What Happens If Uterine Fibroids Go Untreated? Long-Term Risks Every Woman Needs to Know

Lacy* was not ignoring her period problems. Quite the contrary, the heavy menstrual bleeding, cramping, bloating, back pain, and abnormally long periods were about all she could think about during that time of the month. Still, whenever a friend or family member suggested she get it checked out, she would brush it off. To her, these were not symptoms of anything serious—just the messy, uncomfortable parts of her period she learned to push through. Maybe it was stress. Perhaps it was hormones. Maybe everything would calm down on its own. What Lacy did not realize until two years later was that there was a cause: uterine fibroids. Furthermore, leaving these benign tumors unchecked could lead to serious, long-term problems that eventually tighten their grip on daily life—not just today but well into the future.

Yes, fibroids are noncancerous tumors of the uterus. As a result, some women see it as “no big deal” and may postpone care. It is also true that not every woman diagnosed with fibroids experiences discomfort or life-interrupting symptoms. But when symptoms do appear, they impact every woman differently and often build up in ways they never see coming—from anemia to organ compression, and even pregnancy complications. What happens if fibroids go untreated? The answers below are not meant to scare anyone. Instead, they shine a light on what can happen when symptoms are pushed aside for too long, so that women can make informed, proactive choices about their health.

There is nothing to normalize about uterine fibroids or the symptoms they cause. It is essential to seek treatment and put unanswered questions to rest.

These Uterine Fibroids Symptoms Can Lead to Complications if Left Untreated

• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Abnormally long periods
• Intense cramps, pelvic pain, and pressure
• Bowel or bladder dysfunction 
• Excessive fatigue
• Pain during sex
• Back or leg pain
• Weight gain or bloating
• Constipation, diarrhea, and rectal discomfort

It is Time To Stop Normalizing Uterine Fibroids and Their Symptoms

While every woman’s body is unique and every woman’s period is different, there are certain symptoms like the ones above that are worthy of being reported to your gynecologist. While you might think all women would be lining up to discuss their options, the reality is that many women wait an average of 3.6 years before seeking treatment for uterine fibroids. While the study above had a mix of white, African American, and other race respondents, a second one stated that Black women take an average of almost four years to seek treatment.

There are four prominent theories on why women wait so long to seek help, if they seek help at all:

1. They have normalized their situation — Just like Lacy, they believe their symptoms are merely part of being a woman and are not tied to any other condition beyond their unique menstrual cycle.
2. Inadequate educational materials — Despite the positive impact July’s Uterine Fibroid Awareness Month has created, substandard fibroid information (online or from a doctor) remains. Women do not know enough about fibroids and all the treatment options available to them to make educated and proactive decisions.
3. Concerns over surgical options — Many women still believe the only way to get rid of fibroids is with surgery. That can be scary, especially for women who want to preserve their fertility.
4. Insurance coverage — Many women believe they have inadequate health insurance and won’t be able to cover the out-of-pocket expenses that come with any form of medical intervention.

The problem is that by waiting too long or not doing anything at all, their fibroid symptoms can worsen, and the number of fibroids they now have likely doubled in size and quantity—making treatment more difficult.

Research Shows Long-Term Risks of Untreated Uterine Fibroids

It is crucial to stress once again that uterine fibroids are not cancerous and may never cause symptoms. Increased risk really depends largely on fibroid size, growth rate, how many fibroids a woman has, where they’re located in the uterus, symptoms, age, desire for pregnancy, and medical history. Also, not everyone who leaves fibroids untreated will experience any of the problems above or below. In fact, many women, in consultation with their gynecologist, choose a wait-and-see approach. This is especially true if they are nearing menopause, when fibroids are known to shrink.

Basically, if you’re asymptomatic and monitored, conservative management can be entirely reasonable. That said, studies consistently show that ignoring symptomatic fibroids opens the door to a host of additional complications.

Anemia

Excessive blood loss from fibroids can lead to anemia, a condition marked by a shortage of red blood cells or dysfunctional red blood cells in the body. This can make getting out of bed in the morning challenging, and many women report a constant feeling of fatigue and lightheadedness. Different kinds of fibroids cause more bleeding than others, which can lead to multi-organ failure and even death if not treated long-term.

Kidney swelling and renal dysfunction

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.

Pregnancy complications

Fibroids can interfere with a woman’s ability to get pregnant and her ability to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery. Studies consistently show higher cesarean delivery rates and possible preterm birth. That said, not every fibroid case causes infertility, and not every pregnancy with fibroids has complications; risk depends on size, number, and location.

Mental health complications

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
• Anxiety, depression, and chronic anxiety
• Fear of future health complications
• Inability to be inactive
• Social isolation

Practical First Steps If You Are Experiencing Fibroid Symptoms

Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with uterine fibroids but suspect that may be the case, the first step is to speak with your gynecologist as soon as possible. Early detection opens the door to a variety of treatment options that you can explore openly and honestly with your doctor. 

1. Do not ignore symptoms — Do not ignore heavy bleeding or new, persistent pelvic pressure. Track menstrual flow (how many pads/tampons per hour) and ask your clinician about symptoms.
2. Ask about imaging and monitoring — Many doctors can detect and diagnose fibroids through a routine pelvic exam. That said, an ultrasound is the usual first test to determine if fibroids are present. MRI is often used as a more exacting way to detect number, size, and location of all fibroids.
3. Discuss treatment options tailored to you — Options range from watchful waiting (if you are asymptomatic or symptoms are extremely minor) to medical therapy (hormonal agents, newer targeted medicines), uterine-sparing procedures (myomectomy, uterine artery embolization, MRI-guided focused ultrasound), and hysterectomy when appropriate. Each has pros/cons depending on symptoms and desire for future pregnancy.
4. Get a second opinion if you’re pushed straight to fibroid surgery — Studies show many women are not informed about less invasive options; shared decision-making matters.

How Uterine Fibroid Embolization Can Help

With this minimally invasive procedure, the goal is to cut off blood flow to the fibroids rather than having them surgically removed. UFE works because it involves making only a tiny puncture on your left wrist where a very small catheter is inserted. Our fibroid doctors use X-ray guidance to locate the vessels that supply blood to your fibroids. Small particles are injected into the vessels, blocking blood flow to the fibroids, causing them to shrink and die. UFE can shrink all fibroids. Even if the fibroid is the size of a pumpkin, the procedure can shrink it up to 50% on average and, more importantly, cause the fibroid to be classified as dead.

Rather than requiring a hospital stay, UFE is an outpatient procedure. Advantages of UFE at Fibroid Institute include:

• Covered by most major medical insurance
• You can come to us directly, referrals not required
• No hospital stay
• Treat multiple fibroids at once
• No incision or vaginal access, just a small puncture on your wrist
• Recovery period is as little as one week in many cases
• Our patients receive their doctor’s mobile number
• Over 90% effective in reducing symptoms

UFE is the treatment of choice for our qualified patients for many reasons, one being that it treats all fibroids simultaneously.

Fibroid Institute Is Your Source for Treatment of Uterine Fibroids

Word is beginning to spread about the importance of early detection when it comes to uterine fibroids. This is not a normal part of being a woman, and the earlier you report symptoms, the easier it will be for you and your doctor to have an open and honest conversation about what the next steps might be. If that next step happens to be Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), our team at Fibroid Institute can help. UFE is the gold standard for non-surgical fibroid treatment—especially when considering that it offers faster recovery times and yields effective outcomes.

The only decision left is to choose the right interventional radiologist to provide fibroid care. Beyond the procedure itself, many women want a doctor who provides access, communication, comfort, innovation, trust, and a supportive experience from start to finish. Fibroid Institute Texas is here to do just that. At Fibroid Institute, we set the standard of care for advanced fibroid treatment, helping women achieve a symptom-free life.

On top of that, we simplify your UFE journey, managing everything from insurance to PCP communication and offering all patients physician-direct access before and after their procedure. With multiple locations, our Dallas and Houston fibroid clinics help thousands of women avoid fibroid surgery and find relief from. Our fibroid doctors are board-certified interventional radiologists and experts passionate about helping women become #FibroidFree.

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. Most major medical insurance providers cover the cost of UFE. Get started now in Dallas by calling 214-838-6440, in Houston by calling 713-903-3733, or complete the form below.

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

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. This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice.

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