The presence of uterine fibroids can be a source of distress for many child-bearing women. This is why many would opt to have them removed surgically or through other non-invasive means.
On the other hand, there are those who chose not to remove them. If you decide to do the same, you must understand what your decision would imply to your body.
Why Not Choose Removal?
Before doing anything, it is important to know why non-removal is a good option. All of this can be traced back to the very nature of fibroids themselves.
Occurring in women during their child-bearing and menopausal stages, fibroids may be growths that line the uterus and uterine passages. They are benign in most cases and are by-products of the body’s constant hormonal changes.
Also, there are more cases of fibroid growths occurring in women during their menopausal stage than during their child-bearing stage. In fact, 80% of the cases of fibroid removals happen in women during their late 40s while the remaining 20% is attributed to women during their early 20s to late 30s.
If you also consider that uterine fibroids usually impede a person’s ability to conceive a child or comfortably care for one in the womb, it is easy to see why many are content to not have them removed. However, this is not assurance that the fibroids will not affect a person negatively at any stage of their life.
Symptoms
The threat that a fibroid poses is directly linked to their size and location. For instance, fibroids that grow in the uterine cavity can result in infertility or loss of pregnancy.
If they grow near the urinary tract, they can also cause slight abdominal pain and frequent urges to urinate.
Other symptoms of a fibroid will include the following:
- Menstrual bleeding that is heavier than your usual volume.
- Longer menstrual periods. Depending on the size, the extension could range from a few days to several weeks.
- Chronic constipation.
- Pain in the back and legs.
- Occasional headaches and dizziness due to the accompanying hormonal imbalances.
In some cases, the fibroid can result in short bouts of pain. However, this is good as it means that it has outgrown its blood supply and is soon going to die.
When Should You See a Doctor?
Although uterine fibroids are generally harmless, their ability to grow in size through feeding off your blood and nutrients can be problematic. This all depends on where they grow but their effects could become serious the longer they remain in the body.
See your doctor if you continue to experience the following:
- Severe pelvic pain that does not go away in a few days.
- Bleeding or spotting in between your usual menstrual periods.
- Prolonged difficulties in emptying your bladder.
- Moments of pain in the abdomen that is prolonged and even unbearable.
Granted, not all of these symptoms indicate that you have a large fibroid growing in your body. All the same, it is best to have a medical professional look at it so the symptoms can be alleviated as soon as possible.
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