Can Fibroids Make Your Stomach Bulge?

An overgrowth in the tissues may lead to bulging. If the bulging is large enough, it is visible on physical examination. Large uterine fibroids cause a bulge in the stomach to such an extent that it makes the women look pregnant.

Uterine fibroids cause bulging stomach. The size of bulging depends upon the size of fibroids. In most of the cases, the bulging is not visible due to the presence of very small fibroids. But in some cases, the growth of fibroid is rapidly leading the development of large fibroid in a very short period causing bulging in the stomach. Few cases progress to increase the size of the stomach similar to the advanced pregnancy⁴. Women with a high level of the female dominating hormone are at increased risk of developing large fibroids. The female dominating hormones are estrogen and progesterone. After menopause, when the concentration of these hormones reduces, fibroids shrink.

Uterine fibroid is not the only disease in the uterus that leads to the enlarged uterus. Adenomyosis is the condition which is characterized by the swelling of the uterine wall. In this condition, the uterine lining gets fused with the muscular wall of the uterus. Polycystic ovarian syndrome and endometrial cancer also cause enlargement of the uterus⁵. Surgical intervention is often required if the enlargement of the abdomen or uterus cause severe discomfort to the patient or is a threat to the life of the patient.

Bulging of the stomach when the women are not pregnant may be a cause of concern. Bulging of the stomach without any expected reason may indicate something more serious than expected. Various reasons are elucidated for stomach bulging. Some are chronic while others are acute. Following are the various reasons for bulging stomach:

Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Irritable bowel syndrome is the chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This disease causes a plethora of symptoms. The condition leads to indigestion, constipation and bloating. The swollen belly is considered as the initial symptom of irritable bowel syndrome¹.

Excess Food. Stomach appears swollen when the person takes excess food. The puffiness on the face is also visible. Generally, the women are more prone to this condition due to the slow intestinal transit¹.

Unhealthy Diet. Apart from overeating, unhealthy eating may also be the reason for a bulging stomach. The most common foods that create problems include potatoes, processed food, salty foods, and carbonated drinks. These foods cause fluid retention, promotes gas formation or may cause constipation. The stomach may appear bulged due to these reasons¹.

Uterine Fibroids. Uterine fibroids are the benign tumor growth occurring in the uterus. The stomach gets bulged due to the presence of these fibroids and the extent of bulging depends upon the size of fibroid².

Ascites. Ascites is a symptom of the serious medical condition. Ascites is characterized by the retention of a large amount of fluid in the abdomen. Normally caused by liver disease, in almost 10% of the cases, it is a symptom of cancer. Retaining a large amount of fluid in ascites causes bugging stomach³.

Cancer. Bulging belly or bloating is also a symptom of various types of cancer. Cancer with bulging stomach as a symptom includes ovarian cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, colon cancer, and uterine cancer³.

Diverticulitis. This condition is characterized by the infection and inflammation in colon³. The patient experiences symptoms such as bloating, diarrhea and abdominal pain.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease: Enlarged abdomen is also seen in Pelvic inflammatory disease. In this condition the ovaries, fallopian tubes or uterine lining gets infected due to sexually transmitted disease. This leads to bloating, pain, fever, and tenderness in the pelvic region³.

Uterine fibroid is one of the several causes for the bulging abdomen. Due to the progressive increase in size, the fibroids cause bulging in the stomach. Other reasons for bulging include gas formation ascites, liver diseases, and cancer.

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Also Read:

• Do Uterine Fibroids Cause Fatigue?
• What Happens to Untreated Uterine Fibroids?
• Do Uterine Fibroids Go Away On Its Own?
• What Are The Dangers Of Having Uterine Fibroids?
• What Foods Help Shrink Uterine Fibroids?
• What are Uterine Fibroids, Know its Types, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Prognosis, Complications
• Home Remedies For Uterine Fibroids
• Recovery Period For Uterine Fibroids