The facts about fibroids

Fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumours of the muscle of the womb that occur quite commonly, especially in women who are reaching the end of their reproductive years. These benign tumours often cause no symptoms and may never need treatment, but for many women fibroids, depending on their location, can cause a range of problems, including painful periods, heavy menstrual bleeding and infertility. They are the reason for around one third of all hysterectomy operations.

Fibroids form in different parts of the uterus.

• Intramural fibroids are confined within the uterine wall and may cause symptoms of pain, abnormal bleeding and infertility; the average affected uterus has six or seven fibroids
• Subserosal fibroids grow from the uterine wall to the outside of the uterus and can push on the bladder, bowel or intestine, causing bloating, abdominal pressure, cramping and pain
• Submucosal fibroids grow from the uterine wall into the uterine cavity, sometimes distorting it, and are the fibroids most likely to cause infertility; these are the least common type, making up about five per cent of cases

One out of every four or five women over the age of 35 has symptoms due to fibroids, but many more women have them without realising. They are most commonly found in women between the ages of 35 and 45 years old. If there are women in your family who already have been diagnosed with fibroids, there is an increased risk that you may get them as well. Risk of development is higher in women who are overweight or have no children.

Symptoms
Half of the women who have fibroids never experience symptoms and require no treatment, but even small fibroids can cause heavy and/or longer menstrual bleeding. They may contribute to infertility in some women, possibly because they interfere with an embryo's ability to attach itself to the uterus, but they are thought to be the direct cause in only about three per cent of infertile couples. They do not prevent a successful pregnancy in most women.

Urinary symptoms such as needing to go to the loo more often than normal and incontinence due to pressure on the bladder of an enlarged uterus are common. Difficulty or pain with bowel movements and constipation may occur due to pressure on the bowel. Some women will experience backache, lower abdominal or pelvic pain, and sometimes pain during intercourse.