If Fibroids Are Asymptomatic, Why Do So Many Women Need to Have Them Treated?

Fibroids are typically not that big a deal. These tumors that develop around the age of 30 or 40 on the wall of the uterus are typically asymptomatic, which means that most women who have them never even know that they do.

Yet, every year, thousands of women undergo uterine fibroid treatments. If they’re really not that big of a deal, why then do so many women need fibroid tumor treatments?

Because They’re Not Always Asymptomatic.

Fibroids can be found in about 70% of women old enough to develop them. Of these women, about 75% of them never experience any of the signs and symptoms of fibroids. However, that also means that a quarter of women with them do. Some of the most common symptoms of fibroid cysts are prolonged menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure, abdominal pain, pain during intercourse, urinary issues, and rectal pressure. While some of these symptoms are far more severe and worrisome than others, most women will undergo fibroid treatments to relieve even the slightest of these.

Because They Can Cause Fertility Issues Sometimes.

Fibroid rarely ever cause fertility issues, but depending on their size, where it is that they develop, and the type of fibroids that do develop, it is still a possibility. Women who are trying to conceive will sometimes undergo certain, non-invasive fibroid treatments that destroy the tumors without harming the uterus in order to make sure they can conceive and give birth properly. Less than three percent of women who seek out fertility treatments even have them, let alone need fibroid treatments.

Because in Super Rare Cases, Cancerous Fibroids Can Develop.

There is a less than one in 1,000 chance that a cancerous firboid, also known as a leiomyosarcoma, will develop. When they do, fibroid treatments are obviously needed to take care of them. Now, all that being said, women are not at a higher risk of developing cancerous fibroids if they already do have fibroids, nor can fibroids become cancerous.

If you have any questions about why women sometimes need fibroid treatments, feel free to share in the comments.