Fibroids are one of the most common findings in women's health, and one of the most over-worried about. Many are discovered by chance on a routine scan and never need treating at all. What matters isn't whether you have one — it's whether it's causing you problems, and what your options are if it is.
What fibroids actually are
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths of the muscular wall of the uterus. They are extremely common — a large share of women develop at least one by their fifties — and the great majority never cause symptoms.
Their effect depends far more on where they sit than on how many there are:
- In the uterine cavity — small ones here can cause heavy bleeding out of proportion to their size, and may affect fertility.
- Within the uterine wall — the most common position; can cause heavy periods and cramping as they grow.
- On the outer surface — often silent, but can press on the bladder or bowel when large.
Signs worth checking
Most fibroids are silent. The ones worth acting on announce themselves:
- Periods that are heavy enough to disrupt your day, or that last longer than they used to
- Passing clots, or becoming anaemic — tiredness and breathlessness can be the first clue
- A feeling of pressure or fullness low in the abdomen
- Needing to pass urine more often, or difficulty emptying fully
- Pain during sex, or persistent lower back or pelvic ache
- Difficulty conceiving, or repeated early pregnancy loss
Heavy bleeding is the symptom women most often normalise. If you are planning your schedule around your period, that is a reason to be checked — not something to put up with.
How they're found
Diagnosis is usually quick and doesn't require anything invasive:
| Step | What it involves |
|---|---|
| Pelvic ultrasound | the main tool — size, number and position, done at the visit |
| Blood test | checks for anaemia if bleeding has been heavy |
| Further imaging | occasionally added when surgery is being planned |
Because size and position determine the options, your doctor should be able to tell you not just that a fibroid is there, but what it is likely to be doing — and whether it needs anything done at all.
What can be done
There is no single right answer. The plan depends on your symptoms, the fibroid's size and position, your age, and whether you want to become pregnant:
- Watchful waiting — for fibroids without symptoms. Monitoring with periodic scans is a legitimate plan, not a non-decision.
- Medication — hormonal treatment can reduce heavy bleeding and is often the first step when bleeding is the main problem.
- Treating the anaemia — easy to overlook, but correcting low iron often makes the biggest difference to how you feel.
- Myomectomy — removing the fibroid while keeping the uterus, often possible by keyhole (laparoscopic) or through the cervix for cavity fibroids.
- Hysterectomy — removing the uterus, considered when symptoms are severe, childbearing is complete, and other options have not worked.
Getting checked in Korea
This is routine gynecological care in Korea, and a local women's clinic is usually the fastest place to start — an ultrasound is normally done at the same visit rather than booked for another day.
If you are enrolled in National Health Insurance, investigation of symptoms such as heavy bleeding is generally covered; ask the clinic to confirm what applies to you.
The part that matters most for an international patient is being able to describe the bleeding accurately — how heavy, how long, how it has changed. That conversation is far easier in a language you're comfortable in, which is the argument for choosing a clinic that works in English rather than one you have to translate your way through.
Common questions
Are fibroids cancerous?
No. Fibroids are benign growths. Cancerous growths of the uterine muscle exist but are rare, and your doctor will tell you if anything about a scan needs a closer look.
Do all fibroids need to be removed?
No — most don't. If a fibroid isn't causing symptoms or affecting fertility, monitoring it is usually the right plan.
Can I still get pregnant with fibroids?
Usually yes. It depends on where the fibroid sits — ones inside the uterine cavity matter most. Tell your doctor you're planning a pregnancy so the assessment is done with that in mind.
Will a fibroid keep growing?
Not necessarily. Growth varies, and fibroids commonly shrink after menopause. That is one reason a watch-and-see plan is reasonable when symptoms are mild.
Can I be seen in English?
Yes. At Ium the scan findings, what they mean and your options are explained in English by a female OB-GYN specialist.
Talk to someone, privately
Ium in Seocho supports international women with confidential, English-speaking care. Reach out with a message or a call — no pressure, no judgment.
Book a private consultationThis article is general information, not medical advice, and does not replace a consultation with a licensed doctor. Details of care and current guidance should be confirmed directly with the clinic.
