What Is Fibroid Treatment? Symptoms, Types, and Surgery

A fibroid is the name given to usually benign tumors that develop from the muscle layer of the uterus. In medicine, it is also called a uterine fibroid, leiomyoma, or myoma. Fibroids may be seen in different parts of the uterus, in different sizes, and in multiple numbers.

Fibroids are especially common in women of reproductive age. According to Mayo Clinic, fibroids are not cancer and almost never turn into cancer; they are also not directly associated with other types of cancer in the uterus (1). However, some fibroids may cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, a feeling of pressure, frequent urination, constipation, infertility, or pregnancy problems.

What Is a Uterine Fibroid?

A uterine fibroid is a benign mass formation that originates from the muscle and connective tissue in the uterine wall. There may be a single fibroid, or there may be many fibroids in the uterus. Their size may be at a millimetric level, or they may be large enough to significantly enlarge the uterus.

Fibroids do not always cause symptoms. In some patients, they are detected incidentally during a routine gynecological examination or ultrasound. According to Cleveland Clinic, fibroids are growths made of muscle and connective tissue; symptoms may include heavy menstrual bleeding, back pain, frequent urination, and pain during sexual intercourse (2).

What Are the Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids?

Fibroid symptoms vary according to the size, number, and location of the fibroid in the uterus. The NHS states that fibroids may not always cause symptoms; when symptoms occur, heavy or painful periods, abdominal pain, lower back pain, frequent urination, constipation, pain during sexual intercourse, and difficulty getting pregnant may be seen (3).

Symptoms of uterine fibroids may include:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding,
• Prolonged menstrual duration,
• Intermenstrual bleeding or irregular bleeding,
• Increased menstrual cramps,
• Anemia and fatigue,
• Pelvic or lower back pain,
• Abdominal swelling or a feeling of pressure,
• Frequent urination or pressure on the bladder,
• Constipation or a feeling of pressure on the intestines,
• Pain during sexual intercourse,
• Difficulty getting pregnant,
• Recurrent miscarriages.

What Causes Fibroids?

The exact cause of fibroids is not fully known. However, genetic predisposition, hormones, and growth mechanisms in uterine muscle cells are thought to play a role. ACOG states that it is not known exactly why fibroids develop; estrogen and progesterone hormones may be effective in the growth of fibroids (4).

Factors that may play a role in fibroid development include:

• Family history of fibroids,
• Reproductive age and hormonal influence,
• Sensitivity to estrogen and progesterone,
• Increasing frequency with age,
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy,
• Shrinkage of some fibroids as hormone levels decrease after menopause.

What Are the Types of Fibroids According to Their Location?

The symptoms of fibroids often vary depending on their location. Fibroids close to the uterine cavity are more likely to cause bleeding and fertility problems, while fibroids growing outward from the uterus may put pressure on surrounding organs.

• Submucosal Fibroid: These are fibroids that grow toward the inner cavity of the uterus. They may be associated with heavy menstrual bleeding, intermenstrual bleeding, anemia, difficulty with pregnancy, or miscarriage risk.
• Intramural Fibroid: It develops within the muscle layer of the uterus. It is one of the most common types of fibroids. When large, it may cause bleeding, pain, a feeling of pressure, or fertility problems.
• Subserosal Fibroid: It grows toward the outer surface of the uterus. It may usually cause pressure on the bladder or intestines, abdominal swelling, and a feeling of pelvic pressure rather than bleeding.
• Pedunculated Fibroid: It may be attached to the uterus by a thin stalk. If the stalk twists, it may cause sudden pain.
• Cervical Fibroid: These are rarer fibroids that develop in the cervix area.

How Is Fibroid Treatment Performed?

Fibroid treatment is determined according to the size, number, and location of the fibroid, the patient’s age, complaints, whether anemia is present, and pregnancy plans. ACOG states that there are different options in fibroid treatment, such as medication treatments, intrauterine devices, surgery, and interventional methods (4).

The main options in fibroid treatment are:

• Follow-up: Regular ultrasound follow-up may be sufficient for small fibroids that do not cause symptoms.
• Medication Treatment: Medications may be used to reduce complaints such as pain, heavy bleeding, or anemia.
• Hormonal Treatments: Some hormonal treatments may be preferred to reduce menstrual bleeding or provide temporary shrinkage.
• Hysteroscopic Myomectomy: Removal of submucosal fibroids extending into the uterine cavity through the vaginal route.
• Laparoscopic Myomectomy: Removal of fibroids through small abdominal incisions in suitable patients.
• Open Myomectomy: Open abdominal surgery may be performed for large, multiple, or difficult-to-access fibroids.
• Hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus in suitable patients who do not plan to have children. It ensures that fibroids do not recur definitively.
• Interventional Methods: Methods such as uterine artery embolization or focused ultrasound may be evaluated in selected patients.

When Is Fibroid Surgery Necessary?

Most fibroids can be monitored; however, surgical treatment may be necessary in some cases. The decision for surgery is not made only according to the fibroid’s size in centimeters. Whether the fibroid distorts the uterine cavity, causes bleeding, causes pressure symptoms, or affects fertility is evaluated together.

Fibroid surgery may be considered in the following situations:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding and anemia,
• Persistence of complaints despite medication treatment,
• Presence of a submucosal fibroid that distorts the uterine cavity,
• Suspicion of a fibroid associated with difficulty getting pregnant or recurrent miscarriages,
• Significant pressure on the bladder or intestines,
• Rapid growth of the fibroid or diagnostic uncertainty,
• Pain and pressure complaints that disrupt daily life,
• Need to correct uterine anatomy before pregnancy planning.

What Is Myomectomy?

Myomectomy is the procedure of removing only the fibroids while preserving the uterus. It may be preferred especially in patients who want to have children or who want to preserve their uterus. Myomectomy can be performed using open, laparoscopic, or hysteroscopic methods.

Hysteroscopic myomectomy is performed through the vaginal route and cervix for submucosal fibroids extending into the uterine cavity. Laparoscopic or open myomectomy may be preferred for fibroids in the uterine wall or fibroids growing outward from the uterus. Mayo Clinic states that medications in fibroid treatment target symptoms such as menstrual bleeding and pressure, while surgical options are aimed at removing fibroids (5).

What Should Be Considered After Fibroid Treatment?

Things to consider after fibroid treatment vary according to the method used. In patients receiving medication treatment, the amount of bleeding, anemia status, and fibroid size are monitored with regular check-ups. After surgical treatment, the recovery process differs depending on whether the surgery is performed as open, laparoscopic, or hysteroscopic surgery.

• Follow-up appointments recommended by the physician should not be missed.
• After surgery, wound care and medication use should be done according to recommendations.
• The period recommended by the physician for heavy lifting, intense exercise, and sexual intercourse should be followed.
• If fever, foul-smelling discharge, severe abdominal pain, or heavy bleeding occurs, a physician should be consulted.
• After myomectomy, the waiting period recommended by the physician for pregnancy planning should be taken into account.
• In some patients who have an incision in the uterine wall, the mode of delivery in the future may be planned as cesarean section.

Can Fibroids Recur?

After myomectomy, existing fibroids are removed; however, since the uterus is preserved, new fibroids may develop in the following years. Therefore, regular gynecological follow-up is important after fibroid treatment. Hysterectomy, meaning removal of the uterus, is the method that definitively prevents fibroids from recurring; however, it is not suitable for patients with fertility plans.

Fibroids and Pregnancy

Fibroids do not always prevent pregnancy. However, especially submucosal fibroids that distort the uterine cavity, large intramural fibroids, or fibroids that alter the shape of the uterus may affect pregnancy formation or continuation.

During pregnancy, fibroids may grow due to hormonal effects, cause pain, or rarely make the pregnancy process more difficult. In some patients, the risk of miscarriage, preterm birth, placental problems, abnormal fetal position, or cesarean section may increase. However, these risks vary according to the location, number, and size of the fibroid. In patients planning pregnancy, whether the fibroid affects fertility should be evaluated individually.

What Is the Difference Between a Fibroid and a Cyst?

Fibroids and cysts are two different conditions that are common in the female reproductive system but originate from different tissues. Fibroids develop from the muscle layer of the uterus. Cysts are mostly fluid-filled sacs that form in the ovary.

Their symptoms may sometimes be similar: pelvic pain, menstrual irregularity, a feeling of pressure, or bloating may be seen. However, the diagnosis and treatment approach are different. Therefore, gynecological examination and ultrasound evaluation are required for an accurate diagnosis.

How Are Fibroids Diagnosed?

Fibroids are usually diagnosed with gynecological examination and pelvic ultrasound. Ultrasound is used to evaluate the location, number, size of fibroids, and their relationship with the uterine cavity. MRI imaging, hysteroscopy, or laboratory tests may be requested when necessary.

In patients with heavy menstrual bleeding, both evaluation of the fibroid and blood tests for anemia may be performed. In fibroids affecting the uterine cavity, hysteroscopy may be used for both diagnostic and treatment purposes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fibroid Treatment Prices 2026

Fibroid treatment prices may vary according to the number, size, and location of the fibroids; whether the treatment method is medication, hysteroscopy, laparoscopy, open surgery, or hysterectomy; hospital conditions; type of anesthesia; and pathology examination.

The most accurate information about current fibroid treatment prices for 2026 can be provided after examination and ultrasound evaluation. This is because each patient’s fibroid type, complaint, fertility plan, and treatment need are different.

Conclusion

Fibroids are mostly benign formations that develop from the muscle layer of the uterus. Not every fibroid requires treatment; however, treatment may be planned in cases associated with heavy bleeding, anemia, pain, a feeling of pressure, difficulty getting pregnant, or miscarriages. The treatment choice should be personalized according to the location, size, and number of fibroids and the patient’s pregnancy plan.

You can request an appointment and information via nazlikorkmaz.com to receive an evaluation about fibroids, heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, myomectomy, or pregnancy planning.

References

1. Mayo Clinic. Uterine fibroids - Symptoms and causes. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/uterine-fibroids/symptoms-causes/syc-20354288)
2. Cleveland Clinic. Uterine Fibroids: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment. (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9130-uterine-fibroids)
3. NHS. Fibroids. (https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/fibroids/)
4. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Uterine Fibroids. (https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/uterine-fibroids)
5. Mayo Clinic. Uterine fibroids - Diagnosis and treatment. (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/uterine-fibroids/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354294)