What’s A Fibroid? Types & Symptoms
Fibroids are super common (up to 80% of women will have one by the time they are 50). But many women don’t know what a fibroid is or haven’t heard of them until they are diagnosed with one.
So I want to share with you exactly what they are:
👉Benign tumors (less than 5% of the time, they are cancerous)
👉Also referred to as uterine polyps or myomas (which is why the surgery to remove a fibroid is called a “myomectomy”)
👉Made up of smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissue
👉All about the uterus, baby. You will very rarely find them in the ovaries. Hence being called “uterine fibroids.”
👉Teeny tiny and you have no idea you have one (or more), OR they can grow to the size of an 8-month pregnancy and you DEFINITELY know you have one
Some women will never know they have them (they often shrink at menopause). Unfortunately, many other women will experience extreme bleeding, pelvic and back pain, bladder issues and more due to fibroids.
And yet they are one of the LEAST studied of women’s reproductive conditions. Women are most often guided to deal with their fibroids through estrogen-suppressing drugs or surgery.
Fibroid Types
It’s important to understand there are multiple types of fibroids.
And when it comes to symptoms, their location is almost as important as the size.
Here’s the breakdown:
👉Intramural: the most common type, they are located in the middle layer of the uterus
👉Subserosal: located on the outer wall of the uterus. These can impact local organs like the bladder and the colon, as well as push on pelvic nerves, causing pain anywhere from the abdomen down to the legs.
👉Submucosal: located under the uterine lining. This type causes the most heavy menstrual bleeding and clotting.
👉Cervical: located in the cervical tissue.
👉Pedunculated: can be either subserosal or submucosal. These are stalk-like fibroids that develop a stem either outside or inside the uterus, and if they break off, can cause excruciating pain.
Most Common Symptoms of Fibroids
How do you know if you have a fibroid? The only way to know for sure is to go to your OB-GYN and get a pelvic ultrasound. This ultrasound will tell you the size and location of the fibroid.
But here are some of the most common symptoms of fibroids to look out for if you haven’t had an ultrasound:
✅Heavy bleeding
✅Changes in your menstrual cycle, especially if it has become longer
✅Painful urination
✅A pushing or painful sensation in your abdomen
✅Bloating
✅Painful sex
✅Constipation
✅Weight gain, particularly in the lower abdomen
When you have one or more fibroids that are causing symptoms, you’ll have multiple symptoms, not just one. painful se
Now that you know what a fibroid is, where they are located, and what the main symptoms are, learn what causes them, allopathic approaches to fibroids, pros and cons of surgical interventions, food and dietary support for fibroids, and spiritual aspects of fibroids.
Physical detox support is very important if you have or have had fibroids. My favorite physical detox supports include castor oil packs, Higher Dose’s Infrared Sauna blanket (get 15% off with code “Whole15” at checkout), epsom salt baths, and coffee enemas. Here’s more about why physical detox support is so important.
If you know you have fibroids and are ready to work on them from a holistic standpoint, check out my Fibroids 101 course, which includes a detailed comprehensive approach to reducing fibroids.
