What Are Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids, medically known as leiomyomas or myomas, are muscular tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus (womb). They are incredibly common; in fact, up to 80% of women will develop them by the age of 50.

Fibroids can vary wildly in size, shape, and location. They can be as tiny as an apple seed, undetectable to the human eye, or they can grow into bulky masses that distort and enlarge the uterus to the size of a severe pregnancy. A woman can have a single fibroid or multiple ones.

Depending on where they grow, fibroids are classified into three main types:

• Intramural Fibroids: The most common type, these grow within the muscular wall of the uterus and can stretch the womb as they expand.
• Submucosal Fibroids: These bulge into the inner uterine cavity. Even small submucosal fibroids can cause heavy, prolonged menstrual bleeding and interfere with pregnancy.
• Subserosal Fibroids: These grow on the outside of the uterus and can press against nearby organs, like the bladder or the bowel, causing pelvic pressure and discomfort.

Recognizing the Symptoms of Fibroids

Because fibroids vary so much in size and location, the symptoms they cause can be vastly different from woman to woman. If you are experiencing any of the following, it is essential to consult a gynaecologist for a proper evaluation:

1. Heavy Menstrual Bleeding (Menorrhagia)

This is the most common and disruptive symptom. You may experience bleeding so heavy that it soaks through sanitary protection quickly, passes large blood clots, or lasts longer than a week. Over time, this severe blood loss can lead to iron-deficiency anemia, leaving you feeling chronically exhausted and weak.

2. Pelvic Pain and Pressure

Large fibroids can create a constant, dull, heavy ache in the lower abdomen or pelvis. In some cases, if a fibroid outgrows its blood supply, it can cause sudden, sharp, and severe pain.

3. Bladder and Bowel Issues

Subserosal fibroids growing on the outside of the uterus can press against your bladder, causing you to feel a constant urge to urinate or making it difficult to empty your bladder completely. If they press against the rectum, they can cause chronic constipation or painful bowel movements.

4. Lower Back and Leg Pain

In rare cases, a large fibroid pressing against the nerves in your lower back or pelvis can send radiating pain down your back and into your legs.

5. Reproductive Challenges

While many women with fibroids have normal pregnancies, certain types (especially submucosal fibroids) can distort the uterine cavity, making it difficult for an embryo to implant. This can lead to unexplained infertility or recurrent miscarriages.

What Causes Fibroids ?

While the exact cause of uterine fibroids remains unknown, clinical research and medical experience point to a few key factors that influence their growth:

• Hormones: Estrogen and progesterone, the two hormones that stimulate the development of the uterine lining during each menstrual cycle, appear to promote the growth of fibroids. Fibroids tend to shrink after menopause when hormone production drops.
• Genetics: If your mother or sister had fibroids, you are at a statistically higher risk of developing them.
• Other Factors: Age (mostly affecting women in their 30s and 40s), obesity, and a diet high in red meat and low in green vegetables have been linked to a higher risk of fibroid development.

Comprehensive Diagnosis at Ashoka Women & Children Hospital

Accurate diagnosis is the first step toward effective relief. If you report symptoms consistent with fibroids, our expert gynaecologists will conduct a thorough evaluation.

• Pelvic Examination: A doctor can often feel an irregularly shaped or enlarged uterus during a routine physical exam.
• Advanced Ultrasound: This painless imaging test uses sound waves to create a picture of your uterus, allowing us to confirm the presence of fibroids, measure them, and map their exact locations.
• Laboratory Tests: We routinely conduct complete blood counts (CBC) to check for anemia caused by heavy bleeding and rule out other potential bleeding disorders.

Tailored Treatment Options for Fibroids

At Ashoka Women & Children Hospital, we understand that no two women are the same, and neither are their fibroids. Treatment must be highly personalized based on the severity of your symptoms, the size and location of the tumors, your age, and your desire to have children in the future.

1. Watchful Waiting

If your fibroids are small, asymptomatic, or not interfering with your daily life, the best approach is often "watchful waiting." We will monitor your fibroids regularly through routine ultrasounds to ensure they are not growing rapidly.

2. Medical Management

Medications will not eliminate fibroids, but they can effectively manage symptoms, particularly heavy bleeding and pelvic pain.

• Hormonal Contraceptives: Birth control pills or the Mirena IUD can help control heavy bleeding and relieve severe menstrual cramps.
• GnRH Agonists: These medications block the production of estrogen and progesterone, putting you into a temporary, medically-induced menopause. This stops menstruation, rebuilds your iron stores, and can shrink fibroids significantly. It is often used to shrink tumors before surgery.

3. Minimally Invasive Surgeries (Laparoscopy)

If your fibroids are causing severe symptoms or affecting your fertility, surgical intervention may be required. Our surgical team specializes in advanced Laparoscopic Procedures.

• Myomectomy: If you plan to bear children in the future, a myomectomy is the preferred surgical option. This procedure removes the fibroids while leaving the healthy tissue of the uterus intact. Thanks to our minimally invasive laparoscopic techniques, this can often be done through tiny incisions, resulting in less pain and a faster recovery.
• Hysteroscopy: For submucosal fibroids bulging into the uterine cavity, a thin, lighted telescope (hysteroscope) is passed through the vagina and cervix to shave away the fibroid without any abdominal incisions.
• Hysterectomy: For women who have completed their families or are suffering from massive, life-altering fibroids that do not respond to other treatments, removing the uterus remains the only permanent cure for fibroids.

Why Trust Ashoka Women & Children Hospital?

Dealing with fibroids can be physically exhausting and emotionally draining. You need a medical partner who prioritizes your comfort, respects your reproductive goals, and offers the highest standard of clinical excellence.

At Ashoka Women & Children Hospital, we bring together expert gynaecologists, fertility specialists, and minimally invasive surgeons under one roof. Our state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging and advanced surgical theatres ensure that you receive the safest, most effective care possible, tailored entirely to your unique needs.

Do Not Let Fibroids Control Your Life

Heavy bleeding and pelvic pain are not things you simply have to "live with." Modern gynaecology offers incredible, effective solutions to shrink or remove fibroids, allowing you to step back into your life with energy and comfort.

At Ashoka Women & Children Hospital, your health, comfort, and peace of mind are our highest priorities.