Lichfield and Burntwood
Primary care Networks
Women's Health Hub
Womb and ovary health
Including ovarian cysts, polycystic ovary syndrome and womb (uterus) cancer
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is where cells similar to those in the lining of the womb (uterus) grow in other parts of the body. It can have a big impact on your life, but there are treatments that can help.
See s GP if:
-
You think you might have endometriosis
-
Your symptoms are affecting your everyday life, work and relationships
-
You've had treatment from a GP, but your symptoms do not get better, or get worse
Symptoms of endometriosis
Endometriosis is often found in areas around the womb, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes and lining of the pelvis.
It also sometimes affects organs, such as the bladder and bowel. Rarely, endometriosis is found in areas outside the pelvis, such as in the chest.
Symptoms happen when patches of endometriosis break down and bleed but cannot leave your body.
You might have some symptoms during your period, such as:
-
severe period pain, that stops you from doing your normal activities
-
heavy periods, where you need to change your pads or tampons every 1 to 2 hours, or you may bleed through to your clothes.
You can have other symptoms at any time, such as:
-
pain when you poo or pee
-
pain during or after sex
-
extreme tiredness (fatigue)
-
pain or bleeding in other areas, such as in the chest, which may cause shortness of breath and coughing up blood
You may also have difficulty getting pregnant and have low mood or anxiety.
Endometriosis is commonly diagnosed in women and girls, from when their periods start (puberty) through to menopause. It can affect anyone who has or had a womb.
Find out more
Fibroids
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb (uterus).
The growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue, and vary in size. They're sometimes known as uterine myomas or leiomyomas.
Many women are unaware they have fibroids because they do not have any symptoms.
Women who do have symptoms (around 1 in 3) may experience:
-
tummy (abdominal) pain
-
lower back pain
-
a frequent need to urinate
-
pain or discomfort during sex
In rare cases, further complications caused by fibroids can affect pregnancy or cause infertility.
Seeing a GP
As fibroids do not often cause symptoms, they're sometimes diagnosed by chance during a routine gynaecological examination, test or scan.
See a GP if you have symptoms of fibroids so they can investigate possible causes.
If the GP thinks you may have fibroids, they'll usually refer you for an ultrasound scan to confirm the diagnosis.
Read more about diagnosing fibroids.
​
Treating fibroids
Fibroids do not need to be treated if they are not causing symptoms. After the menopause, they'll often shrink without treatment.
If you do have symptoms caused by fibroids, medicine to help relieve the symptoms will usually be recommended first.
There are also medications available to help shrink fibroids. If these prove ineffective, surgery or other, less invasive procedures may be recommended.
Read more about treating fibroids.
Polycystic ovary syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common condition that affects how a woman's ovaries work.
The 3 main features of PCOS are:
-
irregular periods – which means your ovaries do not regularly release eggs (ovulation)
-
excess androgen – high levels of "male" hormones in your body, which may cause physical signs such as excess facial or body hair
-
polycystic ovaries – your ovaries become enlarged and contain many fluid-filled sacs (follicles) that surround the eggs (but despite the name, you do not actually have cysts if you have PCOS)
If you have at least 2 of these features, you may be diagnosed with PCOS.
What causes polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)?
The exact cause of PCOS is unknown, but it often runs in families.
It's related to abnormal hormone levels in the body, including high levels of insulin.
Insulin is a hormone that controls sugar levels in the body.
Many women with PCOS are resistant to the action of insulin in their body and produce higher levels of insulin to overcome this.
This contributes to the increased production and activity of hormones like testosterone.
Being overweight or obese also increases the amount of insulin your body produces.
Treating polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
There's no cure for PCOS, but the symptoms can be treated. Speak to a GP if you think you may have the condition.
If you have PCOS and you're overweight, losing weight and eating a healthy, balanced diet can make some symptoms better.
Medicines are also available to treat symptoms such as excessive hair growth, irregular periods and fertility problems.
If fertility medicines are not effective, a simple surgical procedure called laparoscopic ovarian drilling (LOD) may be recommended.
This involves using heat or a laser to destroy the tissue in the ovaries that's producing androgens, such as testosterone.
With treatment, most women with PCOS are able to get pregnant.
How to access help or more information
Your GP practice can book you an appointment to discuss your options.
Wellbeing of women charity
Bupa Women's Health