The Pressure is On: How Uterine Fibroids Affect Your Bowels, Bladder, and Menstruation
Some of the most common complaints of uterine fibroids patients are problems with their bowel movements, bladder, and menstruation. These happen because of the pressure caused by the fibroids growths on the areas surrounding the uterus. In a number of cases, these problems could be managed by medication, diet, and therapies. There are some cases, however, when they progress into life-threatening conditions. Knowing how fibroids affect your bowels, bladder, and menstruation will help you watch out for warning signs so you can seek treatment right away and avoid serious complications.
Diarrhea and Constipation
Rectal pressure can also cause loose stools along with constipation. The hard stools trapped along the rectal passageway and only soft and loose stools are able to go past the point of obstruction in the rectum. In extreme cases when not even loose stools can pass, the bowel obstruction could endanger the life of the patient.
The pressure that fibroids exert on your bowels could cause you to have difficulties moving your bowels. It could also cause painful bowel movements that could consequently lead to hemorrhoids. Other symptoms could include back pain and bloating.
Incontinence and Urinary Retention
The increased pressure on the bladder due to fibroids may make it difficult for women to hold their pee. The large fibroids or an enlarged uterus due to fibroids could press against the bladder and reduce its holding capacity for urine. Patients with this fibroids condition could feel the need to pee more frequently.
On the other hand, despite the feeling of fullness in the bladder, some patients are unable to pee and suffer from urinary retention. Although rare, the possibility complete obstruction is still present. This could result to permanent kidney damage.
Menstrual Cramping and Bleeding
Heavy menstrual bleeding is one of the most common manifestation of uterine fibroids. Although not exclusively the culprit, fibroids are known to cause the uterine lining to thicken and shed more blood during and in between periods. The heavy bleeding could persist longer than the normal period of 5 to 7 days. Spotting or bleeding can also happen midway during the cycle. Patients may experience severe cramps as a result of fibroids too.
A serious consequence of heavy menstrual bleeding is anemia. When patients start losing more blood than normal, some of their bodily functions are affected as well. Weakness and fatigue could prevent them from going about their daily routine and performing their regular tasks.
Don’t Let Fibroids Interfere with Your Life
Ignoring the warning signs that the pressure of uterine fibroids is too much is a big mistake that could cost you not only time and money but even your life. You do not even have to get to that point when you experience symptoms. While you cannot prevent the growth of fibroids, you can minimize your chances of every having them or you can minimize their impact on your life today. Have yourself checked whether or not you have symptoms indicating that fibroids are affecting your bowel movements, your bladder, and your menstruation.
Share this:
