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What Are Fibroids and Their Common Symptoms?

Signs You Can Detect Fibroids Without Medical Equipment

When to Seek Professional Diagnosis for Fibroids

Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are non-cancerous tissue growths that appear inside and outside the uterus, and are the most common type of benign tumors that affect women.

It is important for you to know how to check for fibroids at home by following the symptoms that fibroids can cause, such as heavy menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods, a feeling of pressure, discomfort or pain in the pelvic area, or the need to urinate frequently.

If you experience these changes, you should consult your doctor and conduct the appropriate tests to detect this type of tumor.

What Are Fibroids and Their Common Symptoms?

Fibroids are non-cancerous growths of fibrous and muscular tissue inside or on the uterus, and their size ranges from the size of a grain of rice to the size of a watermelon.

In some cases, these uterine fibroids do not cause any symptoms, but the most common symptoms are as follows:

Heavy or longer than usual menstrual periods: Fibroids can cause heavy bleeding during menstruation or prolong its duration, or bleeding between periods.

Pelvic pain: Fibroids can cause a feeling of tightness, pressure, and pain in the lower abdomen and pelvic area.

Constipation: When fibroids grow enough to put pressure on the intestines, they can cause constipation.

Frequent urination: Fibroid growth can put pressure on the bladder, causing the need to urinate frequently.

Pain during intercourse: Fibroids can cause pain during intercourse.

Anemia: Bleeding causes anemia when the body is unable to replace the lost blood. (NHS, 2022)

Signs You Can Detect Fibroids Without Medical Equipment

how to check for fibroids at home? you can track the signs of uterine fibroids at home without using medical equipment as follows:

Track changes in your menstrual cycle, if it is longer than usual or bleeding is more than normal or bleeding between periods.
Feeling pain, pressure or tightness in the pelvic area and lower abdomen.
Frequent urination or inability to completely empty the bladder.
Constipation and feeling that you need to exert excessive effort to get rid of waste.
Feeling pain during intercourse.

Sometimes, fibroids do not cause any symptoms due to their small size or insignificant location.

Therefore, period examinations can detect the presence of these tumors simply. (FDA, 2023)

Read Also: Stage 1 Colon Cancer Symptoms

When to Seek Professional Diagnosis for Fibroids

Now that you know how to check for fibroids at home, when should you seek medical help?

If you are experiencing heavy bleeding or bleeding between periods.
If this bleeding makes you feel tired and exhausted and you suspect that you have anemia.
If your menstrual cramps are severe and unbearable.
If you have difficulty urinating or excreting waste.
If you feel heaviness and pain in the pelvic area and lower abdomen. (medline plus, 2024)

All of these symptoms require you to seek urgent medical help and conduct the necessary tests and treat the problem if it exists.

And remember that these uterine fibroids can cause pregnancy problems and serious complications, so it is best to get rid of them and treat them appropriately.