Uterine fibroids are growths that may develop in or around your womb. They’re non-cancerous and consist of fibrous and muscle tissue.
They are also known as uterine leiomyomas or uterine myomas. In most cases, you will not instantly know if you’re already having uterine fibroids because these non-cancerous growths hardly show any symptoms.
If you frequent your gynae clinic in Potong Pasir, though, they can be discovered during routine gynecological scans, examinations, or tests. The symptoms will mostly appear if the growths are too much.
How do Fibroids make you feel?
Just like most other conditions, the symptoms of uterine fibroids aren’t pleasing. Uterine fibroids can make you feel pain which can be very intense at times. Contact your gynae clinic in Singapore if you get the symptoms explained below;
- Heavy Menstrual Bleeding
Heavy vaginal bleeding or bleeding that doesn’t seem to stop is one of the common complaints most women with stubborn uterine fibroids report. Most of them describe the bleeding as out of the ordinary, mostly coming with blood clots.
Since it causes too much blood loss, some women develop anemia. The anemia symptoms you may experience in this case include; headaches, fatigue, and lightheadedness. There are practical options for uterine fibroids treatment so, be sure to contact your gynae clinic in Singapore if you get too much bleeding that impacts your day-to-day programs.
- Pelvic Pain
If your fibroids aren’t detected early and managed, they can go through a process known as degeneration, where they cause acute pelvic pain. This pain is usually confined to a specific spot and should resolve without any treatment within 15 to 30 days.
The provider at your gynae clinic in Singapore may prescribe pain relievers to help you manage the pain. Some women also experience chronic pelvic pain, which would be mild but constant and affect just a specific region.
- Lower Back Pain
Even though this is rare, fibroids are also known to press against nerves and muscles found on the lower back. This is what would cause lower back pain.
You will most likely develop lower back pain due to fibroids if you grow a large fibroid on the back surface of your uterus. A gynecologist may recommend uterine fibroids treatment if they suspect that the lower back pain could be caused by enlarged fibroids.
- Pain or Discomfort during Sex
Fibroids are also known to make intercourse uncomfortable. If you experience pain during intercourse and it is due to fibroids, this pain may not be regular. This implies that you may only experience it at some times during your menstrual cycle or in some sex positions.
- Bladder Complications
Other than the discomfort, most women who struggle with uterine fibroids also complain of bladder problems. The bladder complications, in this case, may make you want to urinate more frequently.
For example, you may find urinating a challenge even if you feel that the bladder is full. You may also be feeling frequent urges to urinate at night.
You may get these symptoms if the uterine fibroids press against your bladder, thereby blocking the normal urine outflow or lowering its natural capacity for holding urine. The clinicians at your women’s clinic in Singapore may recommend treatment for bladder complications to give you some respite from these struggles.
- Pelvic Discomfort
If you have developed large fibroids, you may feel some pressure or heaviness in your lower pelvis or abdomen. The discomfort due to large fibroids may also make exercising, bending over, or lying with your face down a challenge.
- Rectal Problems
If you experience persistent rectal problems, then chances are high you could be dealing with enlarged uterine fibroids. Large fibroids may press against your rectum, thereby giving you feelings of rectal fullness.
They may also make you experience difficulty or pain when having your bowel movements. If you experience these symptoms, it is prudent to visit a gynae clinic near you for assessments and treatments since there is a risk of the fibroids developing to hemorrhoids.
Does a Gynecologist Remove Fibroids?
A gynecologist can help you diagnose uterine fibroids through lab tests and ultrasounds. Other imaging tests that may also be effective in diagnosis include MRI scans, hysterosonography, and hysteroscopy, among others.
Do note that there isn’t a specific best approach for treating uterine fibroids that the gynae clinic in Singapore may recommend outright. If you only get mild symptoms that you can live with, the gynecologist may recommend watchful waiting since fibroids are not cancerous and would hardly affect your pregnancy.
Besides, they may also even shrink when your reproductive hormone levels go down after menopause. If they are a cause for concern, the specialist at your gynae clinic in Singapore may recommend medications targeting menstrual cycle regulating hormones.
In this case, the goal would be to help you manage symptoms like pelvic pressure or excessive menstrual bleeding. Therefore, these treatments won’t eliminate your fibroids but only help in shrinking them.
Other than the medications, the gynae clinic can also help you manage this condition through a non-invasive procedure. There are multiple options in this case, with the ultimate goal being to destroy the fibroids.
There are also minimally invasive procedures that you can get at an accredited gynae clinic in Singapore to manage uterine fibroids. These procedures work by destroying the uterine fibroids but not surgically removing them.
Traditional uterine fibroids surgical removal is also an option you or your gynecologist may want to consider for uterine fibroids removal. The surgical procedures will most commonly be approved if you have very deep, multiple, or very large fibroids.
Do note that the conventional uterine fibroids surgical removals are major surgeries. They may give you a permanent solution but also come with a few downsides you would need to understand fully before consenting to treatment.
For example, hysterectomy, which is very effective in a long-term or permanent solution to uterine fibroids, would make you unable to give birth again. Therefore, be sure to discuss your treatment options at length so you make sound decisions knowing and content with what you can expect in the long term.
Final Word
A qualified gynecologist can help you minimize the effects of symptoms that come with uterine fibroids, shrink the fibroids or surgically remove them. If you get complications which you suspect could be uterine fibroids, connect with our medical team today to book an assessment.
PK Women’s Specialist Clinic @ The Venue
2 Tai Thong Cres, #01-12 The Venue Shoppes, Singapore 347836
+65 6636 9909