Will uterine fibroids cause stomach pain?

Uterine fibroids may cause stomach pain, but not all patients experience this symptom. Uterine fibroids are common benign tumors in the female reproductive system, and their symptoms are closely related to the size, number and location of the fibroids.

When fibroids are small or located within the uterine muscle wall, they usually do not cause significant pain. Some patients may accidentally discover fibroids during physical examination and only show non-specific symptoms such as increased menstrual flow or prolonged menstruation. In such cases, changes in fibroids can be monitored through regular ultrasound examinations without special treatment. If fibroids press on the bladder or rectum, they may cause discomfort such as frequent urination and constipation, but the pain will usually be mild.

When fibroids exceed 5 cm in size or grow under the mucosa, they can easily stimulate uterine contractions and cause cramping abdominal pain. Menstrual pain may worsen, along with the passage of large blood clots. Under special circumstances, when a pedunculated subserosal fibroid twists, it will cause sudden severe abdominal pain and require emergency surgery. Red degeneration of fibroids is more common during pregnancy and manifests as persistent lower abdominal pain accompanied by low-grade fever. This situation requires hospitalization for conservative treatment.

It is recommended that women with persistent abdominal pain undergo a gynecological examination and pelvic ultrasound promptly. You should avoid taking estrogen-containing health products on a daily basis and maintain a regular schedule. Eat an appropriate amount of broccoli, soy products and other phytoestrogens to regulate your diet, and have a gynecological examination at least once a year. If the fibroids grow rapidly or cause severe anemia, surgical removal may need to be considered.