Anyone with experience of fibroids or womb cancer?

[Esmereldapawpatrol]

I went to have a Mirena coil fitted two weeks ago, turns out it couldn't be fitted as after two attempts the GP couldn't get it to go in. First try she thought it was equipment malfunction but then when it happened after the second attempt she said there must be something blocking my womb. She asked if I had ever had fibroids, I haven't to my knowledge but my mother had them.

I have been referred for a scan which is mid-June but I am so worried. I had bleeding after the coil attempt but now I am bleeding again and my period isn't due. I feel 'heavy' in my womb and I am quite uncomfortable most of the time and feeling bloated.

I had noticed heavier periods over the last few months with quite a few clots, pain on sex and thought it was perimenopause...hence why I was having the coil put in. Now I am worried it's all more sinister.

Just wondering if anymore who has had womb cancer had these symptoms... I know it's a jump but I asked my GP what it could be and she said there was a chance it could be cancer but normally it's treatable with good prognosis as it's contained.

Fibroids can cause bleeding between periods, heavy periods and a heavy feeling of fullness; they can also distort the endometrial lining.

I've had three large fibroids since my 40s. I'm now 73 and still have fibroids (though they are degenerating and have shrunk a bit as I've got older).

I had a Mirena fitted a few years ago by my gynae with the intention of reducing the thickness of the endometrial lining. (I had endometrial hyperplasia without atypia.) Unfortunately, it ejected after a week or so and I had to have it removed. My gynae had struggled to get it round a fibroid that was distorting the uterine cavity and within a few days it was pushing itself out.

Instead, I took low dose progestin for 12 months and this did reduced the thickness of the lining and stopped the bleeding.

An external and internal ultrasound or a CT scan will show how many fibroids you have and where they are located. I have one that is on a stalk attached to the outside of the uterus and two larger fibroids embedded in the uterine wall. I could not get myomectomy for these on the NHS. The thickness of the endometrial lining will likely also be measured as simple hyperplasia with no abnormal cells can be a cause of bleeding.

I also had quite a large uterine polyp which was a cause of bleeding removed as a day case under GA.

I wish you luck and try not to worry too much (I know it's hard not to) - but there are lots of things it could be other than a uterine cancer.

Thank you so much for your reply, I really appreciate it.

I am mid 40s, I think by my calculation my DM must have been about my age when she had her fibroid (I can't check with her as she died a while ago), it was large and she ended up having a hysterectomy because of the different issues it gave her. The NHS website says you are more likely to get them if your mother or sister has them so I am really hoping it's just that! The symptoms are similar for both so there is no way of knowing until my scan. My mind just goes to the worst case scenario!

You are far, far more likely to have fibroids than cancer. Clung onto that thought! I would have thought the GP would have sent you for a scan urgently if she believed cancer was the cause too.

I forgot to mention that large fibroids can cause the uterus to enlarge, like a pregnancy.

When I had my first pelvic ultrasound and CT scans one of the fibroids had measured around 5cm in diameter and the other around 6cm. The pedunculated fibroid on the outside of the uterus was smaller. My gynae had measured my uterus with a tape measure as being the size of a 16 to 18 week pregnancy (which was confirmed by the scans) and I did have a visible "bump".

That was in 2012. A few years ago, when I presented with profuse bleeding and anaemia, they had enlarged to 7cm and 10cm. Following the year on progestin, they had reduced in size a bit and on the MRI follow-up scan showed features of degenerating due to falling supply of oestrogen, which they require to grow. My most recent gynae said he didn't think my uterus would likely get much smaller, now.

I was offered a hysterectomy back in 2012 but my choice then was to avoid hysterectomy.

If your fibroids are small (and even small fibroids, depending on their type and position, can cause symptoms) it might be an option to have them removed under GA. It's not always inevitable that a hysterectomy will be recommended.

Here is the NICE guideline for diagnosis/treatment/management in primary and secondary care:

https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/fibroids/

Ive got fibroids on my ovaries, when i had my periods they were heavy & now i know why. Im now 52 & my periods stopped in 2024, im due for a checkup at the hospital. Ive heard they shrink after menopause