Uterine fibroids can significantly impact your menstrual cycle, often leading to distressing symptoms like painful cramps and heavy bleeding. In some cases, fibroids may also affect vaginal discharge—whether you’re dealing with untreated fibroids or recovering from treatment.

In this post, we’ll explore various factors related to fibroid discharge, including changes in color, the differences between discharge after fibroid embolization versus surgery, and practical steps to manage or stop fibroid discharge.

What Is Fibroid Discharge?

Fibroid discharge is vaginal discharge caused by the presence of uterine fibroids. It can vary in consistency and color, often being watery and sometimes tinged with pink due to light bleeding or spotting. Between your periods.

Depending on their size and location, uterine fibroids can cause changes in your discharge, or increased vaginal discharge, throughout your menstrual cycle.

Following treatments like Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) or myomectomy surgery, you may also experience fibroid sloughing—a process where fibroid tissue is shed through discharge during recovery.

Fibroid Sloughing

Fibroid sloughing, or the passing of pieces of dead fibroid tissue, typically begins with cramping pain and the release of larger blood clots, usually within 10 weeks of undergoing UFE.

What does fibroid discharge smell like? Sloughing can sometimes be accompanied by an unpleasant smell. However, any foul-smelling discharge may indicate an infection, so it’s important to talk to your healthcare provider right away to avoid complications.

Can You Pass a Fibroid?

Yes, it is possible to pass a fibroid. Approximately 2.5% of women who undergo UFE may pass some fibroid tissue or partial pieces of the tumor following their procedure. However, passing an entire fibroid through the vagina, known as fibroid expulsion, is extremely rare.

What does passing a fibroid look like? When this happens, you may notice dark, clotted discharge from the vagina, which cab resemble heavy menstrual bleeding. You may also notice fragments of tissue mixed in with the discharge.

Discharge After Fibroid Surgery

While you may experience fibroid sloughing after UFE, you may also experience fibroid discharge after myomectomy surgery. For the first one to two weeks post-surgery, expect bleeding and discharge ranging from reddish-brown to dark brown in color. Spotting is also common, and the timing and flow of your menstrual cycle may be temporarily altered. Your first few periods may arrive earlier than usual and may be heavier than normal.

How to Stop Fibroid Discharge

Fibroid discharge often stops on its own, but you can make yourself more comfortable during the sloughing process by resting and following your doctor’s post-procedural care instructions. However, if your fibroid discharge has an unpleasant odor, notify your doctor right away, as it could be a sign of infection. In rare cases, excessive discharge may be a sign of incomplete passage of the fibroid, which may require a medical procedure to fully address.

While some women experience fibroid sloughing and discharge following UFE or myomectomy, it’s a temporary and uncommon side effect. More often, women experience relief from fibroid-related symptoms such as pelvic pain, back pain, and heavy bleeding during menstruation.

Interested in learning more? Request a consultation at the Georgia Fibroid Institute to explore your treatment options with our experts. 

When Is Fibroid Discharge Normal and When Should You Seek Medical Care?

Changes in vaginal discharge can be unsettling, especially if you're living with uterine fibroids or recovering from treatment. In many cases, discharge related to fibroids or the healing process after uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is expected and gradually improves over time. However, understanding what is considered normal can help you recognize when it's time to contact your healthcare provider.

You should seek medical evaluation if you experience:

• A strong or foul-smelling vaginal discharge
• Fever or chills accompanying discharge
• Heavy bleeding that soaks through pads quickly
• Severe or worsening pelvic pain
• Large amounts of tissue passing over several days
• Symptoms that continue longer than your physician advised

While fibroid sloughing is an uncommon but recognized part of recovery for some women after UFE, most patients heal without significant complications. Staying in close communication with your care team and following all post-procedure instructions can help ensure a smooth recovery.

If you are experiencing new or unusual symptoms before treatment, it's also important to schedule an evaluation. Fibroid-related discharge may have other causes, and an accurate diagnosis is the first step toward choosing the right treatment.

How Uterine Fibroid Embolization Can Help Relieve Fibroid Symptoms

Although many women discover fibroids because of heavy menstrual bleeding, uterine fibroids can also contribute to pelvic pressure, urinary frequency, lower back discomfort, painful periods, and changes in vaginal discharge. Treating the fibroids themselves often helps improve many of these symptoms over time.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) is a minimally invasive procedure that works by reducing the blood supply feeding the fibroids. As the fibroids shrink, many women notice improvements in symptoms without requiring a hysterectomy or major surgery.

Benefits of UFE may include:

• Reduced heavy menstrual bleeding
• Less pelvic pain and pressure
• Improvement in bladder or bowel symptoms caused by fibroid pressure
• Shorter recovery compared with traditional surgery
• Preservation of the uterus
• No large abdominal incision

Every woman's situation is unique. The number, size, and location of fibroids, along with your overall health and treatment goals, all play a role in determining whether UFE is an appropriate option. A consultation with an experienced interventional radiologist can help you better understand your diagnosis and available treatment choices.

Frequently Asked Questions About Fibroid Discharge

Is vaginal discharge common with uterine fibroids?

It can be. Some women notice increased watery, pink, or blood-tinged discharge depending on the size and location of their fibroids. Others may not experience changes in discharge at all.

How long can discharge last after uterine fibroid embolization?

Recovery is different for every patient. Some women may notice discharge or fibroid tissue passing during the weeks following UFE, while others experience little or no discharge. Your physician can explain what to expect based on your treatment.

Is foul-smelling discharge after fibroid treatment normal?

A foul odor is not considered a typical part of recovery and should be reported to your healthcare provider promptly, as it may indicate an infection or another complication that requires medical attention.

Can fibroid treatment improve heavy bleeding?

Yes. One of the primary goals of uterine fibroid embolization is to reduce blood flow to the fibroids, which often leads to lighter menstrual periods and improvement in other fibroid-related symptoms.

When should I see a fibroid specialist?

You should schedule an evaluation if fibroid symptoms—including heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, pressure, frequent urination, or persistent abnormal discharge—are affecting your daily life or becoming more severe over time.