Can fibroids be prevented? Unfortunately not at this time, but with an understanding of the common symptoms of fibroids, it is possible to detect them early and treat them when appropriate, thus reducing the impact on your health. So, what are the symptoms of fibroids? As the saying goes, position is important when you are in your position. This is quite appropriate for the symptoms of uterine fibroids because the presence or absence of symptoms and the severity of symptoms are related to its growth site and size, especially the growth site. In the case of subplasmic fibroids located on the outer surface of the uterus, the abdominal cavity has a lot of room for development and the tumor sometimes has no symptoms even if it grows very large; whereas submucosal fibroids located on the inner surface of the uterus can cause irregular vaginal bleeding even if they are small because they affect the function of the endometrium. Generally speaking, fibroids can have the following symptoms, but specifically for each patient, they are manifested as one or several of them. 1. Vaginal bleeding is the most common symptom of uterine fibroids. Subplasmaline fibroids located on the outer surface of the uterus mostly have no vaginal bleeding. When interstitial fibroids are large, they may affect the contraction of the uterus or increase the area of the endometrium, resulting in excessive menstruation or prolonged periods. Submucosal fibroids located in the uterine cavity often have irregular vaginal bleeding and incomplete menstruation. Of course, there are many causes of vaginal bleeding, and it is important to remember that if this symptom occurs, it should not be dismissed as a result of exertion or menopause. 2. Pelvic masses are often found by chance (such as bathing or sexual intercourse) or during gynecological examinations. When the fibroid is too large or the patient is thin, a hard solid mass can be felt in the lower abdomen, especially in the morning before urination. In some obese people, the tumor may not always be palpable, but an increase in waist circumference may be noticed, which is sometimes taken for granted by middle-aged and elderly people as a sign of fatigue. As for women of childbearing age, if a pelvic mass is found, the most important thing to consider is not fibroids, but to rule out pregnancy first. 3. Compression symptoms Uterine fibroids can produce symptoms by compressing the adjacent organs. Again, the symptoms may vary depending on the growth site and size. The fibroids can press the bladder forward, causing frequent and urgent urination, or even inability to urinate (called urinary retention); if the fibroids grow in the posterior wall of the uterus, they can press the rectum backward, causing diarrhea or constipation; fibroids in the broad ligament on both sides of the uterus can press the ureter, internal and external iliac veins and nerves, resulting in ureteral obstruction, hydronephrosis, swelling or pain in the lower limbs. 4. Infertility Small fibroids or subplasmic fibroids located in the uterine wall do not usually affect pregnancy. However, some fibroids may change the shape of the uterine cavity, or prevent the fertilization of the egg, or grow at the corner of the uterus, compressing the opening of the fallopian tube into the uterus and preventing sperm from entering the fallopian tube, which may cause infertility. 5. Abdominal pain Uterine fibroids usually rarely cause abdominal pain. If the fibroid is too large and presses on the nerves in the pelvis, or if the fibroid becomes red and degenerates due to acute ischemia, or if the subplasmic fibroid with a tip is twisted, it may cause severe abdominal pain. 6. Increased leucorrhea is mostly seen in submucosal fibroids located in the uterine cavity. When the fibroid comes out of the cervical or vaginal opening, its surface will be ulcerated and necrotic, and there will be increased leucorrhea, and if combined with infection, there may be purulent leucorrhea. If interstitial fibroids are large in size, the uterine cavity may increase in size and the endometrial secretion may increase and the pelvic cavity may become congested, which may also cause increased leucorrhea. 7. Circulatory system symptoms Long-term excessive menstruation may cause secondary anemia, and those with severe anemia may have anemic heart disease. In fact, for women with regular medical checkups, fibroids are easily detected by ultrasonography. If women have the above symptoms, they need to go to the hospital for examination, which is usually a signal that treatment is needed.