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Heavy Periods? Signs It Could Be Uterine Fibroids

July 04, 2026

Maybe you find yourself going to the bathroom more often than before. Or maybe you’ve dealt with pelvic pressure, bloating or fatigue for so long that it’s starting to feels normal.

Because symptoms like this can be subtle or easy to explain away, uterine fibroids are often overlooked.

“It’s easy to normalize your symptoms,” says Daniel Scott Gottschall, MD, Chairman, Department of OB/GYN, at St. Vincent’s Medical Center. “They’re very common during the reproductive years, and many women never know they have them. But there are some telltale clues.”

Here are seven signs of fibroids to watch for.

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1. Your periods are heavier than usual

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths in or around the uterus, and heavy bleeding is one of the most common signs.

“Still, it’s easy to dismiss this symptom,” says Dr. Gottschall. “Many women assume heavy bleeding is just how their body works, but consistently heavy periods are one of the most common signs of fibroids.”

Heavy bleeding might look like:

Soaking through pads or tampons every couple of hours.
Needing to use both a pad and a tampon.
Passing large clots.
Bleeding for more than a week.
Planning your day around bathroom access.

“Heavy bleeding is more than just inconvenient,” Dr. Gottschall explains. “Over time, it can cause low iron levels, which may lower your energy and affect your health.”

2. You feel tired all the time

Caught you in a yawn? We all get tired.

“But fibroid-related fatigue can feel different, especially when heavy periods are causing iron deficiency or anemia,” says Dr. Gottschall. “You may sleep, rest and still feel like your body is running on empty.”

Low iron or anemia may cause:

Exhaustion that doesn’t improve with rest.
Weakness.
Shortness of breath.
Dizziness.
Headaches.
Feeling unusually cold.

“Women are often very good at pushing through fatigue,” Dr. Gottschall says. “But if your energy is dropping because of blood loss, that’s something we can evaluate and often improve.”

3. You feel pelvic pressure or fullness

Fibroids can grow in different places and sizes, so symptoms can vary a lot.

Pelvic pressure can be one of the more subtle signs of fibroids, especially when it builds slowly over time.

“For some women, the first clue isn’t pain,” explains Dr. Gottschall. “Some women describe it as a constant pressure, like something is weighing down in the pelvis.”

You may notice:

A heavy feeling in the lower belly.
Pelvic fullness.
Pressure that gets worse around your period.
Clothes fitting differently around the waist.
A feeling that your abdomen looks or feels bloated.

“Fibroid symptoms aren’t always sharp or dramatic,” Dr. Gottschall explains. “Because pelvic pressure can be subtle, many women blame digestion, weight changes or normal period discomfort. But sometimes the clue is simply feeling heavier, fuller or more uncomfortable than usual.”

4. You’re going to the bathroom more often

If you feel like you need to pee all the time, listen to this.

“Depending on their size and location, fibroids can press against the bladder,” says Dr. Gottschall. “That can make it feel like you need to go more often, even if your bladder isn’t actually full.”

You may find yourself:

Urinating more often during the day.
Waking up at night to pee.
Feeling pressure in your bladder.
Having trouble making it through a meeting, car ride or workout without a bathroom break.

“Bladder symptoms are not always the first thing women connect to fibroids,” Dr. Gottschall explains. “Frequent urination can have many causes, but if you’re also noticing pelvic pressure or heavier periods, it’s worth looking at the full picture. The uterus sits close to the bladder, so fibroids can absolutely affect how often you need to go.”

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5. You’re dealing with constipation or bloating

Fibroids can also press in the other direction, toward the bowel.

“When that happens, you may feel constipated, bloated or uncomfortably full,” says Dr. Gottschall. “And because digestive symptoms are so common, fibroids may not be the first thing that comes to mind.”

Fibroid-related bowel symptoms may include:

Constipation.
Bloating.
Lower abdominal pressure.
A feeling of fullness.
Discomfort that comes and goes.

“Of course, constipation and bloating can happen for many reasons,” says Dr. Gottschall. “But when symptoms involve both the pelvis and digestion, the uterus is sometimes part of that story.”

6. Sex has become painful or uncomfortable

Pain during sex is common enough that many women don’t bring it up. But you should.

Pain during sex can be one of the signs of fibroids, especially if it feels new, deep or tied to pelvic pressure.

“Fibroids can change the size, shape or position of the uterus, which may make intercourse uncomfortable for some women,” says Dr. Gottschall. “Either way, any persistent pain with sex deserves attention.”

Pain may feel like:

Deep pelvic discomfort.
Pressure during intercourse.
Cramping afterward.
Pain that feels worse in certain positions.
New discomfort that wasn’t there before.

“This can be a hard symptom to talk about, but doctors have these conversations every day,” says Dr. Gottschall. “When we have this information, we can better understand what’s causing the discomfort and what options may help.”

7. You’re having trouble getting pregnant or staying pregnant

Many women with fibroids get pregnant and have healthy pregnancies.

“But for some, fibroids can make it harder to conceive or may increase the risk of pregnancy complications,” says Dr. Gottschall. “Not all fibroids affect fertility, but their size and location matter.”

Fibroids may be more likely to affect fertility if they:

Distort the shape of the uterine cavity.
Grow inside the uterus.
Block the fallopian tubes.
Affect implantation.
Change how the uterus contracts.

“This doesn’t mean fibroids are always the cause of fertility struggles,” Dr. Gottschall explains. “But if you have them, we’ll look at where they are, how large they are and whether they are likely to interfere with pregnancy.”

When to see a doctor

Not all fibroids need treatment. In fact, many don’t cause symptoms at all.

“But if your periods, pelvic pressure, bladder habits, bowel habits or pain are starting to interfere with your life, it’s worth getting evaluated,” says Dr. Gottschall.

Your doctor may ask about your symptoms, perform a pelvic exam and order imaging, such as an ultrasound, to get clearer answers.

“If fibroids are the cause, treatment depends on your symptoms, age, fertility goals and the size and location of the fibroids,” says Dr. Gottschall. “From there, we can talk through your options and find a plan that helps you feel better without symptoms taking over your life.”