Signs of ill health What are fibroids? Fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumours. They occur in the uterus (womb). For reasons that are still being researched, a single muscle cell in the uterus may begin to grow and multiply rapidly. The resulting tumour is called a fibroid. Fibroids may put pressure on the bladder or intestines. When that happens, symptoms such as frequent urination, constipation, pelvic pain or heavy menstrual bleeding may develop. On rare occasions, a large fibroid may block the opening of the uterus. In that case, a pregnant woman may need to have a caesarean delivery. Uterine fibroids are the most common reason for women to have a hysterectomy in the UK. Fibroids may cause any or all of these symptoms: Constantly feeling heavy or bloated in the abdomen or feeling as if you have a foreign object in your abdomen Abdominal swelling that makes you look bloated or pregnant Extremely heavy bleeding during periods; large clots expelled with menstrual blood; unusually long periods; spotting and bleeding between periods; unusually severe menstrual cramps Anaemia caused by the excessive bleeding Pressure on the bladder; frequent urination; difficulty urinating Pressure on other abdominal organs; possible damage to organs Painful intercourse, Infertility, miscarriage Be aware that all of these symptoms may be caused by other conditions. How do I know whether I have fibroids? A gynaecologist will start by performing a manual pelvic exam. In many cases the doctor will be able to feel and recognise the fibroids at this time. The next step is to confirm the diagnosis with an ultrasound. This is an easy, painless procedure. The radiologist will insert a special probe into the vagina to view your uterus, and will also run another probe over the outside of your abdomen to get a different point of view. The doctor should count the fibroids, note their locations and take their measurements. Be aware that an exact count may not be possible. Source: www.fibroidnetworkonline.com | 
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