Chronic Pain Types Pelvic Pain Caused by Uterine Fibroids By Erica Jacques linkedin Erica Jacques, OT, is a board-certified occupational therapist at a level one trauma center. Learn about our editorial process Erica Jacques Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Brian Levine, MD on January 19, 2020 linkedin Brian Levine, MD, MS, FACOG, is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Learn about our Medical Review Board Brian Levine, MD Updated on February 06, 2020 Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Prognosis Uterine fibroids can be a cause of women's pelvic pain. Uterine fibroids are abnormal tissue masses that grow in or on the wall of the uterus. While they are tumors of the muscle tissue, they are almost always benign, with less than one in 1,000 being cancerous. Having fibroids doesn't increase your risk of developing a cancerous fibroid or getting another form of cancer of the uterus. They are very common. About 80% of women will have had one by age 50, but most are small and have no symptoms. Westend61 / Getty Images Symptoms While some women never know they have fibroids, those who do have symptoms commonly experience: Pelvic painDysmenorrhea (painful menstrual period)Pain during sexAbnormally heavy menstrual flowUrinary urgencyLow back painInfertility (usually only in severe cases) For some women, symptoms of uterine fibroids are mild and easily treated. For others, uterine fibroids cause chronic pelvic pain that can interfere with their quality of life. Causes The cause of uterine fibroids is largely unknown though they occur more frequently in women in their 30s and 40s, especially those with a family history of fibroids. They are also more common in black women. A diet high in red meat and obesity may increase a woman's risk of developing uterine fibroids. Diagnosis Uterine fibroids can be detected by ultrasound, sometimes performed by filling the uterus with water (sonohysterogram). Other scans for uterine fibroids include x-rays, MRIs, and CT scans. Your doctor may also order a hysterosalpingogram, in which the uterus is filled with dye before x-rays are taken. Sometimes, a more invasive procedure is required to accurately diagnose uterine fibroids. In a hysteroscopy, a scope with a small camera is inserted into the uterus. In a laparoscopy, it is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen. Each can be used to diagnose uterine fibroids, as well as to remove them. Treatment If your uterine fibroids are problematic or if they cause chronic pelvic pain, you may receive any of the following: Pain medications such as over-the-counter or prescription NSAIDs can control mild to moderate pelvic pain caused by uterine fibroids.Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRHas) can sometimes shrink fibroids though fibroids may return again.Hormone treatments such as birth control pills or progesterone injections can decrease fibroid growth.Surgery, such as a myomectomy, hysterectomy, endometrial ablation or uterine fibroid embolization may be performed if other approaches are not effective. Myomectomy might be preferred over hysterectomy if you want to be able to become pregnant, but hysterectomy is regarded as the only true cure.Expectant management: If you are perimenopausal, your doctor may decide to watch and wait as fibroids often shrink in size after menopause. Prognosis The prognosis for pelvic pain caused by uterine fibroids is variable. Some women find that their pain can be controlled effectively with medications such as NSAIDs and/or hormonal treatments. In some women, however, surgery is the only option. While surgery is often very effective at treating uterine fibroids, some options (such as hysterectomy and endometrial ablation) may leave a woman infertile. If you are infertile due to fibroids alone, myomectomy can restore fertility about half of the time. Uterine fibroids decrease in size and symptoms are usually diminished once menopause begins. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. de la Cruz MS, Buchannan EM. Uterine fibroids: Diagnosis and treatment. Am Fam Physician. 2017 Jan 15;95(2):100-107. Gurusamy KS, Vaughan J, Fraser IS, Best LM, Richards T. Medical therapies for uterine fibroids - a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. PLoS ONE. 2016;11(2):e0149631. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0149631 Donnez J, Dolmans MM. Uterine fibroid management: from the present to the future. Hum Reprod Update. 2016;22(6):665–686. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmw023 Additional Reading National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Uterine Fibroids. The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Uterine Fibroids. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Uterine Fibroids fact sheet. Lippman, SA et al. Uterine Fibroids and Gynecologic Pain Symptoms in a Population-Based Study. Fertility and Sterility. 2003 Dec;80(6):1488-94