Fibroid Pain Relief
About 30 percent of all women get fibroids by age 35, and almost 80 percent of women will have fibroids by age 50. How do you recognize and manage uterine fibroid pain?
Causes of Fibroid Pain
Uterine fibroids can be the root cause of many different symptoms. Sometimes, these benign tumors can trigger changes in the characteristics of a woman’s period or manifest as other symptoms that are not commonly associated with fibroids, and sometimes fibroids are asymptomatic.
Fibroid pain (especially during periods) is one of the most common symptoms of uterine fibroids. Normally, symptoms begin to develop as the fibroids grow larger. The type and severity of the pain fibroids can cause, most often depend on the location and size of the fibroids.
Fibroids can form inside the uterine cavity and cause the uterus to enlarge, causing pain and pressure.
The enlarged uterus can then begin to press on the nearby organs, like the bladder, and create issues like having to urinate frequently, which can prevent you from getting enough sleep at night. They can press on nerves and cause back and leg pain, and pain during sexual intercourse or when exercising.
Why Uterine Fibroids Affect Your Period Pain
Uterine fibroids affect your period and how much pain you experience because they can interfere with the normal way your uterus is designed to work during your period. Some of the reasons they can impact your cycle include the following:
- They increase the surface area inside the uterus, which gives your body more tissue to shed during your cycle and can cause heavier bleeding.
- Your uterus creates contractions during your period to shed its lining. Fibroids can make your uterus work harder and cause stronger, more painful cramps.
- They can affect blood flow and increase the number of blood vessels in your uterus, which can make your periods heavier. They can also block the blood flow and make your uterus contract using more force, which can magnify your pain level.
- They can irritate the uterine lining and cause spotting between your cycles or make each cycle last longer.
- They can trigger your uterus to produce and release more of the natural chemicals your body releases during your period that cause pain and cramping. This increase can cause increased inflammation, which can add to your pain and discomfort.
- They may change the timing or normal pattern of your period if they are exposed to excess estrogen.
Approximately one out of three women diagnosed with fibroids will experience painful menstruation. The pain can be sharp or dull and crampy, or it can be so intense that it rivals labor pains.
How to Manage Fibroid Pain
The best way to treat fibroid pain is to eliminate the fibroids. If you are just looking to manage your symptoms for the time being, it is important to understand where your fibroids are located, their size, and if they are actively growing.
To find out exactly what is going on with your fibroids, you need to undergo an MRI. An MRI provides very detailed images of the fibroids, and the doctor will be able to see their size and location, and may even be able to determine the underlying cause of your fibroid symptoms.
Some things that are often used to help alleviate fibroid pain include:
Painkillers (over the counter or prescription). Most often, they help reduce fibroid pain. But keep in mind that pills are only a temporary solution.
Hormonal therapy. Oral birth control pills or an IUD can help reduce or control the size of the myomas and may reduce the pain. But these hormone therapies are only a temporary solution that may help treat unpleasant symptoms, but they do not eliminate the root cause.
Heating pad. Many women find that applying heat to their lower abdominal area helps relieve pain. Heat increases your blood circulation and helps your muscles relax. A warm bath or a shower may also help to relieve your discomfort.
Changes to your Diet. Sometimes, making changes to your diet can help reduce abdominal pain. Following a low-estrogen diet, which includes eating more red and green vegetables and citrus fruits, drinking green tea, and limiting red meat, dairy products, fast food, soy products, etc., may help alleviate some fibroid pain and discomfort.
Get enough exercise. Engaging in physical activity like walking can help get your circulation moving and help reduce pain. Doing simple exercises like yoga or stretching can help relax your muscles and lessen pain by reducing tension.
The exercise in the picture below can help you relax your abdominal area and may help alleviate pain and cramping. Bending your knees a bit may help if you are unable to keep your legs straight. You can do this during short 5-minute intervals during the day.
Light stretching by changing your position may also help reduce your fibroid-related pain.
- Lie down on your side and bend your knees, and lift them up to your chin. This pose can relieve stress on your internal organs and bring relief.
- Another option is sitting down and leaning forward until your head touches the floor while stretching your arms backward. Hold the pose for a minute.
Treatment of Uterine Fibroids
The only way to permanently get rid of fibroid pain is to eliminate the uterine fibroids. Finding real relief from symptoms caused by myomas may be possible with Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). This non-surgical treatment shrinks all fibroids and allows you to get back to your life without the risks and long recovery time of fibroid surgery.
Your doctor may suggest surgery (myomectomy, hysterectomy, or partial hysterectomy) to treat your fibroids, but uterine fibroid embolization has a much lower risk profile and a very fast recovery compared with surgery.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a nonsurgical procedure that allows women to keep the uterus intact and fully functional, without the risks and complications that come with fibroid surgery. It effectively cuts off the blood supply to the fibroids, and they gradually shrink and die, eliminating many of their painful symptoms as well as heavy bleeding.
Call Atlanta Fibroid Center today at 770-953-2600 to find out more about UFE or click the button below to make an appointment with Dr. John Lipman.
