Uterine Fibroids: Understanding the Symptoms and Your Health Impact

What Are Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids (also called myomas or leiomyomas) are benign tumours of the smooth muscle that grow within the uterine wall, on its surface, or project into its cavity. They are one of the most common gynaecological growths — statistics show that 70–80% of all women will develop at least one fibroid by the age of 50.

It is important to emphasise: fibroids are almost never cancerous (the chance of malignant transformation is less than 1 in 1,000). However, this does not mean they are always harmless — their size, number, and precise location can significantly impact a woman's quality of life.

Main Symptoms and Warning Signs

In more than half of patients, fibroids grow silently and are discovered incidentally during a routine ultrasound. In the remaining cases, fibroids produce dramatic symptoms:

1. Extremely Heavy and Prolonged Menstrual Bleeding

The most typical manifestation includes extremely heavy menstrual flow with large blood clots, leading to chronic iron-deficiency anaemia (low haemoglobin and depleted iron stores). These fibroids are usually located just beneath the uterine lining (submucosal).

2. Pressure, Heaviness, and Pelvic Pain

As the tumour grows and occupies more space, it creates an intense, dull pressure deep in the lower abdomen, thighs, and lower back. There is no relief or easing throughout the day.

3. Urinary Urgency (Bladder Pressure Symptoms)

Due to the close proximity of organs, a uterus reshaped by a growing fibroid (often over 6 cm) physically compresses and reduces bladder capacity. This forces unnaturally frequent urination or leaves a persistent feeling of incomplete emptying.

4. Constipation and Pain During Intercourse

Fibroids located on the posterior wall of the uterus push against the bowel, disrupting normal bowel movements. They can also cause significant pain during sexual intercourse (dyspareunia).

Do these symptoms sound familiar? Learn about effective hysteroscopic fibroid removal.

Types of Fibroids by Location

The precise location determines the symptom profile:

• Submucosal fibroids — grow into the uterine cavity. They cause the most severe menstrual and intermenstrual bleeding, and have the greatest impact on fertility.
• Intramural fibroids — develop within the muscular wall of the uterus, often significantly enlarging its overall size. They cause generalised pelvic pain and abdominal pressure.
• Subserosal fibroids — grow outward from the outer surface of the uterus, compressing the bladder or bowel.

Why Do Fibroids Develop?

Fibroids are hormone-dependent tumours — their growth is driven by oestrogen and progesterone. This is why they are never found in pre-pubertal girls (who lack these hormones) and naturally shrink after menopause when hormone production ceases.

Treatment at Our Clinic

Treatment decisions are based on fibroid size, symptom severity, quality-of-life impact, and the patient's fertility plans. When surgical removal is needed, we prioritise minimally invasive techniques:

• Hysteroscopy (for fibroids inside the uterine cavity): The surgeon enters through the vagina with a micro-camera and uses a specialised electrosurgical loop to precisely remove the fibroid millimetre by millimetre — without a single external incision. This is called a hysteroscopic resection and myomectomy.
• Laparoscopy (for large or external fibroids): Through tiny keyhole incisions via the navel, the surgeon removes the fibroid while keeping the uterus and its biological integrity completely intact (laparoscopic myomectomy). The woman retains her uterus and full reproductive capability.

FAQ: Common Questions About Fibroids

How large can fibroids grow?

Fibroids vary enormously in size — from tiny seed-like nodules of a few millimetres to large masses the size of a melon that can visibly distend the abdomen, sometimes resembling an advanced pregnancy.

Do fibroids prevent pregnancy?

This depends primarily on their location. Submucosal fibroids are the most problematic — they can block embryo implantation and are a common cause of IVF failure. Hysteroscopic removal before fertility treatment significantly improves conception rates.

Planning to treat fibroids? Book your diagnostic ultrasound today.