Fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) growths that can develop in the walls of your womb (uterus). You can have one or more fibroids and they can vary in size. They can cause a range of symptoms including heavy or painful periods and abdominal (tummy) pain.
If you have fibroids but they’re not causing you any symptoms, you probably won’t need any treatment. But if you do need treatment, options include medicines and surgical procedures, and may depend on whether or not you plan to have children in the future.
Fibroids are very common. It’s thought that as many as eight in every 10 women get them. Your chance of getting fibroids increases as you get older.
Fibroids are benign tumours made up of muscle and fibrous tissues. They usually grow very slowly over years, and new fibroids can develop over time. Your hormones (oestrogen and progesterone) cause them to grow and develop. When you reach the menopause, they usually begin to shrink as your hormones change.If you’re reading this because you have chest pain now, go directly to our section ‘What to do if you have chest pain’.
There are different types of fibroid, named according to where they’re growing in your womb.
Subserous and submucous fibroids can grow on a stalk. These are called pedunculated fibroids.
You may not have any symptoms from fibroids, so you may not know you have them. Whether or not you have any symptoms from fibroids usually depends on how big your fibroids are and where they are. Symptoms can also vary depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle.
Possible symptoms of fibroids include:
If you think you may have symptoms of fibroids, contact your doctor.
Fibroids are sometimes found when you’re having a gynaecological (vaginal) examination or investigations for other problems, such as heavy periods.
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and your medical history. They’ll examine your lower abdomen and do a vaginal examination.
For a vaginal examination, your doctor will put gloved, lubricated fingers into your vagina to gently feel for anything different in your womb or cervix. At the same time, they’ll use their other hand to press on the lower part of your abdomen. You can ask to have someone with you while the examination takes place.
If your doctor thinks you may have fibroids, they may suggest some tests.
Tests your doctor or gynaecologist may recommend include the following.
There are several treatments for fibroids. The treatment that’s best for you will depend on your symptoms, how bad these are, and if you want to have children in the future.
Your treatment choices will also depend on where your fibroids are, how big they are and how many you have. If you don't have any symptoms or if your symptoms are mild, you may not need any treatment. But if you have more severe symptoms, there’s a range of treatment options that may help.
Your doctor will discuss your treatment options with you to help you make a decision that’s right for you. Your decision will be based on your doctor’s expert opinion and your own personal values and preferences.
Medicines can’t cure fibroids, but they can help to ease your symptoms. The following types of medicine may help.
However, these medicines can cause a number of side-effects. So, if your doctor offers you any of these medicines to ease your symptoms, ask them to explain the risks and benefits to you. If you have any queries, ask your pharmacist or your doctor.
There are a number of different operations and procedures that can either treat or remove fibroids. These may be the best option for you if:
Operations and procedures for treating fibroids include the following.
If you have surgery for fibroids, your doctor will explain what this involves, including how long it may take you to recover afterwards.
Doctors don’t know for sure what causes fibroids. But it’s thought that certain hormones, such as oestrogen and progesterone, may encourage them to grow.
You're more likely to get fibroids:
Complications can include:
Most women don’t get any symptoms or complications from their fibroids.
Yes, probably. After the menopause, the amount of the hormone oestrogen in your body decreases. This will usually cause your fibroids to gradually shrink, and in turn, your symptoms should lessen or go away completely.
If you're approaching the menopause you might want to wait and see if your symptoms get better before you consider having any surgery. Speak to your doctor or gynaecologist for advice as to what might be the best option for you.
There are two different types of contraception that can be used to help with the symptoms of fibroids. These may be useful if you have small fibroids which lie inside the muscle of the womb, and if you need contraception.
· Levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system (LNG-IUS). Also known as an IUS or coil, this is a small device that’s placed in your womb and can stay there for up to five years. The LNG-IUS prevents the lining of your womb from growing quickly, which in turn reduces the amount of bleeding during your periods. It can also make your periods less painful.
· Combined hormonal contraception (‘the pill’) can help to make your periods lighter and shorter. It contains the hormones oestrogen and progesterone. It’s not as effective at treating the symptoms of fibroids as the LNG-IUS.
It’s important to talk to your doctor about your treatment options and whether you wish to have a baby in the future. This can help your doctor advise you on the best treatment for you.
The information and/or article is solely the contribution of Bupa, (hereinafter referred to as “Bupa UK”) a United Kingdom (UK) based healthcare services expert and is based on their experiences and medical practices prevalent in UK. All the efforts to ensure accuracy and relevance of the content is undertaken by Bupa UK. The content of the article should not be construed as a statement of law or used for any legal purpsoe or otherwise. Niva Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited (formerly known as Max Bupa Health Insurance Company Limited) (hereinafter referred to as “the Company”) hereby expressly disown and repudiated any claims (including but not limited to any third party claims or liability, of any nature, whatsoever) in relation to the accuracy, completeness, usefulness and real-time of any information and contents available in this article, and against any intended purposes (of any kind whatsoever) by use thereof, by the user/s (whether used by user/s directly or indirectly). Users are advised to obtain appropriate professional advice and/or medical opinion, before acting on the information provided, from time to time, in the article(s).
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