Did you know uterine fibroid pain is one of the most common and challenging fibroid symptoms? Some women find these symptoms so severe that they interfere with daily life, making it hard to go to work, exercise, or enjoy time with family and friends.
Treatment for fibroid pain can help you manage the pain and improve your physical and mental well-being.
What Does Fibroid Pain Feel Like?
Uterine fibroid pain varies from woman to woman, with some experiencing pain as soon as their fibroids develop. Other women may experience pain or pressure on and off for months or even years.
Fibroid pain can be identified as sharp pain, pressure, or heaviness in certain areas of the body. Many women experience cramping, as well as abdominal, leg, and back pain. Those who experience fibroid pain may deal with mild discomfort or experience severe pain that requires bed rest.
If you aren’t sure if fibroids are causing your symptoms, our symptom checker can help you determine whether you need to visit a fibroid specialist.
Types of Pain Caused by Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids can cause many painful symptoms, ranging from severe menstrual cramps to intense pelvic pressure. In addition to these symptoms, fibroids may also cause heavy bleeding, which can lead to anemia. Some women may also experience discomfort during intercourse due to the fibroids’ pressure on surrounding organs. Understanding these various types of fibroid pain is crucial for finding relief and reclaiming comfort in everyday life.
Pelvic Pain and Pressure
For some women, pain from fibroids is felt as persistent pelvic pain or pressure.
In more severe cases, acute pelvic pain can occur during fibroid degeneration. Fibroid degeneration occurs when a fibroid outgrows its limited blood supply. When a fibroid degenerates, it shrinks back to a smaller size than its blood supply can support.
Unfortunately, a degenerated fibroid is likely to expand and degenerate again. This cycle can lead to recurring pain that may feel sharp or, for some, severe, lasting chronic pain, so this risk should be addressed when making fibroid pain treatment decisions.
Many women assume this pain is typical of menstrual cramps, making it easy to overlook the possibility of fibroids. However, when pain interferes with daily life or worsens over time, seeking evaluation from a fibroid specialist is important because pain can be a sign of underlying conditions. An ultrasound or MRI can help confirm fibroids’ presence, size, and location, enabling the development of a personalized treatment plan.
Lower Back Pain
Large or posterior fibroids, generally over 5 cm, can cause lower back pain by pressing against nearby muscles and nerves. They exert extra pressure on the lower back, causing intermittent or persistent discomfort.
When fibroids are located on the back side of the uterus (posterior fibroids), they are more likely to affect the lower back due to their proximity to the spine. In some cases, fibroids can compress the sciatic nerve, leading to sciatica, where pain radiates down the leg. Women experiencing persistent back pain from fibroids may benefit from consulting a fibroid specialist to explore treatment options, such as uterine fibroid embolization.
Abdominal Pain
Fibroids can cause abdominal discomfort as they grow larger. Women may experience heaviness or pressure in the lower abdomen, similar to menstrual cramps, but this fibroid pain may be constant or worsen with movement. An enlarged uterus due to fibroids can make bending, exercising, or engaging in other physical activities difficult. Unlike menstrual cramps, fibroid-related abdominal pain may involve lower and upper abdominal discomfort, depending on the size and placement of the fibroids.
If you’re struggling with uterine fibroid pain or other disruptive symptoms, help is available at USA Fibroid Centers. Schedule a consultation with our fibroid specialists to get a diagnosis and treatment for fibroid pain so that you can live a pain-free life.
How Fibroid Location Impacts Pain
The fibroid’s location can determine the type and intensity of pain you might experience. Each type of fibroid causes unique symptoms based on its location within or outside the uterus.
Subserosal Fibroids
Subserosal fibroids grow on the uterus’ outer surface, often pressing against surrounding organs such as the bladder or intestines. This external pressure causes uterine fibroid pain symptoms, including abdominal bloating, lower back pain, and a feeling of fullness.
Large subserosal fibroids may cause a sensation of heaviness or pain in the pelvic area due to their added weight and pressure, especially when pressing against other organs or nerves.
Intramural Fibroids
Intramural fibroids develop in the uterus’ muscular wall, increasing pain and pressure as they enlarge. Since they are embedded in the uterine wall, intramural fibroid pain can lead to intense menstrual cramps, making it difficult to distinguish them from typical menstrual pain.
Additionally, these fibroids within the muscle layer can also make the uterus feel firm and may increase the frequency or severity of menstrual bleeding, often lasting more than ten days.
Submucosal Fibroids
Submucosal fibroids grow beneath the uterus lining, protruding into the uterine cavity. Due to the direct irritation of the uterine lining, submucosal fibroid pain usually results in the most severe cramping, heavy menstrual bleeding and passing of large blood clots larger than a quarter.
Women with submucosal fibroids usually experience debilitating, intense, and lasting menstrual cramps, as well as significant menstrual bleeding, causing anemia. The direct impact on the uterine cavity makes submucosal fibroids especially painful, affecting the quality of life during menstruation.
How Fibroid Size Affects Pain Severity
Fibroid size can influence the type and intensity of pain and discomfort they cause, regardless of location. Larger fibroids increase the likelihood of experiencing pressure and pain as they occupy more space within or around the uterus. This fibroid pain can heighten pelvic pressure and abdominal fullness and may even cause difficulty with physical activities.
Large fibroids can sometimes compress nearby organs or nerves, leading to increased discomfort. If you are experiencing uterine fibroid pain, consulting an interventional radiologist can help you receive an accurate diagnosis using imaging and explore potential treatment options tailored to your needs. Use our 24/7 scheduling tool below to book a consultation online with USA Fibroid Centers.
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Managing Uterine Fibroid Pain
In addition to over-the-counter pain medications, some temporary methods for fibroid pain relief, including:
- Placing a hot water bottle or heating pad on your abdomen
- Exercising to release pain-relieving endorphins
- Eating a healthy, well-rounded diet
While these methods may provide short-term relief, they do not address the underlying cause of fibroid pain. If fibroid pain impacts your daily life, contact a specialist at USA Fibroid Centers to learn more about non-surgical treatment options, such as uterine fibroid embolization (UFE).
UFE to Relieve Fibroid Pain
UFE allows you a better option than feeling like you need to choose between major surgery or living with fibroid pain forever. Many women believe that hysterectomy –– the complete surgical removal of the uterus –– is the only fibroid treatment option, but this isn’t the case.
At USA Fibroid Centers, we take a different, less invasive approach to fibroid pain management with a non-surgical treatment known as uterine fibroid embolization (UFE).
UFE is an outpatient, minimally invasive procedure that can eliminate your symptoms and leave your uterus and surrounding organs intact. Another benefit is that UFE preserves fertility, can treat multiple and large fibroids with no incisions, and fibroid reoccurrence is extremely rare. Treatment takes only 30 to 45 minutes, after which you can go home the same day to begin your recovery. Most women are back to regular activity within one to two weeks.
Fibroid pain treatment with UFE can help you take back control of your life. Get started on your path to recovery by finding a fibroid treatment center near you or by calling 855.615.2555.
FAQs about Uterine Fibroid Pain
Can Fibroids Cause Pain?
Uterine fibroid pain is a common symptom, but women can experience no symptoms at all, especially if the fibroids are small. Larger fibroids can cause discomfort, including pelvic pain or pressure, lower back pain, painful periods, and pain during sex. Fibroids may also cause painful bowel movements, frequent urination due to bladder compression, and abdominal fullness or enlargement.
How Do Fibroids Cause Pain?
Fibroid pain arises from several factors, including the fibroids’ size, location, and weight. For example, heavier fibroids can press on pelvic organs, causing a dull ache or persistent pressure, similar to the heaviness felt during pregnancy.
Fibroids may press against the bladder, rectum, intestines, or spinal nerves, depending on location. Uterine fibroid pain can also result from degeneration, which occurs when fibroids lose their blood supply or from twisting if they grow on a stalk, leading to severe, sudden pain.
Are Fibroids Always Painful?
Uterine fibroid pain ranges from mild to severe and can be constant or occasional. Some people experience sharp or dull pain, which may radiate to the legs. This discomfort can occur during activities like intercourse, menstruation, bowel movements, or exercise. Uterine fibroid pain is typically caused by the weight pressing on nearby organs.
If you’re experiencing any pain from fibroids, scheduling an appointment with a fibroid specialist can help you decide on the best treatment for your fibroid pain.