Most uterine fibroids go unnoticed.
An official diagnosis is made based on your symptoms and a physical exam.
These tests include an ultrasound, a complete blood count, and a urine sample.
Andrey Popov / Getty Images
This article discusses the various ways to diagnose uterine fibroids.
Andrey Popov / Getty Images
Self-Check
Uterine fibroids vary in size and symptoms.
Uterine fibroids can go unnoticed or dramatically affect your life.
Julie Bang / Verywell
Periods can also be very heavy, requiring changing sanitary protection frequently.
A pelvic exam is important to determine the size of the uterus.
Imaging
Unless someone has symptoms, it is likely they do not know they have uterine fibroids.
There are many medical conditions that mimic uterine fibroids.
Doing so has been shown to stop the growth and development of uterine fibroids.
More inclusive research is one way to do that.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?
You do not have to live in pain.
SN Compr Clin Med.
2020;2(4):464-467. doi:10.1007/s42399-020-00248-6
NIH.How uterine fibroids are diagnosed.
Vilos GA, Allaire C, Laberge PY, et al.The management of uterine leiomyomas.J Obstet Gynaecol Can.
2016 Nov;22(6):665-686. doi:1093/humupd/dmw023
De La Cruz, M.S.
; Buchanan, E.M.; Uterine Fibroids:Diagnosis and treatment.Am Fam Physician.
95(2):100-107.
2018;9(45):27595-27604. doi:10.18632/oncotarget.25137
The Commonwealth Fund.Understanding and ameliorating medical mistrust among Black Americans.
