If you’re experiencing abdominal swelling but are not pregnant, it’s possible that you have an enlarged uterus. While this condition can be caused by a number of factors, a common one is uterine fibroids. Depending on the cause, an enlarged uterus can contribute to bloating, constipation, abnormal menstruation, frequent urination, and, in some cases, fertility problems. If you’re wondering if your belly bulge is the result of uterine fibroids, keep reading.
Symptoms That Point To Fibroid Belly Bulge
A fibroid belly bulge occurs when uterine fibroids begin developing in your uterine tissues. As these non-cancerous tumors continue to develop, the uterus sometimes has to grow to accommodate them. The first sign that many women experience is that their clothing isn’t fitting like it used to. Sometimes they experience difficulty moving around or bending over. The fibroid belly bulge can make it difficult to participate in normal daily activities in severe cases.
Unexplained weight gain can also be the result of uterine fibroids. They have the potential to grow to nearly the size of a watermelon and have reached weights of up to 40 pounds. While this is unusual, these fibroids can continue to expand if left untreated. Thankfully there are treatments available to address uterine fibroids.
In more advanced cases, the uterus can grow to the size of a five-month pregnancy or larger. At this point, women often experience significant discomfort, and the enlarged uterus can press on the bladder, the bowel, or the ureters that drain the kidneys. It’s important to have fibroids of this size evaluated promptly so that complications can be prevented. In addition, the realization that they are not pregnant can be emotionally devastating for these women.
Signs of uterine fibroids include:
- Pain that occurs near your period
- Heavy cramping prior to and during menstruation
- Heavy blood flow during menstruation
- Pain in the pelvis or lower back
- Constipation
- Difficulty urinating
- Frequent urination
One thing to keep in mind about fibroids: by age 50, about 70% of white women and more than 80% of Black women will have developed uterine fibroids. However, in most cases, these fibroids are asymptomatic and harmless. Only when symptoms begin to appear is treatment necessary. The most common treatment methods for these fibroids used are hysterectomy and myomectomy. The first removes the uterus in its entirety, while the second only removes the fibroids themselves.
Both these treatment approaches result in removing significant amounts of tissue. Hysterectomy removes all possibility of childbearing, while myomectomy preserves the uterus and is often recommended for women who plan to become pregnant, although it requires surgery and recovery time. However, there is another option known as uterine fibroid embolization. This process is minimally invasive and does minimal damage to healthy uterine tissue. The result is reduced recovery time and less discomfort. Pregnancy after UFE is possible, but its effect on future fertility is not fully known, so women who plan to conceive should discuss their options with their doctor.
Speak To Your Fibroid Specialist About Fiboid Belly Bulge
If you’re concerned you may be experiencing symptoms related to fibroid belly bulge, reach out to your specialist today. They’ll perform a full exam to determine if uterine fibroids are the culprit. If so, they’ll work with you to develop a treatment plan to eliminate them.
Sources
- Management of Symptomatic Uterine Leiomyomas: ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 228. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists / Obstet Gynecol, 2021.
- ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Management of Uterine Fibroids: 2023 Update. American College of Radiology / J Am Coll Radiol, 2024.
- High cumulative incidence of uterine leiomyoma in black and white women: ultrasound evidence. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 2003.
- Uterine artery embolization for symptomatic uterine fibroids. Cochrane Database Syst Rev, 2014.
- Midterm clinical and first reproductive results of a randomized controlled trial comparing uterine fibroid embolization and myomectomy. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol, 2008.
- Renal impairment as a complication of uterine fibroids: a retrospective hospital-based study. J Obstet Gynaecol, 2013.
- Uterine Fibroids. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.