Uterine fibroid is one of the common conditions women develop during the childbearing years. Unfortunately, the conditions can be devastating since detecting their symptoms can be challenging. In fact, for every three women, two of them have never noted typical symptoms. Do not let the condition interfere with your normal life when obstetrician-gynecologists, including Mina K. Sinacori, MD, MPH, FACOG, can solve it. When uterine fibroids enlarge, it can become for your specialist to diagnose and treat the symptoms. Your OB/GYN should tell you the following early signs of uterine fibroids.
Constipation
Even though constipation has several causes, such as dehydration and dietary factors, fibroids can lead to constipation. Uterine fibroids usually cause constipation mainly if they press on your bowel. Alternatively, irregular constipation is not uncommon, although it ends with sufficient hydration by adding more food rich in fiber into your diet and exercises. If you stay hydrated and consume fiber-rich foods, you should mention constipation to your provider during the first appointment.
Lower Back Pain
In rare cases, fibroids can press against the nerves and muscles in your lower back, leading to back pain. Usually, a large uterus fibroid on the back surface causes more pain than small fibroids within the uterine wall. Since experiencing back pain is common, you should focus on other causes of pain before associating it with fibroids.
Enlarged Belly
Some fibroids are tiny, although they can become large. They can enlarge to the size of a grapefruit. Moreover, you may also experience more than one fibroid. If you have more large fibroids in your uterus, you can notice significant belly enlargement. Some women with enlarged bellies appear to be in the early stages of pregnancy.
Pelvic Pain
Pelvic pain happens when the fibroid undergoes degeneration. In most cases, the pain is restricted to a specific spot and enhanced within 2-4 weeks. You can utilize painkillers such as ibuprofen to reduce the pain substantially. However, chronic pelvic pain can also occur, whereby it is persistent and localized to a specific area.
Heavy Vaginal Bleeding
Bleeding excessively or prolonged menstrual bleeding is one of the popular symptoms of uterine fibroids. Most women define soaking through sanitary protection as occurring in less than one hour. Furthermore, you may find it difficult to leave your house during heavy days of flow. As a result, you may develop anemia which can lead to lightheadedness, fatigue, and headaches. If you develop anemia or heavy bleeding that hamper your daily activities, consult your healthcare provider to evaluate the different fibroid options.
Painful Sex
In most cases, submucosal and intramural fibroids affect the normal operation of your uterus by pulling its shape outside and making pressure and contraction painful. As a result, having sex becomes difficult, including bleeding if your fibroids are situated near the cervix. Furthermore, the hormone imbalance caused by fibroids can negatively affect a woman’s libido, reducing sexual desire. Therefore, if you experience pain during sex, schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately.
If you feel sex less enjoyable, constipating, or bleeding heavily, it is high time you seek medical attention. You should stop complaining about being stuck getting help because the field of OB/GYN is becoming popular and is offered in many healthcare centers. Over time, there has been an improvement in how specialists address fibroids due to advanced technology. With comprehensive treatment, you will start experiencing enjoyable sex, eliminate constipation, and have no pelvic pain.
