Fibroids: What Every Woman Should Know
July is Fibroids Awareness Month, so it feels like the right time to talk openly about what they are, why they happen and what can be done.
Fibroids are one of the most common gynaecological conditions, affecting a large proportion of women at some point in their lives. Yet many women have never had them properly explained, and some live with symptoms for years without realising fibroids could be the cause.
What Are Fibroids?
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb. They are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue and can vary enormously in size, from as small as a pea to as large as a melon.
They are very common, particularly in women aged 30 to 50, and they are more common in women of African Caribbean heritage. Many women have fibroids without ever knowing, because they do not always cause symptoms.
The Hormone Connection
Fibroids are oestrogen-sensitive, which means they tend to grow when oestrogen levels are higher and often shrink after the menopause when oestrogen falls. This is why they most commonly cause problems during the reproductive years.
Because of this hormonal link, fibroids can change over time, sometimes growing during pregnancy and often becoming less of an issue after the menopause. Understanding this connection is central to understanding both the symptoms and the treatment options.
Symptoms to Be Aware Of
Many fibroids cause no symptoms at all. When they do, the most common include heavy or prolonged periods, painful periods, pelvic pain or pressure, a feeling of fullness or bloating in the lower abdomen, needing to pass urine more often, and in some cases discomfort during sex or lower back pain.
Heavy bleeding in particular can have a significant impact, sometimes leading to iron deficiency and fatigue. As with so many menstrual health issues, these symptoms are too often normalised or dismissed, when they deserve to be properly assessed.
Fibroids and Fertility
Most women with fibroids are able to conceive without difficulty. However, depending on their size and location, some fibroids can affect fertility or pregnancy.
If you are trying to conceive and have known fibroids, or are experiencing symptoms that concern you, it is worth seeking specialist advice so that any potential impact can be assessed and managed.
How Fibroids Are Diagnosed
Fibroids are usually diagnosed with a pelvic ultrasound, which gives a clear picture of their size, number and location. Sometimes additional imaging such as an MRI is used for more detail.
If you are experiencing heavy or painful periods, pelvic pressure or other symptoms, do not feel you simply have to put up with it. A proper assessment can identify whether fibroids, or something else, are the cause.
Treatment Options
There is no single right treatment for fibroids. The best approach depends on your symptoms, the size and position of the fibroids, your age and whether you wish to have children in the future.
Options range from watchful waiting where symptoms are mild, to medication that can help manage heavy bleeding or shrink fibroids, through to procedures and surgery in more significant cases. Because fibroids are hormonally driven, managing the hormonal picture is an important part of the conversation, and the right plan is always an individual one.
The Bottom Line
Fibroids are extremely common, and for many women they cause no trouble at all. But when they do cause symptoms, those symptoms are real, treatable and worth taking seriously.
If heavy periods, pelvic pain or pressure are affecting your life, you deserve answers rather than reassurance to simply carry on. A specialist assessment can help you understand what is happening and what your options are.
