Fibroids are benign tumours of the muscular wall of the wombs. They are not cancerous growth. They are very common. Most ladies with the fibroids do not have any symptoms. If symptomatic, fibroids can cause heavy bleeding, infertility, bleeding between periods and pelvic pressure. The size and location of fibroids are two most important factors to determine whether they can cause any of the aforementioned symptoms. In summary, the larger the fibroids and the more pressure it causes to the uterine cavity, the more likely it can cause symptoms. Therefore, when we assess the fibroids by the ultrasound scan, the size of these fibroids and whether they have pressed against the cavity of the womb or they are actually inside the cavity of the womb is very important.
Most fibroids unless very large, can be assessed by performing ultrasound scan trans-vaginally (Internal scan) and trans-abdominally (over tummy). In performing ultrasound scan, doctor assesses the size, location of the fibroids in relation to the cavity of the womb. Fibroids are usually symptomatic if they are in the cavity of the womb or very close to the cavity. Fibroids are usually asymptomatic if they grow outside of the uterus or grows within the wall but outward.