{"id":420,"date":"2026-09-21T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-21T12:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/?p=420"},"modified":"2026-09-10T20:50:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-11T00:50:30","slug":"why-fibroids-affect-more-women-than-most-realize-and-what-you-can-actually-do-about-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/why-fibroids-affect-more-women-than-most-realize-and-what-you-can-actually-do-about-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Fibroids Affect More Women Than Most Realize \u2014 and What You Can Actually Do About Them"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Uterine fibroids are one of the most common conditions in women&#8217;s health \u2014 and one of the least discussed. Research estimates that up to 70 to 80 percent of women will develop fibroids by the time they reach age 50. Among Black women, that prevalence is higher, the onset is earlier, and the symptoms tend to be more severe. Despite how common they are, most women who have fibroids don&#8217;t know it \u2014 because many fibroids cause no symptoms at all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ones that do cause symptoms, however, can significantly affect daily life. Heavy periods that require changing protection every hour. Pelvic pressure that makes sitting uncomfortable. Frequent urination when an enlarged fibroid presses on the bladder. Discomfort during intercourse. Bloating that persists regardless of diet changes. These are the experiences women often normalize for years \u2014 chalking them up to &#8220;just how my periods are&#8221; \u2014 before finding out that fibroids are the actual explanation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At North Pointe OB\/GYN Associates, our physicians, certified nurse-midwives, and women&#8217;s health specialists have helped countless women in Cumming, Alpharetta, Forsyth County, and the surrounding North Georgia communities understand and manage fibroids. September \u2014 Gynecological Cancer Awareness Month \u2014 is a good reminder that women&#8217;s health conversations go beyond cancer screening to include the benign conditions that significantly impact quality of life. Fibroids belong in that conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Fibroids Actually Are<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Uterine fibroids \u2014 also called leiomyomas or myomas \u2014 are noncancerous growths that develop from the smooth muscle tissue of the uterine wall. They are not tumors in the malignant sense; they are benign, and they virtually never transform into cancer. But benign doesn&#8217;t mean inconsequential. Fibroids can range in size from a seed to a grapefruit, and multiple fibroids of varying sizes can be present simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where a fibroid grows determines its impact on symptoms:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Intramural fibroids:<\/strong>\u00a0Growing within the muscular wall of the uterus \u2014 the most common location. These fibroids can enlarge the uterus significantly and are most often responsible for heavy periods and general pelvic pressure.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Submucosal fibroids:<\/strong>\u00a0Growing just beneath the lining of the uterine cavity. Even small submucosal fibroids can cause heavy, prolonged bleeding and are associated with fertility challenges.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Subserosal fibroids:<\/strong>\u00a0Growing on the outer wall of the uterus, projecting outward. These are most likely to cause bladder or bowel pressure as they expand into the pelvic cavity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pedunculated fibroids:<\/strong>\u00a0Growing on a stalk attached to the uterine wall. These can rotate on their stalk, occasionally causing acute pain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The distinction matters for treatment planning \u2014 and it&#8217;s why imaging is a critical part of the diagnostic process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Who Is at Higher Risk<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While fibroids can occur in any woman with a uterus during her reproductive years, certain factors increase the likelihood of developing them:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Age:<\/strong>\u00a0Fibroids are most common in women in their 30s and 40s, before the natural hormonal changes of menopause reduce estrogen levels and often cause fibroids to shrink.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Family history:<\/strong>\u00a0Having a mother or sister with fibroids increases your risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Race:<\/strong>\u00a0Black women develop fibroids at higher rates, at younger ages, and with more severe symptoms than women of other racial groups \u2014 a health disparity with roots in multiple biological and environmental factors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Obesity:<\/strong>\u00a0Excess body weight increases estrogen levels, which stimulates fibroid growth.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Diet:<\/strong>\u00a0Research has associated higher consumption of red meat and lower consumption of green vegetables, fruit, and dairy with increased fibroid risk.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Vitamin D deficiency:<\/strong>\u00a0Studies have linked low vitamin D levels to higher fibroid prevalence and larger fibroid size.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding your personal risk profile is part of the well-woman conversation at North Pointe OB\/GYN \u2014 not something you have to bring up on your own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Symptoms That Deserve Attention<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because so many women with fibroids experience no symptoms, there&#8217;s no single warning sign that universally applies. The symptoms that do occur depend on the location, number, and size of the fibroids present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most common presentations include heavy menstrual bleeding \u2014 defined clinically as soaking through a pad or tampon in an hour or less, passing clots larger than a quarter, or having periods that last longer than seven days. This is the symptom most likely to lead women to care, and it&#8217;s one worth taking seriously: heavy periods over time cause iron-deficiency anemia, which produces fatigue, weakness, and shortness of breath that can become significantly life-limiting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pelvic pressure or a sensation of fullness \u2014 the feeling that something is taking up space in the lower abdomen \u2014 is another common presentation. When fibroids become large, women sometimes notice a visible change in the contour of the lower abdomen, or they&#8217;re asked by their provider whether they&#8217;ve ever been told their uterus feels enlarged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For women who are trying to conceive, unexplained infertility or recurrent early pregnancy loss warrants evaluation for submucosal fibroids, which can disrupt the uterine lining and interfere with implantation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What Diagnosis Looks Like<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Fibroids are typically identified during a routine pelvic exam when the provider notes an enlarged or irregular uterus, or through pelvic ultrasound ordered to investigate abnormal bleeding or pelvic symptoms. Ultrasound confirms the presence, size, and location of fibroids and is the standard first-line imaging study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For women with fibroids affecting fertility, or in whom surgical treatment is being considered, saline infusion sonohysterography (a special ultrasound that outlines the uterine cavity) or MRI provides more detailed imaging of the fibroid&#8217;s precise position and its relationship to the uterine lining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At North Pointe OB\/GYN, we approach fibroid diagnosis within the full context of a woman&#8217;s health \u2014 her symptoms, her age, her family planning status, and her preferences about treatment. Not every fibroid requires treatment. The decision to treat, and how to treat, depends on the impact the fibroids are having and the woman&#8217;s goals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The Treatment Landscape Has Expanded Significantly<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For women whose fibroids are causing symptoms or affecting fertility, the range of management options is considerably broader than most patients realize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Hormonal management:<\/strong>\u00a0For women whose primary concern is heavy bleeding, hormonal options including progestin-releasing IUDs (such as Mirena), hormonal contraceptives, and GnRH agonists can reduce bleeding significantly. GnRH agonists are most commonly used short-term to reduce fibroid size before surgery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Minimally invasive procedures:<\/strong>\u00a0Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) cuts off the blood supply to fibroids, causing them to shrink. Radiofrequency ablation uses heat to destroy fibroid tissue. Both are performed without open surgery and with shorter recovery than hysterectomy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Myomectomy:<\/strong>\u00a0Surgical removal of fibroids while preserving the uterus. Depending on fibroid location, this can be performed hysteroscopically (through the cervix), laparoscopically (through small abdominal incisions), or through an open incision. Myomectomy is preferred for women who wish to preserve fertility.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Hysterectomy:<\/strong>\u00a0Surgical removal of the uterus is the only treatment that eliminates the possibility of fibroid recurrence. For women who have completed childbearing and whose symptoms have not responded to other management, hysterectomy remains a definitive option.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our team at North Pointe OB\/GYN discusses the full range of options in the context of each patient&#8217;s specific situation \u2014 never with a one-size-fits-all approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Have This Conversation at North Pointe OB\/GYN<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your periods have been heavier than you think they should be, if you&#8217;ve been experiencing pelvic pressure or discomfort, or if you&#8217;ve simply never had a conversation with your provider about fibroids \u2014 fall is a good time to schedule that appointment. The team at North Pointe OB\/GYN Associates serves women throughout Cumming, Alpharetta, Milton, Dawsonville, and the greater Forsyth County area. We&#8217;re located at 1800 Northside Forsyth Drive, Suite 350, on the Northside Hospital-Forsyth campus in Cumming. Call us at (770) 886-3555 to schedule your appointment. The most common thing we hear from women after a fibroid diagnosis is that they wish someone had talked to them about this sooner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>This blog is educational. If you have concerns about your menstrual health or gynecological care, please consult with your OB\/GYN provider.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Uterine fibroids are one of the most common conditions in women&#8217;s health \u2014 and one of the least discussed. Research estimates that up to 70 to 80 percent of women will develop fibroids by the time they reach age 50. Among Black women, that prevalence is higher, the onset is earlier, and the symptoms tend to be more severe. Despite how common they are, most women who have fibroids don&#8217;t know it \u2014 because many fibroids cause no symptoms at all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":422,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[55],"class_list":["post-420","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-gynecologic-care","tag-uterine-fibroids"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=420"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":423,"href":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/420\/revisions\/423"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/422"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/northpointeobgyn.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}