Fibroids are benign growths in the womb and are extremely common: an estimated one in four women will have fibroids at some stage in their life. However, many women will not know they have fibroids as only one third of cases present symptoms; these can include heavy and prolonged periods, swelling, post coital bleeding and infertility. They vary both in size – from that of a small pea to a large grapefruit – and location, the most common of which is within the muscle tissue of the womb (intramural fibroids).

Surgery is not always necessary

Fibroids do not always cause symptoms or they may only be mild; if this is the case, you may not require any treatment. Furthermore, fibroids tend to shrink after the menopause and symptoms ease. There are also medication options to manage the symptoms.

Fibroids and fertility treatment

During your consultation at Miss Amanda Tozer’s London fertility clinic you will initially undergo an ultrasound scan; sometimes an MRI will be required to locate and establish the size of multiple fibroids. Miss Tozer, a female gynaecologist with many years’ experience of treating fibroids, will then discuss the results with you, explaining the implications, if any, regarding your fertility. If the fibroids lie in the muscle tissue (intramural) and are smaller than 5cm, it is unlikely that removal will be recommended.

However, larger intramural fibroids can be removed either in an open procedure or laparoscopically, depending on their location. If Miss Tozer identifies fibroids growing from the inner wall into the middle of the womb (sub mucosal fibroids) she will most likely recommend they be be resected before you embark on fertility treatment. Resection of sub mucosal fibroids entails a hysteroscopy, usually performed as a day case; in some cases, pre-op suppression of hormones will be required.

At the London Clinic, Miss Amanda Tozer’s patients can count on attentive and specialist care.