Fibroids, non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb, are the most common tumours in women worldwide. Here, we look at everything you need to know about them.
What are fibroids?
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb. They often appear during the fertile years and they are also known as uterine myomas or leiomyomas.
Fibroids vary in number and size. You can have a single fibroid or more than one. Some of these growths are too small to see with the eyes. Others can grow to the size of a grapefruit or larger.
A fibroid that gets very big can distort the inside and the outside of the uterus. In extreme cases, some fibroids grow large enough to fill the pelvis or stomach area.
Many women are unaware they have fibroids as they do not have any symptoms.
What are the symptoms?
Around one in three women with fibroids may experience:
- heavy periods or painful periods
- abdominal pain
- lower back pain
- a frequent need to urinate
- constipation
- pain or discomfort during sex
In rare cases, further complications caused by fibroids can affect pregnancy or cause infertility.
Why do fibroids develop?
The exact cause of fibroids is unknown, but they have been linked to the hormone oestrogen. Fibroids usually develop during a woman’s reproductive years when oestrogen levels are at their highest.
They tend to shrink when oestrogen levels are low, such as after the menopause, when a woman’s monthly period stops.
Who gets fibroids?
Fibroids are common, with around one in three women in the UK developing them at some point in their life. They most often occur in women aged 30 to 50.
They are thought to develop more often in women of African-Caribbean origin. It’s also thought they occur more often in women who are overweight because being overweight increases the level of oestrogen in the body.
Women who have had children have a lower risk of developing fibroids.
How are fibroids treated?
Fibroids do not need to be treated if they are not causing symptoms. After the menopause, they will often shrink without treatment.
If you do have symptoms caused by fibroids, the NHS recommends medicine to help relieve the symptoms first.
There are also medications available to help shrink fibroids. If these prove ineffective, surgery or other, less invasive procedures may be recommended.
When should I see a doctor?
See your doctor if you have:
- Pelvic pain that does not go away
- Heavy or painful periods that limit what you can do
- Spotting or bleeding between periods
- Trouble emptying your bladder
- Ongoing tiredness and weakness, which can be symptoms of anemia
Get medical care right away if you experience severe bleeding or sharp pelvic pain.
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