It is a very common question asked by patients: Can uterine fibroids cause weight gain? Weight gain usually occurs for a variety of reasons. It may be caused by your metabolism, stress, diet, or shifting hormones. But there are certain cases where you may gain weight in a particular way that can’t be corrected by usual dieting or exercising. You should know that this may be due to a hidden medical condition,
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors of dense muscle tissue that develop on or in the wall of the uterus. They are very common in women’s reproductive health. The data show that up to 80% of females will have them when they hit menopause.
Some women are at a much higher risk of developing them. If you are a woman in your 30s or 40s or an African American woman, watch closely because you are more likely to have more severe symptoms at a younger age. These growths are well known for their ability to change a lady’s body shape and weight without her knowledge.
Uterine Fibroids and Weight Gain
Yes, uterine fibroids can lead to weight gain, though in a particular manner. Fibroids typically cause:
- Lower belly enlargement
- Bloating
- Increased abdominal girth
- A feeling of heaviness or fullness
Rather than causing true body fat gain everywhere, the weight change from fibroids is usually from the size and mass of the fibroids themselves or the swelling pressure in your abdomen.
What causes this particular weight gain?
Fibroids cause certain physiological changes in your body that directly contribute to weight gain. It is important to remember these three main causes:
1. Large fibroids cause physical weight
Some fibroids get bigger and heavier, weighing several pounds. They are harmless but solid and heavy muscle tissue.
A small fibroid can weigh a few ounces, whereas a large fibroid or clusters of fibroids can weigh several pounds. Many gynecologists remove fibroids weighing 5, 10, or even 15 pounds.
This can show up as tighter clothes, a bigger waistline, or a protruding lower stomach. So, some of the weight you gain is the weight of the growth within your womb.
2. Estrogen Dominance and Fat Storage
Fibroids are highly sensitive to hormones. They are stimulated by the presence of estrogen. A woman with fibroids may have more estrogen and less progesterone in her bloodstream. High estrogen tells your body to store fat, particularly in your lower abdomen, hips, and thighs. This is a big reason why the link between uterine fibroids and weight gain is so undeniable.
Doctors, however, do not see fibroids as a direct cause of fat gain in the body.
3. Swelling and bloating of the abdomen
Fibroids create a lot of localized inflammation in your pelvis. In addition, fibroids tend to grow and put pressure on the colon and bladder. This pressure causes bloating, constipation, gas, pelvic pressure, and fluid retention. This can make you feel heavier even if your body fat hasn’t increased much.
Signs Your Weight Gain Might Be Related to Fibroids
The weight changes from fibroids are more suspicious if you also have symptoms like:
- Heavy periods
- Pressure in the pelvis
- Frequent urination
- Constipation
- Lower back pain
- Pain during sex
- Fatigue
- Anemia
- Visible lower belly bulge
- Feeling full quickly
How does it look and affect most?
It should be noted that fibroid weight gain is different from regular weight gain. When weight gain is caused by too many calories, the weight is typically distributed throughout the body.
However, the weight gain from fibroids is very localized. It may look like this:
A Distended Lower Abdomen: This is the most common sign. Even if a woman is thin in her body, she may still have a hard, protruding lower abdomen similar to one of 4-6 months of pregnancy due to fibroids.
Clothes Fit Wrong: Your pants can be very tight around the bottom of your belly and waist, but not around your legs or arms.
How to Test and Diagnose it?
If you are experiencing a fuller belly, heavier periods, and pressure in the pelvis, do not think that this is normal menopause, aging, or added weight. A correct medical diagnosis is required.
You should visit an in-network primary care provider to order a Pelvic Ultrasound. This is a non-invasive and painless procedure that looks inside your uterus with sound waves.
It is the best way to diagnose fibroids because it gives the doctor a clear picture of how many fibroids you have, where they’re located, and how big they are. This is a typical diagnostic procedure for pelvic pain, and it’s usually completely covered by Texas health insurance plans.
How to Treat Fibroids?
Once you’ve had an ultrasound and your doctor has determined that the fibroids are the cause of the weight gain, you should not attempt to make the weight drop with a crash diet.
The normal weight-loss strategies won’t decrease a physical tumor or restore hormonal swelling. This is what you need to do:
1. Seek Medical Management
You should consult your primary care provider or gynecologist about your choices. Its best treatment options include hormonal contraceptives to prevent the fibroids from growing, a progesterone-releasing IUD, and minimally invasive procedures that disrupt the blood supply to the fibroids, reducing their size.
2. Eat to Balance Estrogen
Because fibroids feed on estrogen, you should change your diet to help your body clear excess estrogen. You should eat more cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. These help the liver absorb and release excess estrogen.
Additionally, avoid processed foods, refined sugars, and alcohol, which promote inflammation and stimulate the production of estrogen.
3. Control the Digestive Backup
Fibroids put pressure on your bowels, so you have to be proactive about treating constipation to get the bloaty part of your weight gain under control.
Try to drink lots of water and eat foods that are high in fiber to keep things moving and prevent a swollen, bloated tummy.
Bottom Line
It is important to note that the weight gain that occurs in the lower abdomen from fibroids may not actually be a weight gain.
This weight gain will typically be due to a dramatic increase in weight and bloating from inflammatory fluid, not just your regular weight gain. There are symptoms to watch for to see whether this is affecting you. Your lower belly may feel unusually hard to touch, and it may look like a 4-month pregnancy.
At Kairos Integrative Care, Lola is here to help figure out why your weight is changing, especially if it is localized to your lower abdomen. She does the proper screenings to get a clear view of what is going on in your body, and gives you a personalized treatment and diet plan that assists you in handling it safely.
