Why should fibroids be removed?

People remove fibroids to relieve symptoms like heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, pressure, and bloating, and to address fertility issues, as these non-cancerous growths can disrupt daily life and pregnancy, with removal (myomectomy) preserving the uterus for future pregnancy, unlike a hysterectomy.

What happens if I don't remove fibroids?

Fibroids can distort the uterine cavity, disrupt implantation, and compromise the blood supply to the developing fetus. This can result in infertility, recurrent miscarriages, preterm labor, and complications during pregnancy such as placental abruption and fetal growth restriction.

What are the benefits of removing fibroids?

Relief from Symptoms

One of the primary reasons women undergo a myomectomy is to alleviate the symptoms caused by fibroids. These symptoms can include heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, frequent urination, and bloating. Removing fibroids can provide significant relief and improve the quality of life.

At what point should fibroids be removed?

Fibroids should be removed when they cause significant symptoms like heavy bleeding (leading to anemia), severe pain, pressure, or fertility issues, or if they are large (often >5-6 cm) and affecting organs. Removal (myomectomy or hysterectomy) is considered if non-surgical treatments fail, the fibroids impact quality of life, or they interfere with pregnancy, but often isn't needed for asymptomatic fibroids which may shrink after menopause.
 

How to treat fibroids during pregnancy?

Treating fibroids during pregnancy focuses on symptom management, as removing them is risky; most fibroids shrink after birth, so doctors usually recommend conservative care like rest, heat (pads/baths), hydration, gentle exercise, and safe pain relievers (acetaminophen), with close monitoring for potential complications like preterm labor or breech birth, and planning for delivery (often C-section if they block the canal). 

Should uterine fibroids be removed before or after pregnancy? Ask Mayo Clinic

What are the main causes of fibroids?

Fibroids form from a single uterine cell that multiplies abnormally, driven mainly by the hormones estrogen and progesterone, though the exact trigger isn't known. Key factors include genetics (family history), age (reproductive years), ethnicity (higher in Black women), and lifestyle factors like obesity, with substances like insulin-like growth factor and increased extracellular matrix also playing roles in their growth.
 

How can I shrink my fibroids naturally?

Studies suggest you can help prevent fibroid growth with calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus. And if you already have fibroids, taking vitamins D and A supplements could help you shrink fibroids naturally. Finally, taking magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids could help relieve period pain.

Why don't doctors want to remove fibroids?

Cutting into the uterus to take out just the fibroids could cause a problem with how the uterus works in a future pregnancy. Pelvic pain that you had before either surgery may not get better. If you have just the fibroids taken out but not the uterus, the fibroids can grow back.

How do you know if fibroids are serious?

For most women, fibroids are not serious and will shrink and disappear over time. However, for one in three women with fibroids, they can cause pain and discomfort that affects their quality of life. In rare cases, fibroids can make it difficult to become pregnant or cause infertility.

Is removing fibroids a big operation?

Yes, fibroid removal (myomectomy) can be a major surgery, especially the traditional abdominal (open) approach with large incisions and weeks of recovery, but it can also be minimally invasive (laparoscopic/robotic) or non-invasive (hysteroscopic), depending on the fibroids' size and location, with less invasive methods leading to faster recovery. 

How painful is fibroid surgery?

Fibroid surgery pain varies greatly by type, with minimally invasive (laparoscopic/hysteroscopic) causing less pain, faster recovery (days/weeks), and mild-to-moderate discomfort, while open abdominal surgery involves more significant, sometimes "excruciating," pain, longer recovery (weeks/months), and soreness from larger incisions and trapped gas, though modern pain management helps with both. Expect soreness, cramping, and gas pain (especially with laparoscopy) that's manageable with prescribed meds, but significant pain often occurs with larger procedures or complications, with recovery lasting weeks to months.
 

What is the newest way to remove fibroids?

The newest approaches for fibroid removal focus on minimally invasive techniques that shrink or destroy fibroids with less downtime, including MRI-guided Focused Ultrasound (FUS) and Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA), using sound waves or heat to destroy tissue without incisions, plus newer FDA-approved medications like Myfembree and Oriahnn, while traditional methods like Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) and robotic myomectomy also offer advanced options. 

Is it worth having fibroids removed?

Surgery to remove your fibroids may be considered if your symptoms are particularly severe and medicine has been ineffective. Several different procedures can be used to treat fibroids. A GP will refer you to a specialist, who'll discuss the options with you, including benefits and any associated risks.

At what age do fibroids usually develop?

Fibroids usually start developing during a woman's reproductive years, most commonly showing up in the 30s and 40s, with prevalence peaking around age 50, though some can appear as early as the teens, especially in Black women, who often experience them earlier and more severely than White women. They are hormone-dependent, meaning they typically shrink after menopause.
 

Is it better to shrink fibroids or to surgically remove them?

Shrinking fibroids through UFE has several benefits over having them removed surgically. One of the biggest benefits of UFE is that the patient can still conceive and carry a baby because their uterus remains intact.

What are the dangers of fibroids?

While uterine fibroids are usually benign (non-cancerous), untreated ones can lead to significant health issues like severe anemia from heavy bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, pressure on the bladder (frequent urination), bowel problems (constipation), and major fertility challenges, including miscarriage or preterm birth. Rarely, they can cause sudden, severe pain from degeneration or twisting (torsion).
 

What are red flags for fibroids?

Prolonged, painful or heavy periods

Abnormal menstrual activity is the most common symptom of fibroids. Fibroids can cause periods that are extremely painful, with heavy bleeding (menorrhagia) that lasts longer than seven days.

What happens if I leave my fibroids untreated?

Leaving uterine fibroids untreated can worsen symptoms like heavy bleeding and pelvic pain, potentially leading to severe anemia, chronic discomfort, and issues like frequent urination or constipation; it can also complicate pregnancies with risks of miscarriage, preterm birth, and infertility, and in rare cases, large fibroids may cause acute pain from twisting (torsion) or degeneration, requiring emergency surgery. While many small fibroids cause no issues, untreated symptomatic ones often get bigger and cause more severe problems over time.
 

What does a fibroid belly look like?

A fibroid belly looks like a firm, rounded bulge in the lower abdomen, often mistaken for pregnancy, that doesn't go away with diet or exercise, feeling hard like a potato and causing distension, sometimes significantly, depending on fibroid size. It's a constant fullness in the pelvic area, contrasting with soft fat or gas bloating, and can range from plum-sized to watermelon-sized growths.
 

At what point does a fibroid need to be removed?

Fibroids should be removed when they cause significant symptoms like heavy bleeding (leading to anemia), severe pain, pressure, or fertility issues, or if they are large (often >5-6 cm) and affecting organs. Removal (myomectomy or hysterectomy) is considered if non-surgical treatments fail, the fibroids impact quality of life, or they interfere with pregnancy, but often isn't needed for asymptomatic fibroids which may shrink after menopause.
 

What not to do if you have fibroids?

When you have fibroids, you should avoid or limit foods like red meat, processed foods, high-fat dairy, refined carbs/sugars, caffeine, and alcohol, as they can worsen symptoms by affecting hormones and inflammation; also avoid high-impact workouts that strain your abdomen, like sit-ups, and don't skip regular exercise, as it helps manage blood pressure and weight. It's also important to reduce exposure to endocrine disruptors like BPA and manage stress, while always consulting your doctor for personalized advice.
 

Can fibroids turn cancerous?

No, benign uterine fibroids almost never turn cancerous; they are non-cancerous growths, but in extremely rare cases, a different cancerous tumor, uterine sarcoma (leiomyosarcoma), can develop from the same uterine muscle tissue, though it's not considered a transformation of an existing fibroid. The key is that existing fibroids don't typically become cancerous, but a doctor needs to differentiate between benign fibroids and rare malignant ones, especially if you're postmenopausal and have new bleeding, notes MD Anderson Cancer Center and USA Fibroid Centers.
 

What is the root cause of fibroids?

Fibroids form from a single uterine cell that multiplies abnormally, driven mainly by the hormones estrogen and progesterone, though the exact trigger isn't known. Key factors include genetics (family history), age (reproductive years), ethnicity (higher in Black women), and lifestyle factors like obesity, with substances like insulin-like growth factor and increased extracellular matrix also playing roles in their growth.
 

Which vitamin deficiency causes fibroids?

Recent evidence from three independent research groups in populations in North Africa, east USA and central Europe demonstrate an association between serum vitamin D deficiency and increased risk of uterine fibroids.

What exercises should you avoid with fibroids?

With fibroids, avoid high-impact exercises (running, jumping), heavy weightlifting, and intense core work (crunches, sit-ups) that strain the abdomen, as these increase pelvic pressure and blood flow, potentially worsening pain or growth; listen to your body, as excessive intensity or movements causing discomfort, pain, or heavy bleeding should be modified or skipped. Focus on low-impact activities like walking, swimming, cycling, and gentle yoga, while consulting your doctor for personalized guidance.