Overview
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths of the womb muscle, very common especially in women of reproductive age — many cause no trouble at all, while others cause heavy periods, pelvic swelling or fertility difficulty. Treatment ranges from simply monitoring to medicines or surgery, depending on symptoms and family plans. A fibroid is not a death sentence and not always an operation.
Symptoms
- Heavy or prolonged periods
- Pelvic pressure or a swelling in the lower abdomen
- Frequent urination from pressure on the bladder
- Pain during periods or sex
- Lower back pain
- Difficulty conceiving in some women
- Anaemia from heavy bleeding
Causes & risk factors
- Exact cause unknown; oestrogen drives growth
- More common and earlier in women of African descent
- Family history
- Never having been pregnant
- Obesity
Treatment & self-care
Small, symptom-free fibroids often need only periodic scans. Heavy bleeding can be controlled with medicines a gynaecologist prescribes, and iron treats the resulting anaemia; surgery — removing the fibroids or the womb — is reserved for significant symptoms or fertility needs. Get a proper scan and specialist opinion before agreeing to surgery or buying "fibroid-melting" remedies, which do not work.
See a doctor urgently if
- Heavy periods soaking pads hourly or passing large clots
- Severe pelvic pain
- A rapidly enlarging abdominal swelling
- Dizziness or weakness from blood loss
- Difficulty conceiving after a year of trying