Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that develop in the muscle wall of the uterus. They are very common, and many women have them without ever knowing. When fibroids do cause trouble, the symptoms range from the well known, like heavy periods, to the surprising, like nausea, dizziness, and low back pain. Here is how to recognize whether you have fibroids and what Bloom OB/GYN can do about them in 2026.
Types of Fibroids and Where They Grow
Fibroids are named for the location where they sit. Intramural fibroids grow inside the muscular wall and are the most common type. Subserosal fibroids grow on the outer surface and can push against the bladder, bowel, or spine. Submucosal fibroids bulge into the uterine cavity and, even when small, tend to cause the heaviest bleeding and the most trouble with fertility.
Fibroids run in families and are more common in Black women, who also tend to develop them younger. Estrogen and progesterone feed their growth, so they usually shrink after menopause.
Symptoms of Fibroids Most Women Recognize
The classic signs relate to bleeding and bulk. Periods become heavy, long, or clotty, and you may pass clots larger than a quarter. A growing fibroid can cause pelvic pressure or a feeling of fullness, a belly that looks bloated or pregnant, pain during sex, and the need to urinate often because the fibroid presses on your bladder.
Can Fibroids Cause Nausea, Dizziness, or Fever?
Yes, though these symptoms are indirect. Nausea often comes from a large fibroid pressing on the stomach or bowel, which can also cause constipation and early fullness at meals. Severe cramping can trigger nausea on its own.
Dizziness is most often a sign of anemia. Months of heavy bleeding drain your iron stores, leaving you lightheaded, tired, short of breath on stairs, or with a racing heart. It is one of the most important fibroid complications to catch, because it is easy to treat.
Fever is uncommon. It can happen when a fibroid outgrows its blood supply and begins to break down, a process called degeneration, which causes sudden sharp pain, sometimes with low-grade fever and nausea. This is more likely during pregnancy. A high fever is not typical of fibroids and should be evaluated promptly.
Which Size of Fibroid Is Dangerous?
The size of the fibroid alone does not dictate treatment. A small submucosal fibroid can cause worse bleeding than a large one on the outer wall. What matters is whether it is causing symptoms, pressing on other organs, growing quickly, or affecting your plans for pregnancy. Fibroids are almost never cancerous, but rapid growth, especially after menopause, always deserves evaluation.
What Problems Can Fibroids Cause if Left Untreated?
Fibroids do not have to be treated if they are not bothering you. Left unchecked, symptomatic fibroids can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, ongoing pelvic and back pain, and bladder or bowel problems. Depending on their location, they can make it harder to conceive and raise the chance of miscarriage, breech position, or a cesarean birth.
When Do Fibroids Need Treatment Versus Monitoring?
If your fibroids are small and your symptoms mild, your provider may simply watch them with periodic exams and in-office ultrasound. Treatment becomes the better path when bleeding disrupts your life, anemia develops, pain or pressure is constant, or fibroids interfere with fertility. Because fibroids shrink after menopause, timing also plays a role.
Fibroid Treatment Options at Bloom OB/GYN
Treatment moves from simplest to most definitive, and many women never need surgery:
- Medication: hormonal birth control pills or a hormonal IUD lighten bleeding, tranexamic acid reduces flow during your period, and hormone-blocking medicines can shrink fibroids for a period of time before surgery or menopause
- Hysteroscopic surgery: submucosal fibroids can be removed through the cervix with no incision at all, often as a same-day procedure
- Laparoscopic surgery: fibroids in the wall or outer surface are removed through a few small incisions, preserving the uterus for women who want future pregnancies
- Laparoscopic hysterectomy: for women who are done having children and want a permanent solution, removing the uterus through small incisions ends fibroid symptoms for good
Bloom OB/GYN specializes in these minimally invasive approaches. Compared with traditional open surgery, they mean less pain, a shorter hospital stay, and a return to normal activity in days to a couple of weeks instead of six or more.
Getting Answers About Your Fibroid Symptoms in Washington, DC
Heavy periods, pelvic pressure, and unexplained nausea or dizziness are worth investigating, not enduring. An exam and on-site ultrasound at Bloom OB/GYN can confirm whether fibroids are the cause, and then your provider will walk you through options that fit your symptoms, your age, and your family plans. Schedule an appointment at Bloom OB/GYN today to start that conversation.
