Fibroids are non-cancerous growths of the muscle of the uterus (womb). Some cause heavy bleeding, pain or pressure, while others are found on a scan without causing problems. Finding a fibroid does not automatically mean you need treatment. Your symptoms, scan findings and preferences help guide the next step.
This guide focuses on adults. Healthdirect explains uterine fibroids.
Last updated 30 October 2026
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When to seek help sooner
Call 000 if you are bleeding very heavily, feel faint or think you might pass out. Go to an emergency department for severe pelvic or abdominal pain. Do not wait for a routine telehealth appointment. Healthdirect explains urgent bleeding symptoms and severe abdominal pain.
If pregnancy is possible and you have pelvic pain or bleeding, seek prompt medical assessment. Pain with shoulder-tip pain, dizziness or faintness needs emergency assessment because it may indicate an ectopic pregnancy. Read about ectopic pregnancy symptoms.
Arrange assessment for bleeding between periods, after sex or after menopause, even if you already know you have fibroids. A previous diagnosis should not be assumed to explain a new bleeding pattern. Healthdirect explains abnormal vaginal bleeding.
What symptoms can fibroids cause?
Fibroids may cause heavy or prolonged periods, painful periods, pelvic pressure, lower-back discomfort or pain during sex. Some press on nearby organs, contributing to frequent urination or constipation. Symptoms depend partly on where the fibroids are and their size; other conditions can cause similar problems.
Heavy bleeding can also cause iron deficiency or anaemia. Mention unusual tiredness or breathlessness when discussing your bleeding. Healthdirect describes fibroid symptoms and the effects of heavy periods.
How can telehealth help with fibroid symptoms?
A telehealth GP can assess your symptoms, discuss your medical history and review any previous results. They can then recommend the next step, which may include referring you for an ultrasound, arranging an in-person examination, or starting suitable treatment. The choice depends on your symptoms and what is already known about your health.
An ultrasound takes place with an imaging provider. You can then have a follow-up telehealth appointment to discuss the results, whether the findings explain your symptoms, and treatment or further assessment. Your GP can prescribe when clinically appropriate, review how treatment is working and arrange specialist referral if needed.
If a physical examination is needed at any stage, your doctor can help arrange in-person care. It is not a prerequisite for every telehealth appointment or ultrasound referral. The Australian Digital Health Agency explains telehealth and follow-up care.
What can an ultrasound tell me?
Ultrasound is commonly used to identify fibroids and show their number, size and location. It may be performed over your abdomen or internally through the vagina. A fibroid found on a scan may not explain every symptom, so your doctor considers the findings alongside your history. The NHS explains fibroid diagnosis and incidental findings.
Depending on your symptoms, your doctor may also recommend blood tests to check for anaemia or low iron from heavy bleeding, or further investigation. Healthdirect explains assessment for heavy periods.
An internal examination or scan needs your consent. You can ask for a chaperone, decline or ask to stop. Discuss alternatives if you would prefer another approach. RCOG explains consent for pelvic examinations.
Do all fibroids need treatment?
No. If fibroids are not causing problems, you may not need treatment. Agree with your doctor what follow-up is useful and which changes should prompt another appointment. Treatment decisions depend on symptoms, the fibroids' location and size, and your goals. Healthdirect explains when treatment may be helpful.
What treatment options are available?
Care may include medicines for bleeding or pain, hormonal options, or specialist procedures. Some medicines manage symptoms without removing or shrinking the fibroids. If a hormonal intrauterine device (IUD) is considered, the doctor will assess whether it is suitable; insertion requires an in-person appointment.
Specialist options can include removing fibroids while keeping the uterus (myomectomy), blocking their blood supply to shrink them (uterine artery embolisation), or removing the uterus (hysterectomy). Each has different benefits, risks and implications for pregnancy. Surgery is not the default response to a scan finding. UCLH explains the different purposes of fibroid treatments.
Discuss what improvement you hope for and when to review progress. Seek earlier advice if bleeding or pain worsens or treatment causes problems.
What if I want to become pregnant?
Many people with fibroids can become pregnant. Some fibroids affect fertility or pregnancy, depending on their position and other factors. Tell your doctor if pregnancy is a current or future goal before choosing treatment.
Keeping the uterus does not guarantee a treatment will preserve fertility. Some procedures affect future pregnancy options, and hysterectomy means you cannot carry a pregnancy. Ask which choices fit your situation and whether specialist advice would help. The NHS explains why pregnancy plans matter when choosing treatment.
Preparing for an appointment
If you have a scan report or medicines list, have it available. Describe how bleeding, pain or pressure affects your daily life and what you have tried.
Useful questions include: “Do these fibroids explain my symptoms?”, “Would monitoring be reasonable?” and “How would each treatment affect my pregnancy plans?”