What Does Fibroid Discharge Look Like?

Uterine fibroids can cause menstrual cramps, heavy bleeding and changes in your vaginal discharge. This post reviews the ins and outs of fibroid discharge, both before and after uterine fibroid embolization or fibroid removal surgery. The information will help you know what to expect before and after fibroid treatment, and when to seek medical intervention.

Fibroid Discharge: Before and After Treatment

Before treating uterine tumors, fibroid discharge could be watery or pink in color. (This could indicate that you’re spotting between periods.) After treating your fibroids via myomectomy or Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE treatment), you may discharge muscular tumor tissue, a process also known as fibroid sloughing.

What is Fibroid Sloughing?

After UFE, some women may vaginally discharge fibroid tissue, though this occurrence is rare and typically occurs within 10 weeks of the procedure. When that happens, you may experience painful cramps. You could also pass large clots, and the fibroid discharge may have a foul odor.  However, since odor could also be a sign of infection, it’s important to mention this issue to your healthcare provider.

Fibroid Discharge after Surgery

You could notice fibroid discharge following a myomectomy for the first few weeks after surgery. This is normal, and the discharge may be reddish-brown or brown. Spotting after fibroid surgery is also normal, and your period flow and timing could change following a myomectomy, coming earlier than expected or causing you to experience heavy bleeding.

When to Seek Help

Following treatment, most of the discharge will resolve on its own. But if you notice foul smelling discharge, speak to your doctor right away, to rule out a possible infection. And remember, it’s quite rare that you’ll experience fibroid sloughing or infections following UFE in Houston; more often, you’d experience relief from fibroid symptoms as your tumors shrink slowly in the weeks following your procedure. Ready to see if minimally invasive fibroid treatment is your best option? Not every woman is a candidate for UFE, but we are happy to provide you with a consultation and discuss whether it’s your best pathway to relief. Simply reach out to our team and request a consultation [/at-appt-link] at one of our six Houston area fibroid institutes.