Fibroids: The Heavy Bleeding Culprit
Have you ever felt a hard "lump" in your lower belly or looked down and thought, "I look 4 months pregnant, but I'm definitely not"?
You might also be changing your pad every two hours, canceling trips because of "flooding," or feeling an urgent need to pee every 30 minutes.
If this sounds like your life, you might be dealing with Uterine Fibroids. In India, we often call them "Rasoli", and they are far more common than you think. In fact, for many Indian women, they are the silent cause behind that stubborn anemia that just won't go away.
What This Article Helps You Understand
- What fibroids are and why they cause heavy bleeding
- How common fibroids are in Indian women
- Medical vs surgical management — and when each is considered
What Are Fibroids?
Fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumors made of smooth muscle cells that grow in or on your uterus. Think of them as tight, rubbery knots of muscle.
- They feed on Estrogen: This is why they grow during your reproductive years (18–45) and usually shrink after menopause.
- They are not cancer.
- Size can range from a pea to larger than a grapefruit.
- Location matters more than size:
- Inside the uterine cavity → heavy bleeding
- Within the uterine wall → pain, pressure
- Outside the uterus → pelvic heaviness, bladder pressure
Why Fibroids Cause Heavy Periods
Fibroids interfere with normal uterine contraction and lining shedding.
This can lead to:
- Periods lasting more than 7 days
- Flooding or soaking pads/tampons every 1–2 hours
- Large clots
- Low iron levels (iron-deficiency anemia)
- Fatigue, breathlessness, brain fog
Key Point: Heavy bleeding is often the first symptom — pain may come later or not at all.
How Common Are Fibroids in Indian Women?
- Studies suggest 20–40% of Indian women develop fibroids by age 40.
- Risk factors include:
- Family history
- Early menarche
- Obesity
- Low vitamin D levels (common in India)
- Hormonal imbalance (estrogen dominance)
Indian Context
Many women normalize heavy bleeding or treat anemia repeatedly without investigating the cause — delaying fibroid diagnosis.
The Vitamin D Connection: There is a massive, often ignored link between Vitamin D deficiency and fibroids. Despite having ample sunshine, most Indian women are Vitamin D deficient. Studies in Eastern India have shown that women with fibroids had significantly lower Vitamin D levels than those without. This nutrient actually helps inhibit fibroid cells, so our indoor lifestyle might be fueling the problem.
Symptoms That Deserve Attention
- Periods that are:
- Progressively heavier over months or years
- Associated with clots larger than a coin
- Pelvic pressure or fullness
- Frequent urination or constipation
- Pain during periods or intercourse
- Difficulty conceiving (in some cases)
Heavy bleeding is a symptom — not a normal phase of adulthood.
The Fix: Management Options
1. The "Wait and Watch" Approach If your fibroids are small, causing no symptoms, and not affecting fertility, you might not need to do anything. Your doctor will just monitor them with an ultrasound every 6–12 months.
2. Medical Management (Symptom Control)
- For Bleeding: Tranexamic acid or birth control pills can reduce flow.
- For Shrinking: Medications like GnRH agonists can temporarily shrink fibroids (often used before surgery), but they don't "cure" them permanently.
3. Surgical Options (When to Cut)
- Myomectomy (The Fertility Saver): The surgeon removes only the fibroids and stitches the uterus back together. This is the gold standard for women who want to have babies in the future.
- Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE): A radiologist blocks the blood supply to the fibroid, causing it to shrink.
The "Surgery Fear": In many Indian families, the word "tumor" triggers panic, leading to unnecessary hysterectomies (uterus removal). For a woman under 35 who wants children, this is devastating. You do not always need to remove your uterus to remove a fibroid.
The Food Swap: Anti-Tumor Nutrition
- The Problem: High-fat dairy and sugary foods can spike hormones that feed fibroids.
- The Swap:
- Green Tea (EGCG): Contains a compound called EGCG which has been shown to inhibit fibroid cell growth. Swap your second cup of sugary chai for Green Tea.
Sunshine Diet: Since Vitamin D is crucial, add fortified milk or fatty fish to your diet, or take a supplement if your levels are low (check with your doctor first!).
What to Track If You Suspect Fibroids
Tracking helps doctors assess severity and progression:
- Period length and pad/tampon count
- Clot size and frequency
- Fatigue or breathlessness
- Pain or pelvic pressure days
- Iron reports (if available)
Patterns over time are more helpful than one painful cycle.
Dr. Rove’s Note
If your periods are getting heavier year after year, don’t wait for your haemoglobin to drop again. Ask why the bleeding is happening. Chronic blood loss strains your heart and causes severe fatigue. Please get an ultrasound—it’s painless and gives you an answer in minutes."
Many women live well with fibroids once they’re identified and managed early.
References & Further Reading
- WHO — Uterine fibroids overview
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets - Prevalence of fibroids in Indian women
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5691725/ - Heavy menstrual bleeding & fibroids
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6512577/ - Management guidelines — ACOG
https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/uterine-fibroids - Vitamin D deficiency and fibroids
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5735788/ - Anemia and fibroid-related bleeding
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6913079/
A note on medical advice
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always speak with a qualified doctor about your symptoms, and never start, stop, or change a medication or supplement based on what you read here.
