavy menstrual bleeding is typically defined as a period that last more than 8 days and requires frequent changing of sanitary products. To determine if your symptoms are due to uterine fibroids, your doctor will likely perform a pelvic exam to check for irregularities in the size or shape of your uterus, which may indicate the presence of fibroids. Other tests, such as an ultrasound or pelvic MRI , may be needed to confirm a diagnosis.
And anemia can increase your risk of needing blood transfusions or intravenous iron, says Bradley. However, if you are bleeding due to fibroids, the inconvenience may be overwhelming. Your doctor may perform a physical exam, including a pelvic exam, and other tests to determine the cause of your abnormal bleeding.
Fibroids can usually be detected during a pelvic examination, which allows your doctor to feel for any abnormalities in the shape and size of the uterus. If your uterus is enlarged or irregularly shaped and you have symptoms of uterine fibroids, your doctor may order an ultrasound and additional imaging tests to confirm the presence of fibroids. Fibroids are growths of muscle and fibrous tissue in or on the wall of the uterus.
They often develop in women between the ages of 35 and Related: 10 Possible Causes 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 other organs in the pelvic region.
Abnormal bleeding is the most common symptom of a uterine fibroid. When symptoms are present, they can include:. Sometimes uterine fibroids may cause more serious problems, such as infertility, blockage of the urinary tract or bowels, or anemia. Treatment for abnormal bleeding will depend on many factors, including the cause, your age, the severity of the bleeding, and whether you want to have children.
Common medical treatment options may include use of birth control pills, hormone injections, or a hormone-releasing IUD intra-uterine device. Some women with abnormal vaginal bleeding may need to have surgery to control bleeding or to remove growths such as polyps or fibroids that are causing the bleeding.
Common surgical treatment options include endometrial ablation, endometrial polyp removal, myomectomy, or hysterectomy.
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