Uterine Fibroids (cont.)

Medical Author:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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Medical Editor:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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When to Seek Medical Care

If a woman has any questions about her uterine health, seek medical assistance as soon as possible. If a woman has any of the following, she should notify her health care practitioner:

Irregular or heavy menstrual cycle, bleeding between periods
Pelvic or abdominal pain
Fever or night sweats
Increasing abdominal girth
Concerns about pregnancy or inability to become pregnant

If a woman has any of the following signs or symptoms she should contact a health care practitioner immediately or go to a hospital's emergency department.

Menstrual bleeding soaking through more than 3 pads per hour
Severe or prolonged pelvic or abdominal pain
Dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, or chest pain associated with vaginal bleeding
Vaginal bleeding associated with pregnancy or possible pregnancy