Why Fibroids Lead to Anemia? Symptoms, Risks, and Treatment Options

 Fibroids often trigger heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, or bleeding between periods, resulting in greater blood loss than normal. This bleeding depletes iron stores because hemoglobin (the molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen) contains iron. Over time, if your body loses more blood than it can replenish, fibroids cause anemia, specifically iron-deficiency anemia.

Certain types of fibroids may make bleeding worse: for example, submucosal fibroids, which lie just under the uterine lining, can increase the surface area that sheds during menstruation, while intramural fibroids, which grow within the uterine wall, may disrupt blood flow and the uterus’s ability to contract and stop bleeding. As the fibroids grow larger, they magnify these effects, making anemia more likely.

Symptoms of Anemia from Fibroids

Because of the slowly cumulative blood loss, anemia may start subtly. Common symptoms include:

  • Chronic fatigue and weakness
  • Dizziness or lightheadedness when standing up
  • Shortness of breath, especially on exertion
  • Pale or yellow-tinged skin, brittle nails, or cold hands and feet
  • In severe cases, heart palpitations, chest pain, or more alarming cardiovascular symptoms.

Because these symptoms overlap with many other conditions, anemia can sometimes go unnoticed until it becomes more serious. 

do fibroids cause anemia
Diagnosing Anemia Related to Fibroids

If anemia is suspected, doctors typically order a CBC (complete blood count) to check levels of hemoglobin, red blood cells, and other markers. They may also test iron stores (for example, ferritin) to confirm iron-deficiency anemia.

On the fibroid side, a pelvic ultrasound or other imaging helps identify fibroids, their number, size, and location especially submucosal or intramural types that are more likely to cause heavy bleeding.

Treating the Anemia and the Fibroids

1. Managing Anemia

  • Iron supplementation: Taking oral iron (or in more severe cases, intravenous iron) can rebuild depleted iron stores.
  • Dietary changes: Eating iron-rich foods (like red meat, dark leafy greens, beans) and pairing them with vitamin C sources (such as citrus fruits) helps iron absorption.
  • Monitoring and follow-up: Regular blood tests ensure iron levels are improving and that replenishment is sufficient.

However and this is key these steps alone may not fully resolve the problem if fibroids are still causing ongoing blood loss.

2. Treating the Fibroids

USA Fibroid Centers recommend Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) a minimally invasive, non-surgical procedure to treat fibroids and address the root cause of anemia.

  • In UFE, tiny particles are delivered through a catheter into the blood vessels feeding the fibroids, cutting off their blood supply.
  • After UFE, most patients experience lighter, shorter periods within weeks.
  • As bleeding reduces, the body’s natural capacity to produce red blood cells kicks back in, often correcting anemia within 1–2 months, and many no longer need iron supplementation.

Why It Matters?

Ignoring anemia caused by fibroids is risky. Chronic, untreated anemia can lead to serious health issues like heart strain, arrhythmias, or even heart failure in extreme cases. Also, ongoing low hemoglobin can significantly impact quality of life, draining energy, disrupting work, and affecting mental well-being.

Takeaway

  • Yes, fibroids can cause anemia, mainly through heavy or prolonged bleeding.
  • Symptoms are often subtle but can escalate.
  • Restoring iron alone helps, but definitive treatment of fibroids via UFE offers the best path to stopping blood loss and reversing anemia.
  • Visit USA Fibroid Centers to explore diagnosis, anemia management, and non-surgical fibroid treatment options tailored to your needs.

Final Thought

Fibroids can cause anemia, primarily due to heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding. While iron supplements and dietary changes may help rebuild iron levels, they do not stop the ongoing blood loss caused by fibroids. The most effective long-term solution is treating the fibroids themselves. Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), offered at USA Fibroid Centers, is a minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment that can reduce bleeding, shrink fibroids, and help restore healthy hemoglobin levels. If you’re experiencing symptoms of fibroid-related anemia, visit USA Fibroid Centers to learn more about personalized treatment options and expert care.

 

Location: Florida, USA

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