Symptoms of Fibroids

Fibroids, particularly when small, may be entirely asymptomatic (no symptoms). Generally, symptoms relate to location and size, and may include:

• Heavy bleeding
• Continued bleeding (sometimes no break between one period and the next)
• Pelvic discomfort/dragging sensation
• Internal pressure on other organs
• Frequent miscarriage
• Infertility
• Painful urination and increased urination
• Constipation and backache if fibroids press on your bowel
• If fibroids are on a stalk, they can twist, causing pain
• Sometimes lower abdominal swelling may be seen.

The main symptom of fibroids is heavy periods. When fibroids grow inside the womb, the mechanism that operates menstrual flow may not work properly. The heavy bleeding can be a result of the fibroids making the womb bigger (creating a larger surface of womb lining that has to bleed every month), or the pressure of the fibroids may disrupt the normal blood flow. As a result, many women with fibroids will have heavy periods, but experience no pain.

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