INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGY
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Symptoms

Do I have fibroids?


Many fibroids don’t cause symptoms.

However fibroids are very common occurring in up to 50% of women by age 40.

Only 20 percent of women who have fibroids have symptoms.

This means up to 10% of women by age 40 have fibroids that are producing symptoms and the percentage is much higher in African-American women.

Depending on size, location and number of fibroids, they may cause:

   * Heavy, prolonged menstrual periods and unusual monthly bleeding,                           sometimes in mid-cycle. This can lead to anemia.
   * Pelvic pain and pressure
   * Pain in the back and legs
   * Pain during sexual intercourse
   * Bladder pressure leading to a frequent urge to urinate
   * Pressure on the bowel, leading to constipation and bloating
   * Abnormally enlarged or distorted abdomen
   * Infertility, repeated miscarriage, premature labor

Unfortunately, these symptoms can be caused by any of a number of disorders.

When a patient goes to her medical professional with one or more of these symptoms, the doctor should suspect the possibility of uterine fibroids.  It is very important to be seen by a physician who regularly diagnoses and treats women with fibroids.

Subsequently, there are a variety of diagnostic tests which are employed to arrive at a definitive diagnosis of fibroids.

In the section on diagnosis, you will learn that although ultrasound is readily available in many doctor's offices, it is MRI that is required to be absolutely sure of the diagnosis.





Copyright © 2008, Joel Garris MD, FACR. All rights reserved.
Uterine Fibroids