Women Often Ask: What Does Fibroid Pain Feel Like? 

For many women, uterine fibroid symptoms start with something that, at least at first, is easy to dismiss. Perhaps you are going about your day and notice a little more pressure in your lower abdomen than usual. Maybe at the same time, you notice your periods have become heavier over the past few months. Again, nothing to be concerned about. But then the dull ache sets in, as do more frequent trips to the bathroom, ongoing fatigue, headaches, and back pain. Without warning pain begins to intensify, and you begin reading online articles and forums about uterine fibroids, all of which include women just like you asking if anyone else is experiencing anything similar. Some even come right out and ask, “What does fibroid pain feel like?”

Fibroids are non-cancerous tumors that develop from muscle tissue in the uterus. And they are very common. The problem is that while uterine fibroids do have telltale signs, many women are not in pain at all. Others who have fibroid pain are not sure if what they are experiencing is related to fibroids. Some signs can be mistaken for another ailment or may not appear right away. Many women also wonder whether fibroids can cause lower back pain, leg pain, bloating, pelvic pressure, or pain that comes and goes—and the answer is yes. So, while the question above seems simple enough, understanding how fibroid pain presents itself can help women recognize when it may be time to speak with a healthcare provider.

Do Any of These Signs of Fibroid Pain Sound Familiar?

• Bloating or swelling in the lower abdomen
• Heavy or inconsistent menstrual bleeding
• Periods that last longer than a week
• Pain or pressure in the pelvic area
• Pain during sexual intercourse
• Frequent urination
• Weight gain
• Heart and vascular symptoms
• Anemia
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Constipation or rectum discomfort
• Back or leg pain

Fibroid Pain Is Not the Same for Every Woman

Fibroid pain is different for all women. But they all admit the same thing: it does not feel good. Some women have likened it to feeling like their appendix has burst or a painful period that simply will not end. But in many ways, fibroid pain exists on a spectrum. It can present with no symptoms at all and build slowly over time before leading to a slew of symptoms that are harder to ignore.

In some cases, a fibroid diagnosis catches women off guard, especially when experiencing less obvious symptoms such as fatigue, nausea, dizziness, or back pain. They assume these symptoms are related to getting older or feeling sick. But a trip to the gynecologist typically says otherwise: it is fibroid pain. For some women, this discomfort becomes more consistent and harder to ignore. It can make it difficult to sleep and may cause you to wake up suddenly at night or have you doubled over in pain.

As fibroids progress, the pain can become more intense and unpredictable. And the more fibroids you have, the worse these symptoms can get. Women may have several fibroids in different parts of the uterus—each growing at a different rate and causing different issues. The pain may also radiate into the lower back, hips, or legs.

Pain Severity Checklist: Fibroid Pain Can Range from Mild to Severe

Mild pain may include:

• Occasional pelvic pressure
• Mild cramping
• Feeling bloated

Moderate pain may include:

• Heavy periods
• Back pain
• Frequent urination
• Pelvic aching

Severe pain may include:

• Debilitating menstrual cramps
• Sharp pelvic pain
• Pain during sex
• Pain caused by fibroid degeneration or twisting
• Symptoms that interfere with work, sleep, or daily activities

If left untreated, fibroid pain can expand both physically and mentally to include any of the signs listed earlier surrounding a woman’s menstrual cycle, as well as lesser-known or less obvious signs:

Anemia

Anemia is the most common blood disorder in the world and affects approximately 1.62 billion people globally. Women with fibroids are typically also anemic because there are not enough blood and iron-rich protein (hemoglobin) being carried to tissues throughout the body. This can make getting out of bed in the morning difficult along with a constant feeling of being tired, lightheaded, dizzy, and short of breath.

Sexual dysfunction

If a woman with fibroids is experiencing pain during sex, it is often because of where the fibroids are located and their size. Fibroid sizes—which may grow as large as a melon—can place extreme pressure on the uterus and cause pain at the point of penetration and deep in the vagina, especially if any fibroids grow close to the cervix. After sex, many women experience bleeding. For some women, fibroids can affect their libido as well. All these factors can make having sex unenjoyable.

Heart conditions

Understanding how fibroids mimic heart-related symptoms is one of the most overlooked signs. A 2022 study found a strong association between uterine fibroids and hypertension. This does not necessarily mean fibroids cause heart disease directly. They do not. That said, they may contribute to persistent high blood pressure through vascular changes, increased strain on the body from fibroid-related blood loss, and hormonal issues. Additional symptoms can include heart palpitations, numbness and tingling of the hands, arrhythmia, tremors, and loss of consciousness.

Kidney swelling

As previously mentioned, fibroids come in all shapes and sizes. They are also under hormonal control, meaning that they can start as small as a pea and grow to as large as a grapefruit or larger. Although rare, these large fibroids, coupled with their location and growth rates, can become so large that they cause obstructive uropathy, leading to renal dysfunction. In other words, the kidneys do not work properly, which can result in poor functionality all the way to complete kidney failure.

Mental health challenges

The impact fibroids have on a woman’s quality of life includes an often under-discussed and heavy emotional toll on well-being, self-esteem, and overall body positivity that can sometimes feel worse than physical suffering. Women with painful fibroids have said they suffer from an emotional roller-coaster of any of the following mental health and emotional issues: concerns over sexuality, feelings of helplessness, low self-esteem, inability to be inactive, and even social isolation.

Fibroid Pain: Why Are Fibroids So Painful?

We alluded to this already, but size and location play a big role in fibroid pain. Fibroid growth is attributed to hormones, birth control pills, and foods like processed meat, salty foods, and high-fat dairy products. According to the Office on Women’s Health, up to 80% of women develop uterine fibroids before age 50 because estrogen and progesterone stimulate the development of the uterine lining during each menstrual cycle in preparation for pregnancy. This causes fibroids to swell.

As for why fibroids are so painful, there are a variety of reasons:

1. Location — Any fibroid located inside the uterine walls (intramural fibroids) or just underneath the uterine lining (submucosal fibroids) can force abnormal changes to uterus shape, causing pain, pressure, heavy bleeding, and other complications. Fibroids that grow outside the uterus (subserosal fibroids) generally press against the bladder, rectum, and other organs. Fibroids that sit on sciatic nerves can cause back pain, too.
2. Weight — Not all fibroids are painful by themselves. It is their weight, especially as they grow, which forces them to press against internal organs. When this happens, the sheer weight of the fibroid causes pain in these areas.
3. Twisting and infection — Some fibroids are literally hanging by a thin thread or stalk inside or outside the uterus. These are called pedunculate fibroids. Moreover, it is very easy for them to twist, cut off their blood supply, and cause painful episodes.
4. Outgrown blood supply — Occasionally, a fibroid outgrows its blood supply and begins to break down, a process called fibroid degeneration. As the fibroid degenerates, severe pelvic pain can last for several days and must be evaluated by a healthcare provider.
5. Pain during pregnancy — Fibroids may also become painful during pregnancy because hormonal changes can temporarily increase fibroid size or cause degeneration.
6. Pain after menopause — Fibroids can shrink after menopause when estrogen levels decline. However, some women continue to experience pain or pressure, particularly if fibroids remain large or hormone replacement therapy is being used.

Pain by Fibroid Location

How fibroid location can affect your pain and symptoms:

Fibroid Location	Common Symptoms
Submucosal Fibroids	Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, severe cramping, passing blood clots, anemia, fertility challenges
Intramural Fibroids	Pelvic pain or pressure, heavy periods, enlarged uterus, abdominal bloating, lower back pain
Subserosal Fibroids	Pressure on the bladder or bowel, frequent urination, constipation, lower back pain, pelvic fullness
Pedunculated Fibroids	Sharp or sudden pelvic pain if the fibroid twists on its stalk (torsion), localized tenderness, nausea in severe cases

The good news is that your doctor or gynecologist can spot abnormal changes in the shape of your uterus during a pelvic exam. If you are not experiencing any symptoms yet, there are other tests they can do to tell for sure if you have fibroids. Beyond a physical exam, they can do a pelvic ultrasound to take a picture of your uterus. This will help show fibroid sizes, if you have any.

In addition, another imaging technique is an MRI. An MRI shows fibroids that are not visible on ultrasound and provides the most detailed information about their size and position. An MRI can also reveal other causes of your symptoms and give your doctor a better idea of which treatment is best.

Fibroid pain alone cannot confirm a diagnosis because several gynecologic conditions can cause similar symptoms. Therefore, imaging tests such as ultrasound or MRI are usually needed to confirm whether fibroids are present.

Is It Fibroid Pain or Typical Menstrual Cramps?

Not every painful period is caused by fibroids. While menstrual cramps are common, fibroid pain often has additional symptoms that extend beyond your menstrual cycle. The comparison below highlights some of the differences, although only a healthcare provider can determine the cause of your symptoms.

Fibroid Pain	Typical Menstrual Cramps
May occur at any time during the month	Usually occurs during menstruation
Pelvic pressure or a feeling of fullness	Cramping caused by the uterus contracting during a period
Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding	Typical menstrual bleeding that lasts about 3–7 days
Frequent urination from pressure on the bladder	Uncommon
Lower back, hip, or leg pain	Less common and usually milder
Abdominal bloating or an enlarged abdomen	Mild bloating may occur before or during a period
Pain during sexual intercourse	Uncommon
Symptoms may gradually worsen as fibroids grow	Symptoms typically improve once the menstrual period ends

How Can I Eliminate Fibroid Pain for Good?

There are a variety of treatment options for fibroids and fibroid pain. Here are a few options to consider:

• Uterine Fibroid Embolization — UFE has become the gold standard for non-surgical fibroid treatment. Why? For starters, it does not require a hospital admittance, takes only an hour for the procedure itself, and allows you to go home the same day. More importantly, it works on all fibroid types—regardless of size and location. Rather than removing fibroids with numerous incisions, UFE cuts off blood flow to all fibroids, so they cannot grow and instead shrink. UFE is low-risk, no-incision, faster than other options, and has a success rate of over 90% in eliminating symptoms..
• Acessa — With this procedure, heat is used to destroy fibroids rather than physically removing them. That said, if you have multiple large fibroids or fibroids that are hard to reach or in high-risk areas, such as those in the cervix, Acessa is not a good choice.
• Endometrial Ablation — The goal with this procedure is to treat the uterine lining and reduce heavy bleeding rather than the fibroids themselves. This procedure can still be effective for small submucosal fibroids that directly contribute to heavy bleeding but using it for other types is likely to yield less-than-ideal results.
• Hysterectomy — This is a surgical procedure by which a doctor removes all or part of a woman’s uterus and, in some cases, her fallopian tubes and ovaries. Since the procedure removes the uterus and surrounding tissues, there is nowhere for fibroids to grow. New ones also can’t form.
• Medications — Certain medications can help control bleeding and fibroid pain without surgery. This will work across all fibroid types. That said, the fibroids do not go away. Therefore, if you stop taking the medicine, symptoms will likely return.
• Myomectomy — A myomectomy is a surgery that allows a patient to keep her uterus. Your surgeon will carefully remove the fibroids one by one. Depending on how many fibroids are removed, your doctor may also need to reconstruct the uterus to maintain its strength and function.
• Sonata System — Using an intrauterine ultrasound device, radiofrequency energy is delivered to the fibroid to shrink it. As the fibroid shrinks, the patient may notice a reduction in pain.

Want to Rid Yourself of Fibroid Pain? Let’s Talk Today!

If you’ve been diagnosed with uterine fibroids and want to know what fibroid pain feels like, it is important to talk to your gynecologist or another fibroid specialist. Fibroid pain can run the gamut and include both physical and mental symptoms. The good news is that you do not have to live in pain forever. There are plenty of treatment options to rid yourself of fibroid pain for good.

If uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is your preferred option, the only decision left is to select the right interventional radiologist for your care. Beyond the procedure itself, women want an experienced fibroid doctor who provides access, communication, comfort, innovation, trust, and a supportive experience from start to finish. The Fibroid Institute is here to offer you just that.

In addition, we simplify your UFE journey by managing everything from insurance to PCP communication, while providing all patients with direct access to their fibroid doctor before and after their procedure. Our physicians are board-certified interventional radiologists and experts passionate about helping women become #FibroidFree. The bottom line is that you do not have to worry about the ongoing challenges of missing work and life events with UFE as your fibroid treatment.

Whether UFE is the right option for you or not, our team of fibroid doctors is always on hand to partner with you and your PCP or OBGYN to determine the best course of action.

At the Fibroid Institute, we do not believe you need to decide between suffering in silence and having invasive surgery. With multiple locations, our fibroid clinics help thousands of women avoid fibroid surgery and find relief from their fibroid symptoms. Meet some of these women here:

Most major medical insurance providers cover the cost of UFE. Request a free 10-15-minute phone screening to determine if you are eligible. If you qualify for UFE after the screening, you can schedule your on-site or telehealth consultation.

Get started now by calling our Dallas, Texas clinics at 214-838-6440, Houston, Texas clinics at 713-903-3733, South Carolina clinics at 843-628-4290 or complete the form below.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Fibroid Pain

The Fibroid Institute serves the Charleston, South Carolina, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas and Greater Houston, Texas metro areas including Addison, Allen, Arlington, Bedford, Bellaire, Carrollton, Cedar Hill, Charleston, Clear Lake, Cockrell Hill, Conroe, Craig Ranch, Cypress, Dallas, DeSoto, Duncanville, Euless, Fort Worth, Frisco, Garland, Grand Prairie, Highland Park, Houston, Hurst, Hutchins, Irving, Katy, Kingwood, Lancaster, League City, McKinney, Mesquite, Mt. Pleasant, Murrells Inlet, Orangeburg, Park Cities, Plano, Richardson, Sherman, Spring, Stafford, Sugar Land, Summerville, Texas City, The Woodlands, Universal City, University Park, Walterboro, Webster and more.

This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Prior to starting any new treatment or if you have questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider.

*Patient names and/or photos may be changed to protect patient confidentiality.