The Link Between Fibroids and Irregular Bleeding

Irregular bleeding is any bleeding not normal for you, whether it’s heavier-than-normal menstrual bleeding, spotting between periods, or bleeding after sex. Bleeding can result from a number of causes, but one of the most common is uterine fibroids.

Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Hany H Ahmed diagnoses and treats all manner of irregular bleeding at his practice in Houston, Texas, including that caused by fibroids.

As many women aren’t aware of the connection between fibroids and irregular bleeding, Dr. Ahmed is taking this opportunity to explain the relationship.

What are uterine fibroids?

Fibroids, medically termed leiomyomas, are growths of muscle and other tissues that form in or on the wall of the uterus. They’re usually benign and are the most common noncancerous tumor in women.

Fibroids can grow as one nodule or in a cluster ranging in size from just 1 millimeter to more than 20 centimeters (8 inches) in diameter or greater. The growths develop within the uterine wall, inside the main uterine cavity, or on the outer surface of the uterus.

Uterine fibroids differ depending on where they’re located and how they attach to the tissue:

• Intramural: most common type, embedded in the muscular wall
• Submucosal: grow under the inner lining
• Subserosal: grow under the surface lining; may become large and grow into the pelvis
• Pedunculated: least common type, attach to your uterus with a stalk or stem

Fibroids affect about 40%-80% of people with a uterus. They occur most often in those ages 30-50, are less common in women who’ve entered menopause, and generally don’t appear in girls who aren’t yet menstruating.

The cause of fibroids is unknown, but doctors believe estrogen and progesterone, a woman’s reproductive hormones, play a role. Studies show fibroids tend to grow when hormone levels rise, such as during pregnancy, and shrink when hormone levels are low, as in perimenopause.

Symptoms of uterine fibroids

Small fibroids generally don’t cause any symptoms, and you may not even know they’re there. They require no treatment other than regular observation to ensure they’re not getting larger.

 Larger fibroids produce a variety of symptoms that involve irregular bleeding, including:

• Heavier-than-normal bleeding during your period
• Painful bleeding during your period
• Bleeding or spotting between your periods
• Bleeding or spotting after sex

Other symptoms of larger fibroids include:

• Abdominal bloating
• Pain during sex
• Frequent urination or the inability to urinate due to fibroid pressure on the bladder
• Low back pain
• Pressure on rectum
• Chronic vaginal discharge

The symptoms usually stabilize or go away after menopause because hormone levels decline.

Treatment for fibroids depends on the type and severity of your symptoms.

If you’re experiencing irregular bleeding, come into our office for an evaluation. To get started, call the office to schedule an appointment with Dr. Ahmed, or book online with us today.