Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths on the uterus. They are fairly common amongst women of childbearing age—about 30% of women above the age of 35 will have uterine fibroids.

However, the risk of the fibroids being cancerous remains low and, in most cases, does not cause any symptoms nor affect daily activities.

Symptoms

As uterine fibroids vary in size and numbers, women who display symptoms often experience the following problems:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Abdominal cramps or discomfort
• Menstrual period lasting for more than a week
• Frequent urination
• Backache and leg pain
• Constipation and bloated stomach

Treatment

If you experience any of the above symptoms, we advise you to seek treatment. Options at our gynaecology clinic include observation, medication or surgery.

• Medication
  Medication may be prescribed to relieve pain and reduce heavy menstrual flow. This will help alleviate the discomfort temporarily. There are also drugs available to reduce the size of fibroids and they may be useful for women who are not fit for surgery or decline surgery.
• Myomectomy
  This is a surgical procedure to remove the fibroids while leaving the uterus intact. With myomectomy, there is a chance of the fibroids recurring in the future.
• Hysterectomy
  A hysterectomy is the permanent solution to removing fibroids. It involves removing the entire uterus which means that the patient will not be able to conceive in the future.