Fibroids, medically referred to as uterine leiomyomas, are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years. While they are a common occurrence among women, many are unaware of their presence until they cause symptoms. Some women may wonder if they can feel fibroids moving around, and this article aims to shed light on the topic.
A Closer Look at Uterine Fibroids
Before delving into whether women can feel fibroids moving, it’s essential to understand what leiomyomas are and their typical characteristics. Uterine fibroids are tumors that are benign and develop within the wall of muscle within the uterus. Their dimensions, forms, and locations can differ, and some women may have a single fibroid, while others may have multiple. They can also grow in groups, be attached directly to the uterus, or grow on stems and hang down. Medical professionals and researchers still do not have a perfect understanding of what causes them to develop or how to completely prevent them; however, they have learned some of the factors that can promote their growth.
Common Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids
Even though not every female affected by fibroids encounters symptoms, here are some prevalent indications and signs linked to these pesky growths:
- Menstrual Changes: Fibroids can cause heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia), prolonged periods, and irregular menstrual cycles. In serious cases, the loss of blood can result in a serious condition called anemia;
- Pelvic Pain: Some women may experience pain in the abdomen or pelvic discomfort, which can range from mild to severe;
- Pressure and Bloating: Large fibroids can create a feeling of fullness or pressure in the lower abdomen as well as create a protrusion often mistaken for pregnancy or weight gain;
- Frequent Urination: If fibroids press against the bladder, they can lead to a frequent urge to urinate, which can be especially problematic when you are trying to sleep through the night;
- Backache or leg pains: Although a lesser-known symptom, fibroids can press on nerves in the back and cause backaches or leg pains.
Can Women Feel Fibroids Moving?
First, to clear up a misconception, since they are not located within your stomach you will not feel them in that location at all. Fibroids will typically be felt in the pelvis, between the belly button and the pubic bone. An OB-GYN can sometimes feel fibroids inside you during a check-up because they are hard lumps and can be pretty large. While these growths are known to change in size over time, they are not capable of “moving” in the uterus in the way that one might imagine.
Fibroids are static growths within the muscular wall of the uterus and have very limited ability to move. The uterus is fixed into position by multiple ligaments, but it can shift slightly from side to side and from front to back.
Larger fibroids will sometimes create a lumpy contour to the surface of the uterus, and, so, bumps felt in the lower abdomen may seem to shift slightly when a woman changes position as the uterus moves within the pelvis. For this reason, women may feel that certain positions help relieve some symptoms, as the slight shift in position can take pressure off other structures like the bladder and some nerves.
Other Symptoms Women May Feel
Although fibroids themselves have limited ability to move, women who have fibroids may describe some other sensations that they might mistake for movement. These sensations can include:
- Pressure and Discomfort
- As fibroids grow, they can exert pressure on surrounding organs, leading to a feeling of pressure or discomfort in the pelvic region. This sensation may vary with the fibroid’s size and location.
- Changes in Sensation
- Some women may notice changes in how their abdomen or pelvis feels due to fibroids, such as a sense of fullness or bloating.
- Pain
- Fibroids can cause pain, especially during menstruation or sexual intercourse. This pain may be described as cramping or aching and can be mistaken for movement.
As mentioned before, these sensations are not the result of fibroids physically moving within the uterus but rather the consequences of their presence and potential changes in size or position over time.
What Can You Do If You Are Having Symptoms And Think They Are A Result Of Fibroids?
If you think you may have these tumors in your uterus, the Atlanta Fibroid Center can help. In addition to the symptoms discussed above, uterine fibroids can cause various symptoms that can affect your ability to follow your normal work, home, or social schedules. An imaging test such as an MRI can clear up the mystery and even clearly show how many, the size, and location of any uterine fibroids you may have.
The experts at the Atlanta Fibroid Center can help you get rid of fibroids and their awful symptoms. In one quick procedure that does not involve surgery, all your fibroids can be neutralized, so they can no longer thwart your plans or keep you from living your life. We would love the opportunity to speak with you about the UFE (uterine fibroid embolization) procedure and answer any questions you may have. Reach out to us today and live all of your tomorrow without fibroids!
