Fibroids are painful. The pain isn’t just physical: the psychological toll that comes with symptomatic fibroids can sometimes be overwhelming. Symptoms of fibroids are often more than just uncomfortable: they can prevent a woman from going about her normal activities and affect her self-esteem. Many women with fibroids report feeling like they lack control over their own bodies.
The most common symptoms of fibroids include:
- Painful, heavy, or unpredictable periods
- Incontinence and bladder problems
- Weight gain or constipation
- Abdominal pain and swelling
- Pain during sex and loss of libido
While these can be very difficult to manage, there is another condition that often accompanies uterine fibroids and presents challenges of its own: depression. No one really knows the exact reason for the link between fibroids and depression, the link is strong enough to have been studied by researchers.
As many as 80 percent of women of child-bearing age will develop uterine fibroids before their 50th birthday. The closer a woman gets to perimenopause, the greater her risk of developing fibroids. And, if she develops fibroids, she may experience any number of fibroid symptoms, including depression.
Which comes first: symptoms of fibroids or depression? It might be the fibroids.
It is still unclear whether depression or fibroids comes first. Uterine fibroids can cause a number of problems that can contribute to the development of depression. In particular, the other symptoms of fibroids (such as fibroid pain) can be so uncomfortable and debilitating that they impact the woman’s quality of life, leading to depression.
Heavy, painful periods can leave a woman feeling physically unwell. Pain during sex can affect her relationships. Pelvic pressure may make it necessary to run to the bathroom all day long and prevent a woman from exercising or engaging in activities she once enjoyed. The need to go to the bathroom can also disrupt sleep, and lack of sleep can in turn contribute to fatigue. All of these complications can trigger depression in women suffering from fibroid symptoms.
One study, however, indicates that depression might be a risk factor for developing fibroids
For women already suffering from the symptoms of uterine fibroids, the “chicken or the egg” question doesn’t really matter all that much. It is not difficult to see how a woman trying to cope with the pressures of everyday life while dealing with the complications of uterine fibroids and their symptoms could become overwhelmed and depressed. One study, published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2012 and conducted by a research team from Boston University, however, seems to indicate that it is actually depression that can be a risk factor for developing fibroids.
This study examined almost 16,000 African-American women who were part of a Black Women’s Health Study. The team gave each woman a survey at certain points throughout a 20-year period. This questionnaire was based on the depression scale from the Center for Epidemiologic Studies in an effort to identify whether or not they were showing symptoms of depression.
After taking the initial survey, each woman was then asked to take a follow-up survey every other year for the next 12 years. These surveys asked questions such as whether or not they had been diagnosed with fibroids, whether or not they had been diagnosed as being depressed, whether they were being treated for depression and what that treatment looked like.
Out of the almost 16,000 women surveyed, 4,722 of them were diagnosed with fibroids during the course of the study. What researchers found was that the women who were at a greater risk of depression were also more likely to develop uterine fibroids.
A possible link between symptoms of fibroids lies in the brain.
One theory regarding the link between depression and fibroids lies with the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis. This axis helps to regulate the body’s internal communication system. In particular, it controls how a woman responds to her emotions and, especially, stress.
If the HPA axis ceases to function smoothly, a person can experience intensified emotions, particularly in response to stress. These emotions may lead to depression. In addition, depression has been shown to change hormone levels, which may encourage the growth of fibroids and the development of symptoms.
Menopause may also lead to depression.
The many changes that occur in a woman’s body when she undergoes menopause and perimenopause may also contribute to the development of depression. In particular, unpredictable hormone fluctuations, grief over the loss of fertility, along with the physical symptoms of menopause, may trigger depression in some women. And depression can in turn contribute to the development of fibroids.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive way to deal with both fibroids and depression.
The good news is that fibroid treatment has changed dramatically over the years. While surgery is still an option, it’s not the only option. A minimally invasive approach, Uterine Fibroid Embolization, is a time-tested and effective procedure that can help a woman avoid hysterectomy and the risks and complications that come with major surgery. The real challenge is education. Too many women are simply unaware that this non-surgical solution exists and has been used successfully in tens of thousands of patients worldwide.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization partly blocks the arteries supplying the fibroids with blood, causing the fibroids to shrink and die. This treatment offers hope for women who suffer from both depression and fibroids.
The doctors at VivaEve have years of experience in the treatment of both uterine fibroids and adenomyosis through Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE). We are committed to providing high-quality, personalized care for each and every patient we see. We will partner with you to determine the best way to treat your problematic fibroids or adenomyosis.
To learn more about how fibroids could be affecting your depression, contact VivaEve, a uterine fibroid treatment clinic.