Uterine fibroids are common, non-cancerous growths that develop within the muscular wall of the uterus. Also known as leiomyomas, these growths affect up to 80% of women by age 50. While many individuals experience no symptoms, others face significant issues like pelvic pain and heavy menstrual flow. Fibroids can cause dizziness, but this symptom is generally not a direct result of the fibroids themselves. Instead, dizziness is an indirect consequence of chronic blood loss.
The Indirect Link: Anemia and Blood Loss
Fibroids, particularly submucosal fibroids, can disrupt the uterine cavity and lead to excessive or prolonged menstrual bleeding, a condition called menorrhagia. This chronic, heavy blood loss depletes the body’s iron reserves over time. Iron is a fundamental component of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells responsible for transporting oxygen to the body’s tissues. When iron stores become severely diminished, the body cannot produce enough healthy red blood cells, resulting in iron deficiency anemia. With fewer oxygen-carrying red blood cells, the blood’s capacity to deliver oxygen, especially to the brain, is reduced. This insufficient oxygen supply triggers symptoms such as lightheadedness and dizziness.
Recognizing Symptoms of Anemia
Dizziness is one of several common symptoms that indicate the presence of iron deficiency anemia resulting from fibroid-related blood loss. Individuals may also experience extreme and persistent fatigue that is not relieved by rest. This profound weariness occurs because the body’s cells are starved of the oxygen needed to generate energy. The reduced number of red blood cells can also cause the skin to appear noticeably pale, a sign known as pallor. Other physical manifestations include shortness of breath and cold hands and feet due to poor circulation. In more severe cases, the heart may beat irregularly or rapidly, which is a physiological response to push the limited oxygen supply through the circulatory system more quickly.
Treatment Approaches
Addressing dizziness caused by fibroids requires a dual-pronged treatment strategy: managing the resulting anemia and treating the underlying cause, the fibroids themselves.
Managing Anemia
The initial step is iron supplementation to replenish depleted stores and rebuild healthy red blood cells. For mild to moderate iron deficiency, oral iron supplements are typically prescribed, though these can sometimes cause gastrointestinal side effects. In cases of severe anemia or when oral supplements are poorly tolerated or ineffective, intravenous (IV) iron infusions may be necessary. IV iron can restore hemoglobin levels and iron stores more rapidly than oral therapy, offering quicker relief from symptoms like dizziness.
Treating Fibroids
Simultaneously, medical management to reduce the heavy bleeding is initiated, often with options that do not involve surgery. Non-hormonal medications, such as tranexamic acid, are taken only during the menstrual period and work by helping the blood clot, thus reducing blood loss by up to 50%. Hormonal treatments, including progestin-releasing intrauterine devices (IUDs) or oral contraceptives, can thin the uterine lining, which decreases the volume of monthly bleeding. When these medical treatments are insufficient, procedures like Uterine Fibroid Embolization or myomectomy are considered to directly shrink or remove the fibroids, permanently addressing the source of the excessive bleeding.
When to Consult a Healthcare Provider
Individuals should seek prompt medical attention if they experience persistent dizziness or lightheadedness, especially if it occurs alongside very heavy menstrual periods. A period is considered excessively heavy if it requires changing pads or tampons every hour for several consecutive hours, or if blood clots larger than a quarter are passed. Fainting, near-fainting spells, or chronic severe fatigue that interferes with daily activities are also clear signals for an urgent consultation. A healthcare provider can perform a simple blood test to check hemoglobin and ferritin levels, accurately diagnosing the presence and severity of anemia.