As Tracey* sat on the couch recovering from yet another long week of heavy menstrual bleeding, lower back pain, and fatigue, she could not help but feel guilty over how hard her partner, Jordan, was working. They were always a great team when it came to juggling kids, dinner, homework, work responsibilities, and everything else that goes into running a lively household of four. They also enjoyed their alone time, which they always found ways to fit into the mix. But lately, those moments of alone time all couples cherish have been few and far between. She has watched helplessly as their shared responsibilities turned one-sided and her uterine fibroid symptoms worsened. Jordan would never complain and insist they will get through this together. Yet, the financial, emotional, and physical strain of being a caregiver is not easy.
Fibroids are an extremely common condition, with studies estimating that up to 70-80% of women between the ages of 35 and 54 will develop them. Not every woman will experience symptoms, but many do—and much focus and attention have rightfully been directed toward providing these women with medical resources, awareness efforts, options, and emotional outlets. What many do not realize is the impact uterine fibroid symptoms have on family, especially those who take on additional responsibility and caregiver roles.
Living with uterine fibroid symptoms affects more than just the women experiencing them—it impacts everyone in her circle. Family members affected can include spouses and partners, as well as worrisome emotions from siblings, parents, even children—who often find themselves balancing their loved ones’ health with their feelings of stress, fatigue, and even helplessness.
Do Any of These Caregiver Concerns Sound Familiar?
- Emotional stress from seeing a loved one in pain
- Feelings of helplessness over not being able to stop fibroid pain
- Physical exhaustion from juggling mounting tasks
- Financial pressure from medical bills, treatments, medications
- Time away from work
- Limited time to focus on self-care or personal time
- Strain on the relationship
- Reduced quality time or unresolved tensions
- Feelings of guilt or inadequacy
- Reduced intimacy caused by a partner’s fibroid pain
Caregiving often requires a delicate emotional balance. Loved ones must show support while managing their own emotions, including fear about the future or frustration over their inability to provide immediate relief. Open, honest communication is critical to navigating these emotional challenges.
Partners and caregivers need to feel empowered to share their thoughts while remaining compassionate listeners.
Uterine Fibroid Symptoms: The Physical and Practical Burdens on Families
As Tracey’s story illustrates, uterine fibroid symptoms can make everyday responsibilities feel insurmountable. Severe symptoms like heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, period blood clots, and chronic fatigue may limit a woman’s ability to contribute to household tasks or even participate in financial support due to missing work.
These limitations can be made worse if she chooses to have a surgical procedure such as a hysterectomy or myomectomy. The recovery time for each can be anywhere from four to eight weeks and possibly longer, depending on the uniqueness of the procedure.
Naturally, this shifts some of the load onto family members. For instance, spouses may find themselves managing all the household chores (cooking, cleaning, laundry, errands, etc.) and parenting duties (helping with homework, attending school events, chauffeuring kids to activities, etc.). In between all of that, both the patient and her partner likely still have a job to do at work and must ensure they meet those expectations. Once those duties are in motion, there is still the ever-present need to be on call as a potential caregiver.
Sometimes, it may be as simple as being there for a quick hug or emotional support when uterine fibroid symptoms are at their worst. However, caregiving can also mean helping keep up with medicine schedules after procedures, assisting with bathing and toileting needs, and taking care of the little things. Children may also be called upon to contribute more, which can shift family dynamics. And, kids can have worry too, when they see mama not feeling herself or able to participate in everyday life.
Families can take steps to ease these challenges by:
- Dividing tasks: Create a plan where all capable family members pitch in to help. With more people contributing and on the same page, tasks can be completed quickly and with as little strain as possible.
- Lean on a support network: Friends, extended family, or neighbors may be able to assist with errands or childcare.
- Take breaks: Caregivers should set aside time for themselves to recharge. This should never be considered selfish. The best caregivers have the energy to match their expected roles.
Uterine Fibroid Symptoms: The Financial Pressures of Treatment and Lost Wages
The financial strain of managing uterine fibroid symptoms can be overwhelming. Costs for doctor visits, medications, and treatments—like surgery or minimally invasive procedures—can add up. In addition, women suffering from severe symptoms may find going to work difficult at times, further impacting household income.
In Tracey’s case, bills from doctor visits were beginning to mount. A surgical procedure could fix it all, but even that would be expensive when factoring in co-pays and deductibles. Any additional follow-up care might keep her out of work longer and strain their budget to the breaking point. She already had to step back from her part-time teaching position due to her fatigue and pain, which reduced her family’s income just as medical expenses began to climb.
Families can take steps to ease these challenges by:
- Reviewing insurance policies to maximize coverage.
- Explore financial assistance programs offered by hospitals and their chosen fibroid provider.
- Speak openly about household budgets and prioritize essential expenses. For instance, they might delay or skip non-essential expenses, such as family vacations or home repairs, to prioritize healthcare costs.
- Speak openly with your doctor. Often, there are more cost-effective and non-surgical treatment options.
Uterine Fibroid Symptoms: The Relationship Burdens on Couples
If you have been diagnosed with uterine fibroid symptoms, the idea of having sex may not be as appealing to you as it once was. After all, fibroids can cause pain during sex—through no fault of your own or your partner’s. You may notice your desire waning. You may start to avoid the act altogether. While this is common, there is the threat of added stress on your relationship due to lack of intimacy.
In Tracey’s case, she noticed that her worsening uterine fibroid symptoms left her too exhausted at the end of the day to enjoy the quiet moments she and Jordan used to have all the time (date nights, spontaneous displays of affection, etc.). Jordan never complained, but Tracey could feel the disconnect growing and feared eventual guilt, frustration, and possible rejection. Women with fibroids may feel guilty for being unable to meet their partner’s emotional and physical needs, while partners may feel helpless or even unwanted despite understanding the circumstances.
Couples can take steps to ease these challenges by:
- Prioritize open communication: Being open and honest about these and other sensitive topics is not easy. But it is essential to ensure you and your partner can bridge the emotional gap and understand each other’s needs, thoughts, and concerns.
- Seek professional support: Couples counseling and therapy can provide additional tools for maintaining connection and intimacy—especially when you are struggling to fix it on your own.
- Focus on smaller gestures: Holding hands, watching a movie together, or simply spending quality time together can go a long way toward overcoming the temporary lack of physical intimacy.
Solving Uterine Fibroid Symptoms With UFE
Fortunately, advancements in medical research and treatment methods have resulted in a wide range of options tailored to each woman’s specific circumstances. That includes minimally invasive procedures that can get you and your family back to living the life you want to live together. While there are several options, UFE (uterine fibroid embolization) is widely considered the gold standard for non-surgical treatment because it blocks the blood supply to fibroids rather than surgically removing them. As a result, fibroids shrink and no longer cause life-interrupting symptoms.
When performed by our team, patients experience a high success rate with minimal discomfort.
- Procedure typically completed in under an hour
- In-office procedure instead of hospital stay
- Recovery time is usually 1 week
- Tiny wrist puncture, no need for vaginal access
- Avoid side effects of pharmaceutical hormone therapies
- All fibroids may be treated at the same time
- No incisions, which means no surgical scarring
- Over 90% of patients see dramatic improvement in symptoms
Very few practices across the country are dedicated 100% to fibroid treatment. That is where Fibroid Institute Texas makes its mark. The concierge model at Fibroid Institute means patients get personalized and complete care from the initial consultation through post-procedure follow-ups. UFE patients can access their fibroid doctor’s mobile number to call or text with questions and concerns.
In addition to prioritizing patient needs, Fibroid Institute is helping to reduce the healthcare costs of fibroid treatment. UFE is an outpatient procedure that does not require a hospital stay, thus costing less than traditional fibroid surgeries such as hysterectomy.
Complete Dedication to Fibroids With Expert Level of Care
As you can see, uterine fibroid symptoms do not only affect the woman experiencing them. The impact on families, spouses, partners and caregivers can be significant and long-lasting without the right approach and medical team of fibroid experts in your corner. The good news is that families can navigate these difficulties with strength and love by fostering understanding, seeking help, and leaning on each other. The bottom line is that you and your family do not have to worry about lengthy healing times with every fibroid treatment procedure.
We are dedicated to treating fibroids using uterine fibroid embolization (UFE), the gold standard in non-surgical fibroid treatment. At Fibroid Institute, we do not believe you need to decide between suffering in silence and having invasive surgery. Whether UFE is the right option for you or not, our team of fibroid doctors is always on hand to partner with you and your doctor to determine the best course of action. We continually gather patient feedback and adjust our care process to provide the best possible experience for our patients.
Most major medical insurance providers cover the cost of UFE. Request a free 10-15 minute phone screening to determine if you are eligible. After the screening, if you qualify for UFE, you can schedule your onsite or telehealth consultation. With multiple locations, our Dallas and Houston fibroid clinics help thousands of women avoid fibroid surgery and find relief from their fibroid symptoms.
Get started now in Dallas by calling 214-838-6440, in Houston by calling 713-903-3733, or complete the form below. We are dedicated to helping you become #FibroidFree.
This information is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Prior to starting any new treatment or if you have questions regarding a medical condition, always seek the advice of your doctor or other qualified health provider.
Fibroid Institute Texas serves the Dallas and Houston areas including Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Arlington, Hutchins, Irving, Duncanville, DeSoto, Cedar Hill, Lancaster, Cockrell Hill, Highland Park, University Park, Park Cities, Garland, Mesquite, Richardson, Dallas, Sherman, Houston, Sugar Land, Katy, Webster, Clear Lake, The Woodlands, Universal City, Spring, Kingwood, Stafford, Conroe, Texas City, Cypress, League City, Bellaire, Addison, Carrollton, Plano, Frisco, Craig Ranch, McKinney, Allen, and more.
*Patient names and/or photos may be changed to protect patient confidentiality.