What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?

Not all UFs are symptomatic, but those that are can grow, causing:

•  Heavy and painful menstruation; bleeding between periods; longer-lasing periods

•  Painful sexual intercourse

•  Urinary frequency and urgency

•  Pelvic pain / pressure;

•  Abdominal fullness, gas, constipation

•  Pregnancy complications (rare) - increased blood flow and estrogen levels during pregnancy may cause UFs to grow, but return to normal size after delivery. Insufficient room in uterus may require early delivery; C-section may be needed if UFs block birth canal or cause wrong positioning of baby; may cause heavy bleeding immediately after giving birth.

Other complications of fibroids include:

•  A pedunculated fibroid can become twisted and cause a kink in the blood vessels feeding the tumor - may need surgery;

•  Anemia - may be severe with heavy bleeding

•  Urinary tract infections - pressure from the fibroid can prevent bladder emptying fully;

•  Malignant change (extremely rare) - called a leiomyosarcoma

•  Infertility (rare)