What Causes Fibroid Stomach Pain?

Uterine fibroids are growths in your uterine cavity or wall, so how can you get fibroid stomach pain? Here's the story: it's true that these muscular, non-cancerous growths are linked to your uterus. But they can cause symptoms in other parts of your body, too! Want to learn more about fibroid symptoms, and how you can find relief? Just stick with us to the end of this post!

Fibroid Stomach Pain: Why It Happens

Not every woman with fibroids will experience symptoms. And, among women who do have symptomatic fibroids, the severity depends on the size, location and number of fibroids in your body.

So, how can fibroids cause stomach pain? Basically, as fibroids grow larger, they can put pressure on your surrounding organs. As such, you may experience abdominal pain with fibroids. You could also experience feelings of fullness due to fibroid growth. But if your stomach pain comes on suddenly, or feels sharp and stabbing, and won't improve with medication, that may be a cause for concern.

In fact, one woman came into the emergency room with subserosal fibroids (growths that push outside of the uterus) and abdominal cramping pain. According to the Cureus Journal, this woman actually had a small bowel obstruction related to her fibroids. And that was the cause of her abdominal pain with fibroids.

Also, you may notice lower back pain and pelvic pain, along with painful sex and pressure on your bladder. In fact, uterine fibroid growths can even lead to frequent urination and/or constipation, depending on their size and location!

Other Fibroid Symptoms: Warning Signs to Watch For

As we mentioned earlier, some women don't experience fibroid symptoms. Or, symptoms such as fibroid stomach pain could be explained by other conditions or lifestyle factors. Unfortunately, this can leave women with missed or delayed diagnoses, taking a toll on your quality of life or even on your ability to conceive or carry a child!

What other fibroid symptoms should you be looking for? While every woman is different, some of the most common fibroid symptoms include long and heavy periods; painful sex; severe menstrual cramps; and weight gain or bloating. If you have one or more of these symptoms, the cause of your abdominal pain could be fibroids. And that means it's time to talk to your gynecologist about screening for uterine fibroid growths.

After Diagnosis: What are Your Options?

If you have fibroid stomach pain or other disruptive symptoms, the best pathway to relief is to seek fibroid treatment. Now, some women believe that the only way to treat these growths is with a hysterectomy. But this is an extremely invasive surgery. And many women can find symptom relief with far less invasive options.

So, what are other ways to treat fibroids while preserving your uterus? To get a better understanding of your options, we invite you to explore your guide to fibroid treatment options, organized to highlight treatments from your least to most invasive options. Then, if uterine fibroid embolization seems like a great, minimally-invasive treatment plan for you, schedule a consultation with our Houston fibroid specialists to learn more!