What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?

Written by Li Shun Hua
Obstetrics and Gynecology
Updated on September 05, 2024
00:00
00:00

If the uterine fibroids are relatively small, they generally do not show symptoms. However, submucosal uterine fibroids, regardless of their size, can cause heavy menstrual bleeding and prolonged periods. Intramural uterine fibroids, if protruding into the uterine cavity, can also lead to heavy menstrual bleeding and prolonged periods. If the uterine fibroids are large and press against the bladder in front, symptoms such as frequent urination and urinary urgency can occur. If they press against the rectum in the back, it can lead to difficulty in defecation or a feeling of downward pain. Therefore, if symptoms are present with uterine fibroids, surgical treatment is necessary.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Fan Li Ping
Obstetrics and Gynecology
51sec home-news-image

Do uterine fibroids require surgery?

Whether or not surgery is needed for uterine fibroids primarily depends on clinical symptoms, with clinical symptoms as the criterion. If the fibroids are small but affect menstruation, such as heavy periods or noticeable prolongation and increase in menstrual flow, surgery might be necessary. Another consideration for surgery is if the fibroid noticeably enlarges in a short period, and there's a suspicion of malignant transformation. Additionally, if there are significant symptomatic compressions clinically, surgery might also be considered. Therefore, if someone has uterine fibroids, it's important to consult with a gynecologist who can assess the situation based on ultrasound and physical examination to determine whether surgery is required.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 5sec home-news-image

What should I do about uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids first require examining the location and size of the fibroids. Uterine fibroids can be classified into subserosal fibroids, submucosal fibroids, and intramural fibroids. If it is a submucosal fibroid, no matter the size of the fibroid, it is necessary to promptly perform a hysteroscopic submucosal fibroid surgery. If the submucosal fibroid is large, it may be necessary to perform a hysterectomy through abdominal surgery. For intramural and subserosal fibroids, if the fibroid's diameter exceeds five centimeters or if the fibroid is growing rapidly, surgical treatment is recommended at that time, because there is a chance of malignant transformation in uterine fibroids, which ranges from 0.2% to 0.3%. Therefore, once such a situation occurs, surgical treatment is required.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
41sec home-news-image

How to check for uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are a type of benign tumor of the female reproductive organs. Uterine fibroids are a common gynecological disease and are frequently occurring; they can be clearly seen via abdominal ultrasound. Uterine fibroids mainly form due to the proliferation of uterine smooth muscle cells, with a small amount of fibrous connective tissue existing as a supportive tissue. If the fibroids do not exceed five centimeters and do not affect menstruation or present any clinical symptoms, conservative treatment can be considered, with attention to regular follow-up examinations.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Shen Li Wen
Obstetrics and Gynecology
58sec home-news-image

Uterine fibroid examination items

When suspecting that a woman has uterine fibroids, the first step is to perform a routine gynecological examination by opening the vagina with a speculum. This is necessary because some women's uterine fibroids are located on the cervix; at this point, it is possible to see an increased size of the cervix and the fibroid may be visible protruding from the cervix. Moreover, during the bimanual gynecological examination, one may find that the uterus is enlarged and irregularly shaped with localized protrusions. Generally, the mobility is quite good. Additionally, some auxiliary examinations can be combined, such as the most common transvaginal ultrasound or pelvic abdominal ultrasound. For suspected submucosal uterine fibroids, a hysteroscopic examination can also be performed for diagnosis.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Sun Shan Shan
Obstetrics and Gynecology
1min 11sec home-news-image

Uterine fibroids are classified into several types.

Uterine fibroids are classified by location into two types: myometrial fibroids and cervical fibroids. Based on the relationship between the uterine fibroids and the muscular wall, there are three kinds of uterine fibroids: intramural fibroids, subserosal fibroids, and submucosal fibroids. Intramural fibroids, primarily located within the uterine wall and enclosed by a muscular layer, are recommended for surgical treatment once the fibroid's diameter exceeds four centimeters, as they tend to grow rapidly. Similarly, subserosal fibroids grow towards the peritoneal surface of the uterus and are on the exterior of the uterus. If subserosal fibroids also exceed four centimeters in diameter and are accompanied by menstrual changes, surgical treatment is advised. Furthermore, submucosal fibroids, regardless of their size, require timely surgical intervention due to their association with heavy bleeding and a high risk of anemia.