The Link Between Painful Sex and Fibroids

Uterine fibroids affect many women. As many as 80% of women will get a fibroid by the time they turn 50, although it’s difficult to pinpoint a precise percentage because some fibroids go completely unnoticed. Most fibroids are benign, meaning they’re not directly dangerous to your health, and many don’t cause any symptoms.

Some do, though, and one of the hallmark symptoms of uterine fibroids is particularly unwelcome: painful sex. 

If you’re experiencing discomfort during sex, don’t wait to talk to our expert providers at Vascular & Interventional Associates. We offer dedicated fibroid care — including a leading-edge treatment to get rid of them — to women throughout northern Kentucky and in Cincinnati, Ohio.

To help you understand if a fibroid could be to blame for your painful sex, let’s look at the connection.

Why fibroids can cause discomfort during sex

Fibroids are muscular tumors that form on the wall of your uterus, but they don’t all develop the same. Some stay small, while others can grow to the size of a cantaloupe — or larger. Additionally, they can form anywhere in your uterus, including near your cervix. You can also have more than one fibroid, complicating matters further. 

Because most fibroids don’t pose a cancer risk, if it doesn’t cause you any discomfort, worsen your periods, or result in other symptoms, you can simply live with your fibroid. But in some cases, your fibroid can create issues for your quality of life. That becomes especially true for women who experience painful sex as a result of their fibroid.

Discomfort during sex that’s caused by fibroids usually relates directly to the size and location of your fibroid. If you have a large fibroid or one that’s located near your cervix, the pressure from intercourse can make it painful. 

Shrinking your fibroid — and your pain levels

Fortunately, you have treatment options well beyond a hysterectomy. Here at Vascular & Interventional Associates, our team offers uterine fibroid embolization. This minimally invasive procedure stops the blood supply to the fibroid, causing the tissues to shrink. Eventually, the fibroid dies, and you should be able to enjoy comfortable sex again.

We perform fibroid embolization through a tiny incision at the top of your thigh. We use an X-ray to guide the extremely small embolization device through your femoral artery to the fibroid, allowing us to precisely cut off its blood supply. 

Uterine fibroid embolization gives you a way to get rid of your fibroid — and the painful sex that comes with it — while keeping your uterus intact. And our team has been on the leading edge of this alternative to hysterectomies. We even participated in a national multicenter research trial confirming that this treatment is both safe and effective. 

You’re not stuck with your fibroid or the symptoms it causes. To learn if uterine fibroid embolization could be right for you, contact Vascular & Interventional Associates by calling our office in Crestview Hills, Kentucky, or requesting an appointment online today.