Fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the muscle of the womb. They are very common, and many women have them without ever knowing. See a gynaecologist if your periods have become heavy enough to disrupt your day, if you have pelvic pressure or pain, if you need to pass urine far more often, or if you are having difficulty conceiving. AIM Health Care provides obstetrics and gynaecology services at Drax Hall, St Ann.
What are fibroids?
A fibroid is a growth made of muscle and fibrous tissue that develops in or on the wall of the uterus. They are benign — they are not cancer, and having them does not mean you will develop cancer.
Fibroids vary enormously. A woman may have one or many; they may be the size of a seed or large enough to change the shape of the abdomen. Where a fibroid sits matters as much as how big it is.
Where fibroids grow
Fibroids are usually described by their position, because that is what determines the symptoms:
- Into the cavity of the womb. Even small fibroids here often cause the heaviest bleeding.
- Within the muscular wall. The most common position.
- On the outer surface. More likely to press on the bladder or the bowel.
This is why a small fibroid in the wrong place can cause far more trouble than a larger one growing on the outside.
Who gets them?
Fibroids are among the most common conditions affecting women of reproductive age. They are also diagnosed more often, at younger ages, and with more severe symptoms in women of African descent — which makes them a particularly relevant conversation in Jamaica.
Other things associated with fibroids include a family history, and the years approaching menopause. None of this means fibroids are inevitable, and none of it means they always need treating.
Symptoms, and what they usually get blamed on
The trouble with fibroid symptoms is that each one has an easier explanation ready to hand. This is what tends to get dismissed, and why it is worth a second look:
| Symptom | Often put down to | Why it is worth checking |
|---|---|---|
| Very heavy or long periods | “It runs in my family” | Sustained blood loss causes iron-deficiency anaemia, which is treatable on its own |
| Pelvic pressure or fullness | Weight gain or bloating | A fibroid growing outward presses on whatever is nearest |
| Passing urine far more often | Drinking more; a weak bladder | The womb sits directly on the bladder |
| Constipation or rectal pressure | Diet | Fibroids growing backwards press on the bowel |
| Tiredness, breathlessness, dizziness | Stress or poor sleep | These are classic signs of anaemia from heavy bleeding |
| Difficulty conceiving | Age or bad luck | Position matters — fibroids in the cavity can affect conception |
Heavy bleeding is the symptom most often accepted
This is the one worth saying plainly. Many women assume heavy periods are simply their lot, particularly if their mother and sisters had them too. Heavy menstrual bleeding is common, but common is not the same as normal, and it is not something you have to manage around.
It also has a measurable consequence: sustained heavy bleeding causes iron-deficiency anaemia, which is why tiredness and breathlessness appear in the table above at all. That part is treatable regardless of what is decided about the fibroids themselves.
Fibroids, fertility and pregnancy
Most women with fibroids conceive without difficulty. Some fibroids — particularly those growing into the cavity of the womb — can make conception harder or raise the chance of complications in pregnancy.
If you are trying to conceive, or are pregnant and know you have fibroids, that is a reason to be seen rather than a reason to worry. What matters is knowing where they are, and being looked after by a team that knows about them.
Do not wait for a routine appointment if you have: sudden, severe pelvic pain; bleeding heavy enough to leave you faint, breathless or with a racing heart; any bleeding after menopause; or an abdomen that is enlarging rapidly.
Bleeding after menopause is on this list because it is never assumed to be fibroids. It has several possible causes and is assessed on its own terms.
How fibroids are diagnosed
Usually with a history, a pelvic examination, and an ultrasound — the single most useful test, because it shows how many fibroids there are, how large they are, and where they sit. A blood count is often taken at the same time to check for anaemia.
AIM provides ultrasound and diagnostic imaging and laboratory services on site, so the scan and the bloods can usually be done around the same visit as the consultation.
What happens at the appointment
- Your history. What your periods are like, how long this has been going on, and whether you are planning a pregnancy.
- Examination. A pelvic examination, explained to you beforehand. You can ask for a female clinician or a chaperone.
- Ultrasound and bloods. The scan shows where the fibroids sit. A blood count checks for anaemia.
- Options discussed. What the findings mean, and what — if anything — is worth doing about them.
Having fibroids does not mean having surgery
This is the assumption that stops many women booking. Fibroids that cause no symptoms are often simply monitored. Where treatment is needed, the options range from managing the bleeding medically through to procedures, and the right choice depends on your symptoms, the size and position of the fibroids, your age, and whether you want to become pregnant.
Day-case procedures that do not require an overnight stay can be carried out at our outpatient surgical centre. What is appropriate for you is a discussion with a gynaecologist who has seen your scan, not a decision to make from an article.
Who you will see
Fibroid care at AIM is led by consultants in obstetrics and gynaecology, working alongside radiology and surgery. You can read about them on our clinical team page.
Where can you see a gynaecologist about fibroids in St Ann?
AIM Health Care provides gynaecology consultations at Lot 12 Business Center, Drax Hall, Saint Ann’s Bay. You can book an appointment online, call (876) 972-6315, or send us a message.
Sources and credits
- NHS — Fibroids: symptoms, causes, and the link between heavy bleeding and anaemia.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists — Uterine Fibroids: patient FAQ on diagnosis and treatment.
- World Health Organization — Anaemia: background on iron-deficiency anaemia.
- Fibroid illustration by BruceBlaus, “Uterine Fibroids”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons, reproduced unmodified. Photographs by Nappy and Elen Sher via Unsplash, used under the Unsplash Licence and credited in each caption.
Links checked 16 October 2026. This article is general information and cannot take the place of an examination. For advice about your own health, book an appointment with the team at AIM Health Care and we will talk it through with you.