Can fibroids cause abdominal swelling?

Fibroids often cause swelling in the lower region of the abdomen due to inflammation. While fibroids are benign and most cause no symptoms at all, they can become a source of serious discomfort and should be investigated by a doctor.

Patient, an online resource for medical consumers in the United Kingdom, explains that at least one in four women develops fibroids at some point in her lifetime. Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that tend to grow inside or immediately outside a woman's uterus. They develop from normal uterus muscle cells that start growing abnormally. Fibroids can cause not only swelling but menstrual discomfort as well.