The facts about fibroids

Medical treatment
If bleeding is the major symptom, some women with fibroids opt for medical treatment as the first stage before surgery, or as a way to delay surgery if close to menopause (this is because fibroids generally shrink and cause few or no problems after menopause). The most common treatments are oral contraceptives and progestogens.

Another treatment is called GnRH agonists (gonadotropin-releasing hormone), which is a class of hormones that have been shown to help temporarily shrink fibroids by blocking the oestrogen production that stimulates their growth.

GnRH agonists are considered a short-term treatment because side effects include menopausal symptoms triggered by oestrogen deprivation, such as hot flushes, vaginal dryness and significant bone loss. The usual course of treatment is three to six months. Once these drugs are discontinued, fibroids usually grow back to near pre-treatment size or larger within several months.

Fibroids and pregnancy
Some doctors recommend women with large fibroids or severe symptoms to consider having an assessment of the entire uterine cavity (with a hysterosalpingography or by a hysteroscopy) before trying to get pregnant. If fibroids are found on the inside of the uterus and distorting the uterine lining they can lead to reproductive problems if they aren't removed.