Our practitioners understand that fibroids can be a source of discomfort and pain, but surgery isn’t always the most effective solution. That’s why we offer a range of non-invasive treatments to help our patients find relief and prevent fibroids. We strive to find the treatment that best suits your needs.
Several different types of medication are used to help with fibroid treatment. Medication will not eliminate fibroids, but it might shrink them or slow down their growth velocity. They work by affecting the hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle. However, medication can be less effective for very large fibroids.
Our specialists will carefully place a small T-shaped device inside the womb to release the progestogen hormone, levonorgestrel. This stops the uterus lining from growing too quickly and makes the lining thinner, resulting in noticeably lighter bleeding. We prioritise the well-being of our patients and provide the utmost care during this procedure.
In some cases, we may prescribe a Gn-RH agonist on a short-term basis to reduce the size of your fibroids before elective surgery.
There are a range of side effects to bear in mind with this category of treatment. You may experience menopausal symptoms, such as:
At London Women’s Centre, our gynaecologists may prescribe a combination of GnRH and a low dose of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to mitigate these side effects. Fibroids will start growing again, and the symptoms will gradually return after the medication is stopped.
Contraceptive pills are a popular option for helping with fibroid symptoms and menstrual bleeding. As well as making menstrual bleeding lighter, they can also reduce menstrual pain.
If necessary, London Women’s Centre’s gynaecologists might place the intra-uterine system (Mirena coil) inside the womb. This coil releases progesterone and can reduce heavy bleeding caused by fibroids. Although it can improve symptoms, it will not reduce the size or cure fibroids.
When the fibroids grow and cause noticeable symptoms or daily discomfort, surgical treatment may be necessary. Depending on the type, size, and location of the fibroids, as well as your preferences, London Women’s Centre offers different surgical options.
This surgical procedure often involves the removal of fibroids while leaving the uterus intact. Using three or four small incisions, we insert instruments into the abdomen in order to remove the fibroids from the uterus.
During the treatment, we examine the abdominal area on a monitor through a small camera attached to one of the instruments.
Laparoscopic myomectomy is the preferred treatment for:
This treatment allows quick recovery, a shorter hospital stay, less pain after the operation and a quick return to regular daily activities.
This procedure involves using a hysteroscope (a thin telescope) and small surgical instruments to remove submucosal fibroids from inside the womb. No incisions are necessary because the hysteroscope is inserted through the vagina and into the womb.
We often carry out the procedure under general anaesthesia, and you can usually go home on the same day. After the procedure, you might experience stomach cramps. They will not last for long – normally only a couple of hours. There may also be a small amount of vaginal bleeding, but this usually stops after 7 days.
Our experienced gynaecologists can also remove fibroids by carefully placing a hysteroscope inside the womb and using a morcellator to cut away and remove the fibroid tissue.
The procedure is carried out under general or local anaesthesia. You can also go home on the same day.
Tiny particles are directed into the arteries that supply the uterus with blood, cutting off the blood supply to the fibroids. This causes the large fibroids to shrink. While highly effective, this technique requires an MRI beforehand to determine whether the fibroids are suitable for embolisation. Our interventional radiologists perform this procedure on a day-case basis under local anaesthesia.
Treatment is necessary if your fibroids grow and are causing noticeable symptoms or discomfort daily or affect fertility. For most people, fibroids (and the associated symptoms) are mild and will shrink on their own without treatment once they have gone through menopause.
This is because fibroids begin to shrink once the body’s oestrogen levels decrease. Each type of fibroid should be treated differently, and the choice of treatment depends on:
At the London Women’s Centre, our consultants will evaluate your condition and suggest the most appropriate course of treatment for you.
Fibroids are typically detected during a physical examination of the pelvic and abdominal areas. They will form an irregular yet firm pelvic mass.
In addition to a complete medical history, our gynaecologists may ask you to undergo some of the following procedures:
We place a small instrument called a transducer inside the vagina. It uses sound waves to assess the shape, size and consistency of the uterus. It can confirm the diagnosis and map the measurements of the fibroids.
This is a non-invasive procedure that creates a 2D representation of the womb. Our specialists use it to evaluate the size and location of the fibroids to help determine the appropriate form of treatment.
This test uses a saline solution to distend the uterine cavity. This helps the ultrasound which accurately shows the presence of submucosal fibroids.
During hysteroscopy, a gynaecologist inserts a small telescope called a hysteroscope through the vagina. It provides a visual examination of the cervix and the uterus. It is the gold standard investigation for the diagnosis (and treatment) of submucosal fibroids. In the vast majority of cases, it can be performed with general or local anaesthetic.
In addition to a physical examination, we may carry out blood tests. They help us diagnose iron deficiency when heavy vaginal bleeding is caused by the presence of uterine fibroids.
Fibroids (uterine myomas or leiomyomas) are benign growths of fibroid tissue forming in or around the womb. These non-cancerous growths are made up of muscle and tissue.
Most women with fibroids are unaware of it, as only around 1 in 3 will experience symptoms. In many cases, fibroids are discovered by chance when carrying out a routine gynaecological examination or scan.
Fibroid symptoms include:
Fibroids can be associated with recurrent miscarriages and subfertility, potentially due to submucosal fibroids preventing implantation.
The reason why fibroids develop is uncertain, but most gynaecologists agree that it is linked to increased oestrogen levels. This might explain why fibroid treatment is most common among women in their reproductive years.
What we do know is that some risk factors can increase the likelihood of developing uterine fibroids.
Women who are clinically obese or of black ethnicity are also thought to be at a higher risk of being diagnosed with fibroids, although the reasons for this are not clear. Other risk factors include:
While symptoms do not always present themselves, the magnitude to which a woman can exhibit the key symptoms can range from mild to severe and varies from person to person.
The most common symptoms include:
Although fibroid treatment options generally manage to successfully address the issue and provide relief of fibroid symptoms, many do not cause fibroids to disappear but rather to shrink. In some cases, fibroids may grow again and result in symptoms that require additional care.
The only treatment option in which fibroids removal is possible with certainty that there will be no risk of it returning is a hysterectomy, where the entire uterus is removed. However, this type of private fibroid treatment is the last resort and is not suitable for the majority of fibroid patients. Looking for fibroid treatment UK? Contact us today to speak to a consultant.
10 Knaresborough Pl,
Kensington, London,SW5 0TG
Chelsea Bridge Road
London, SW1W 8RH
801 London Road, North Cheam
Sutton, Surrey, SM3 9DW
53 Parkside, London
SW19 5NX
184 Coombe Lane West
Kingston upon Thames, KT2 7EG
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