Women can have fibroids and never even know it. No symptoms are present and the growths cause no trouble. On the other hand, some women with a single small fibroid may have multiple symptoms that will cause them to seek medical help. Symptoms may include heavy or abnormal menstrual bleeding, bleeding between periods, and an acute or chronic pain or pressure in the lower abdomen. Excessive bleeding may lead to anemia, a low blood count that can make a woman feel tired or sick.
Fibroid growth seems to be stimulated by estrogen, often resulting in symptom occurrence.
The levels of estrogen in the body can rise or fall based on natural events or medications. For example, pregnancy causes an increase in estrogen, while menopause causes a decrease. As you would probably expect, when a woman enters menopause and stops producing estrogen, fibroids tend to be much less of a problem. During a routine gynecological exam, the physician will feel the size and shape of your uterus. If the physician finds your uterus is enlarged or irregularly shaped, fibroids may be suspected.