If you’ve been feeling unusually tired, lightheaded, or short of breath, anemia could be the reason, and for many women, uterine fibroids are the underlying cause.
While fibroids are common and noncancerous, their symptoms can significantly impact your quality of life, especially when they lead to heavy menstrual bleeding.
Here at Fresno Fibroid Center, our team knows just how frustrating fibroids can be. If you’re struggling with fibroids (or suspect that your symptoms are related), don’t hesitate to visit our Fresno, California, office.
Here’s what we want you to know about fibroids and anemia.
Fibroids can cause prolonged or heavy menstrual bleeding, sometimes lasting more than a week.
Women with normal periods lose about 2-3 tablespoons of blood, but when you have heavy periods, it’s often double that. So, it’s no surprise that women with heavy periods need frequent pad or tampon changes about every two hours.
This blood loss depletes your body’s iron and can lead to iron-deficiency anemia. Without enough iron, your red blood cells can’t carry oxygen efficiently. As a result, you feel fatigued and weak.
Common symptoms of anemia include:
If you’re experiencing these symptoms, don’t ignore them. Chronic anemia can affect your heart and energy levels.
Some of these symptoms can overlap with other conditions, too. For example, thyroid issues can cause tiredness. Getting an accurate diagnosis means you can tackle the root of the problem.
Iron supplements can temporarily restore your iron levels, but they won’t stop heavy bleeding caused by fibroids. To prevent anemia from returning, you need to address the fibroids themselves.
At Fresno Fibroid Center, Drs. Pruett, Behzadi, Tower, and Ng focus on identifying the size, number, and location of your fibroids using advanced imaging. Once we understand your unique case, we create a personalized treatment plan that targets the fibroids and helps restore normal menstrual flow.
For many women, surgery isn’t the only option. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive procedure that blocks blood flow to fibroids. Without enough blood flow, your fibroids shrink.
UFE offers:
When you treat your fibroids, your periods become lighter, and your anemia symptoms gradually fade as your iron levels return to normal.
After your procedure, and as you wait for the fibroid to shrink, you can continue to support healthy iron levels by eating foods like blackstrap molasses, spinach, beef liver, tofu, beans, and fortified products. For example, just one tablespoon of blackstrap molasses contains approximately 20% of your daily needs!
For best absorption, eat iron-rich foods with vitamin C-rich foods.
If heavy bleeding and fatigue have become your “normal,” it’s time to take the next step. Fibroids and anemia are both treatable, and relief is possible without major surgery.
Contact Fresno Fibroid Center at (559) 216-0746 today to schedule a consultation and learn how our team can help you find lasting relief from fibroid symptoms.
