📖 Uterine fibroids — overview
Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas or myomas) are benign smooth muscle tumours of the uterus. They are present in up to 70% of women by age 50, but only 25–50% cause symptoms. Symptoms depend on the size, number, and — most importantly — location within the uterus.
🎯 Common symptoms
- Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia) — prolonged or flooding periods, clots; leading to iron-deficiency anaemia
- Pelvic pain and pressure — lower abdominal heaviness, dysmenorrhoea, deep dyspareunia
- Urinary symptoms — frequency or urgency (bladder compression by anterior fibroids)
- Bowel symptoms — constipation or rectal pressure (posterior fibroids)
- Abdominal distension — visible enlargement with very large fibroids
- Subfertility — particularly with submucosal fibroids distorting the uterine cavity
🔧 Diagnosis
🩻 Pelvic ultrasound
First-line imaging. Identifies fibroids, assesses number, size, and location (submucosal, intramural, subserosal). Doppler assesses vascularity.
📊 Pelvic MRI
Gold standard for pre-treatment planning. Maps all fibroids precisely. Essential before UFE to confirm suitability and exclude adenomyosis or malignancy.
🩸 Blood tests
FBC for anaemia, ferritin, thyroid function. CA-125 if atypical features (not routinely for fibroids).
🔬 Hysteroscopy
For suspected submucosal fibroids distorting the cavity. Endometrial biopsy if indicated.
🔗 Related pages
🇫🇷 French version: fibrome-uterin-symptomes.html