Uterine Fibroids
Heavy or long periods, a feeling of fullness in your lower belly, or needing to pee often? Fibroids are very common, non-cancerous growths in the uterus — and many women never need treatment at all.
General education, not a diagnosis. SHELY is pre-launch — “Talk to someone” adds you to our experts waitlist; we don’t offer bookings yet.
Uterine fibroids (also called myomas or leiomyomas) are firm, non-cancerous growths made of muscle and fibrous tissue that develop in or around the wall of the uterus. They can be as tiny as a seed or grow large enough to change the shape of the womb, and a woman can have one fibroid or many at once.
They are extremely common during the reproductive years and are thought to grow in response to the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which is why they often shrink after menopause when those hormones fall. Many fibroids cause no symptoms at all and are simply found by chance during a scan.
When symptoms do appear, they usually depend on where a fibroid sits and how big it is — those bulging into the cavity of the womb tend to cause the heaviest bleeding, while large ones pressing on nearby organs cause pressure symptoms. Treatment is only needed when fibroids are actually causing problems.
Signs & symptoms
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, sometimes with clots
- Periods that last longer than a week
- A feeling of fullness, heaviness, or bloating in the lower belly
- Frequent urination or trouble fully emptying the bladder
- Constipation or pressure in the back passage
- Lower back or pelvic ache
- Pain or discomfort during sex
- Tiredness or breathlessness from anaemia caused by heavy bleeding
Types
Intramural fibroids
The most common type — growing within the muscular wall of the uterus. Larger ones can make the womb feel bulky and cause heavy periods.
Submucosal fibroids
Growing into the inner cavity of the womb. Even small ones tend to cause the heaviest bleeding and can affect fertility.
Subserosal fibroids
Growing outward on the outer surface of the uterus. These often press on the bladder or bowel, causing pressure symptoms rather than bleeding.
Pedunculated fibroids
Attached to the uterus by a stalk, either inside the cavity or outside. If the stalk twists, they can cause sudden, sharp pain.
What causes it
- Sensitivity to the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which fuel fibroid growth
- A family history of fibroids in your mother or sisters
- Starting periods at a young age
- Not having been pregnant
- Vitamin D deficiency, which is very common in India
- Being overweight, which raises circulating oestrogen
When to seek help
See a doctor if your periods are soaking through pads or tampons every hour, lasting more than a week, or leaving you tired and breathless from anaemia. Get checked too for ongoing pelvic pressure, a noticeably swollen lower belly, frequent urination, or pain during sex. Seek prompt care for sudden, severe pelvic pain, which can mean a fibroid has outgrown its blood supply.
How SHELY helps
SHELY Care
Log your bleeding, clots, and pressure symptoms so you can show a doctor exactly how heavy and how long your periods really are.
Symptom Checker
Talk through heavy bleeding or pelvic pressure to understand what might be going on and whether a scan is worth asking for.
SHELY Varsity
Clear guides on fibroid treatment options — from watchful waiting and medication to procedures that preserve the womb.
Not sure what comes next?
Pick a topic to explore what we know about Uterine Fibroids. Educational only — not a diagnosis.
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, sometimes with clots
- Periods that last longer than a week
- A feeling of fullness, heaviness, or bloating in the lower belly
- Frequent urination or trouble fully emptying the bladder
- Constipation or pressure in the back passage
- Lower back or pelvic ache
- Pain or discomfort during sex
- Tiredness or breathlessness from anaemia caused by heavy bleeding
- Sensitivity to the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which fuel fibroid growth
- A family history of fibroids in your mother or sisters
- Starting periods at a young age
- Not having been pregnant
- Vitamin D deficiency, which is very common in India
- Being overweight, which raises circulating oestrogen
Intramural fibroids
The most common type — growing within the muscular wall of the uterus. Larger ones can make the womb feel bulky and cause heavy periods.
Submucosal fibroids
Growing into the inner cavity of the womb. Even small ones tend to cause the heaviest bleeding and can affect fertility.
Subserosal fibroids
Growing outward on the outer surface of the uterus. These often press on the bladder or bowel, causing pressure symptoms rather than bleeding.
Pedunculated fibroids
Attached to the uterus by a stalk, either inside the cavity or outside. If the stalk twists, they can cause sudden, sharp pain.
See a doctor if your periods are soaking through pads or tampons every hour, lasting more than a week, or leaving you tired and breathless from anaemia. Get checked too for ongoing pelvic pressure, a noticeably swollen lower belly, frequent urination, or pain during sex. Seek prompt care for sudden, severe pelvic pain, which can mean a fibroid has outgrown its blood supply.
SHELY Care
Log your bleeding, clots, and pressure symptoms so you can show a doctor exactly how heavy and how long your periods really are.
Symptom Checker
Talk through heavy bleeding or pelvic pressure to understand what might be going on and whether a scan is worth asking for.
SHELY Varsity
Clear guides on fibroid treatment options — from watchful waiting and medication to procedures that preserve the womb.
Symptoms
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, sometimes with clots
- Periods that last longer than a week
- A feeling of fullness, heaviness, or bloating in the lower belly
- Frequent urination or trouble fully emptying the bladder
- Constipation or pressure in the back passage
- Lower back or pelvic ache
- Pain or discomfort during sex
- Tiredness or breathlessness from anaemia caused by heavy bleeding
Causes
- Sensitivity to the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which fuel fibroid growth
- A family history of fibroids in your mother or sisters
- Starting periods at a young age
- Not having been pregnant
- Vitamin D deficiency, which is very common in India
- Being overweight, which raises circulating oestrogen
Types
Intramural fibroids
The most common type — growing within the muscular wall of the uterus. Larger ones can make the womb feel bulky and cause heavy periods.
Submucosal fibroids
Growing into the inner cavity of the womb. Even small ones tend to cause the heaviest bleeding and can affect fertility.
Subserosal fibroids
Growing outward on the outer surface of the uterus. These often press on the bladder or bowel, causing pressure symptoms rather than bleeding.
Pedunculated fibroids
Attached to the uterus by a stalk, either inside the cavity or outside. If the stalk twists, they can cause sudden, sharp pain.
When to seek care
See a doctor if your periods are soaking through pads or tampons every hour, lasting more than a week, or leaving you tired and breathless from anaemia. Get checked too for ongoing pelvic pressure, a noticeably swollen lower belly, frequent urination, or pain during sex. Seek prompt care for sudden, severe pelvic pain, which can mean a fibroid has outgrown its blood supply.
How SHELY helps
SHELY Care
Log your bleeding, clots, and pressure symptoms so you can show a doctor exactly how heavy and how long your periods really are.
Symptom Checker
Talk through heavy bleeding or pelvic pressure to understand what might be going on and whether a scan is worth asking for.
SHELY Varsity
Clear guides on fibroid treatment options — from watchful waiting and medication to procedures that preserve the womb.
Frequently asked
Are uterine fibroids cancerous?
No. Fibroids are non-cancerous growths, and having them does not raise your risk of uterine cancer. Cancerous growths in the womb are very rare and quite different — but any new, rapid growth or unusual bleeding should always be checked.
Will I need surgery to remove them?
Often not. Many fibroids are simply monitored if they aren't causing trouble. When treatment is needed, options range from medication to control bleeding, to procedures that shrink or remove fibroids while keeping the uterus.
Can I get pregnant if I have fibroids?
Most women with fibroids conceive without difficulty. Some fibroids — especially those bulging into the womb's cavity — can affect fertility or pregnancy, so it is worth discussing your plans with a doctor.
Will fibroids go away on their own?
They rarely disappear during the reproductive years, but they often shrink and cause fewer symptoms after menopause, when oestrogen levels drop. Until then, the goal is managing symptoms rather than curing them.
✔ Written from established medical guidance — independent clinical review in progress
This guide is for general education and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider about your health. In an emergency or crisis, see our crisis support resources.