How to Use the Uterine Fibroid Risk Checker
If your periods have gotten heavier than they used to be, or you're noticing pelvic pressure, uterine fibroids are worth considering. Fibroids are benign growths in the muscular wall of the uterus, and they're extremely common in women of reproductive age in their 30s and 40s. This checker combines your age with 8 key signs — heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, anemia symptoms, and more — to give you a risk level.
The hallmark symptoms of fibroids are heavier bleeding and a longer period. If you're soaking through a pad within 2 hours or passing large clots, that may be bleeding beyond the normal range. Repeated heavy bleeding like this can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, showing up as dizziness or fatigue. Depending on a fibroid's size and location, it can also press on the bladder or rectum, causing frequent urination, pelvic pressure, or a palpable lump in the lower abdomen.
Fortunately, most fibroids are benign, and when symptoms are mild or absent, regular monitoring is often all that's needed. But if bleeding is causing anemia or a fibroid is growing quickly, medication or a procedure may be warranted — so if you've checked several symptoms, don't put off getting a pelvic ultrasound from an OB-GYN.
Frequently Asked Questions
Uterine fibroids are most commonly found in women of reproductive age in their 30s and 40s, and they tend to shrink after menopause in most cases. That said, they can appear in your 20s too, and having a family history raises the risk.
No. Most uterine fibroids are benign, and when symptoms are absent or mild, regular monitoring alone is often enough. Medication or a procedure/surgery is generally considered only when there's anemia from heavy bleeding, severe pelvic pain, or rapid growth — a decision made together with an OB-GYN.