Frequent Urination: A Sign of Uterine Fibroids
Have you ever been out in public and suddenly had the urge to urinate? You find a bathroom and then go about your day, but only a few minutes later, you get the same urge. Frequent urination is a daily struggle for some women that prevents them from living in the moment. Women can experience pressure on the bowel (resulting in constipation) and/or bladder due to uterine fibroids.
Along with heavy bleeding, severe cramps, and a swollen abdomen, frequent urination is one of the common symptoms of fibroids. Having to run to the bathroom without warning can be embarrassing and frustrating, and it can cause you to get an inadequate amount of sleep during the night. If you’re experiencing frequent urination and feel that uterine fibroids may be the cause, contact American Fibroid Centers to get checked for fibroids.
Symptoms of Frequent Urination
The main symptom of frequent urination is needing to urinate more often without an increase in urine output. For some women, this can negatively impact their quality of life. Symptoms may be mild or severe based on age, gender, or both. Depending on what’s causing your frequent urination, you may experience other urinary problems, such as:
- Pain or discomfort during urination
- A strong urge to urinate
- Difficulty urinating
- Loss of bladder control
- Unusual urine color
- Nocturia, or frequent urination at night
Causes of Frequent Urination
Urination is a complex process involving various body systems. Although there is often a simple explanation for an individual’s urinary frequency, it may indicate a more serious condition. Frequent urination is when a person needs to urinate more than 7 -10 times in 24 hours if they have consumed about two liters of fluid. Common causes include:
- Urinary tract infection (UTI) or irritation of the bladder
- Enlarged prostate in middle-aged and older men
- Swelling and infection of the urethra
- Uterine fibroids
- Vaginitis
- Nerve-related problems
- Caffeine intake or certain medications
- Neurogenic bladder
- Systemic disease
- Pregnancy
How Do Fibroids Cause Frequent Urination?
If frequent urination is an ongoing complaint for you, uterine fibroids may be to blame. As fibroids grow, they can expand the uterus which compresses the bladder and reduces its capacity. This can be a stressful and unpleasant feeling for a lot of women. Frequent urination causes you to always be near a bathroom, constantly wake up during the night, or even cancel plans with friends and family.
Bladder incontinence, or loss of bladder control, also commonly occurs when fibroids are present. All types of fibroids can grow large enough to put pressure on surrounding organs, causing a sensation that indicates an urgency to urinate in the body. If fibroids are ultimately diagnosed as the reason for your frequent trips to the bathroom, one of our affiliated physicians can help you get the proper treatment.
Treatment for Frequent Urination
It can be difficult to determine if your frequent urination is due to uterine fibroids or another underlying condition. While you look into potential treatment options, you can take several steps to reduce your painful and uncomfortable symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes & Medications
Certain lifestyle changes may help to improve your frequent urination symptoms. Avoid drinking large quantities of liquid before bedtime or leaving your home, cut back on caffeine and alcohol, and build up your pelvic floor muscles by doing kegel exercises.
UFE Procedure: Minimally Invasive Fibroid Treatment
If fibroids are causing your frequent urination, Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) can help treat it. This minimally invasive-image guided procedure is used to shrink and eliminate fibroids, without the need for surgery. Once your fibroids are gone, so is that annoying urgency to urinate.
What to Expect from UFE
Our Fibroid Specialists
At American Fibroid Centers, our affiliated physicians are highly trained in uterine fibroid embolization. They are among the nation’s most respected providers of fibroid treatment, giving women a way to live more comfortably. Combat fibroids and frequent urination with the help of our team in NY & NJ.
What Our Patients Are Saying
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From the Experts
Get to know more about the symptoms, causes, treatment, and care of Uterine Fibroids.