When I share that I had a hysterectomy in my thirties, people often assume it was purely for adenomyosis. But that wasn’t the whole picture; fibroids were part of it too. These non-cancerous growths had been silently wreaking havoc in my uterus, contributing to the pain, pressure, and overwhelming fatigue I was living with.
So, what exactly are fibroids?
Fibroids: The Basics
Fibroids. also known as uterine leiomyomas, are benign (non-cancerous) tumors that grow in or around the uterus. They’re made of muscle and fibrous tissue and can vary dramatically in size, from tiny, undetectable specks to bulky masses that distort the uterus.
Some people have a single fibroid. Others (like me) can have many. Some don’t even know they have them. Others live with chronic pain, bloating, and cycles that feel like a full-body betrayal every month.
Types of Fibroids
Where the fibroids grow matters:
- Intramural: grow within the muscular wall of the uterus.
- Submucosal: bulge into the uterine cavity—often causing heavy bleeding.
- Subserosal: grow on the outer wall of the uterus—sometimes pressing on the bladder or bowels.
- Pedunculated: attached to the uterus by a stalk—these can twist and cause sharp pain.
I honestly do not know (or remember) which I had, they contributed to an enlarged uterus, constant bloating, and bleeding that felt more like hemorrhaging. It wasn’t just “bad periods”, it was life-altering.
Common Symptoms of Fibroids
While some people with fibroids never have symptoms, others experience:
- Heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Frequent urination or difficulty emptying the bladder
- Constipation
- Pain during sex
- Back or leg pain
- Anemia from blood loss
Sound familiar? It did to me too. And for years, I was told it was “just part of being a woman.”
What Causes Fibroids?
The exact cause of fibroids isn’t fully understood, but hormone levels, especially estrogen and progesterone, play a major role. They tend to grow during reproductive years and often shrink after menopause. Genetics and lifestyle factors may also contribute.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Fibroids are usually diagnosed through pelvic exams, ultrasounds, or MRIs. Treatments depend on size, symptoms, and whether you want to preserve fertility. Options include:
- Medication to manage symptoms
- Hormone therapy to shrink fibroids
- Uterine artery embolisation (UAE) to cut off blood supply
- Myomectomy to remove the fibroids and leave the uterus
- Hysterectomy to remove the uterus entirely
For me, after trying multiple options, a hysterectomy was the decision that finally gave me my life back.
Living with Fibroids: You’re Not Alone
One of the hardest parts of living with fibroids is how normalised the pain can become. We’re taught to tough it out, to treat unbearable periods as a badge of womanhood. But you don’t have to suffer in silence.
If your symptoms are affecting your daily life, it’s not “just part of being a woman.” It’s a medical condition, and you deserve to be heard, respected, and treated with compassion.
Your pain is valid. Your story matters. And there’s hope on the other side of it.
Love and healing hug
Wool Goddess 
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