Heavy Periods, Pelvic Pressure, Difficulty Conceiving — It Could Be Fibroids
If your periods have become unpredictably heavy, you feel constant pressure or fullness in your lower abdomen, or you have been struggling to conceive despite normal test results, uterine fibroids may be the cause. What makes this condition particularly challenging is that many women are told fibroids are “something to live with” — when in reality, effective, uterus-preserving treatment options exist today that can restore your quality of life and your fertility.
At Gynae Care Kolkata, Dr. Sujata Datta — a UK-trained gynaecologist holding the FRCOG and MRCOG from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK — provides the full spectrum of evidence-based fibroid treatment in Kolkata, from medical management through to advanced laparoscopic and robotic-assisted surgery. You do not have to choose between treating your fibroids and keeping your uterus.
What Are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids (also called leiomyomas or myomas) are benign (non-cancerous) tumours that develop from the smooth muscle tissue of the uterus. They are the most common solid pelvic tumours in women of reproductive age, estimated to affect up to 70–80% of women by the age of 50 — though many go undetected because they cause no symptoms.
Fibroids vary enormously in size, from a few millimetres (the size of a pea) to several centimetres (the size of a melon or larger). A woman may have a single fibroid or multiple fibroids simultaneously. The number, size, and — critically — the location of fibroids within and around the uterus determines whether and what symptoms a woman will experience.
Fibroids are not cancer and do not increase the risk of uterine cancer. However, when symptomatic, they can significantly affect daily life, relationships, work, and the ability to conceive or maintain a pregnancy.
Types of Uterine Fibroids: Why Location Matters
Understanding where a fibroid sits within or on the uterus is essential to understanding its symptoms and determining the right treatment approach. Dr. Sujata Datta classifies and treats fibroids according to the internationally recognised FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) Leiomyoma Classification System.
- Submucosal Fibroids (Type 0, 1, 2) These grow into the inner cavity of the uterus (the endometrial cavity). Even small submucosal fibroids can cause significant heavy bleeding, irregular periods, and — most importantly — infertility and recurrent miscarriage by distorting the uterine cavity where implantation occurs. They are the most symptomatic type relative to their size.
- Intramural Fibroids (Type 3, 4, 5) The most common type, these grow within the muscular wall (myometrium) of the uterus. Larger intramural fibroids can cause heavy bleeding, pelvic pressure, pain, and bladder or bowel symptoms. They may also affect fertility when they encroach on the uterine cavity.
- Subserosal Fibroids (Type 5, 6, 7) These develop on the outer surface of the uterus and project outward into the pelvic cavity. They typically cause pressure symptoms — such as a sense of fullness, urinary frequency, or lower back pain — rather than heavy bleeding. Very large subserosal fibroids can compress adjacent organs.
- Pedunculated Fibroids These are subserosal or submucosal fibroids that grow on a stalk (pedicle). Pedunculated subserosal fibroids can, in rare cases, undergo torsion (twisting), causing acute, severe pelvic pain requiring emergency surgical intervention.
- Cervical Fibroids A rarer variant arising in the cervix rather than the uterine body. These can cause pressure symptoms and, depending on size, may complicate surgical removal.
Why does fibroid type matter? The treatment approach — and specifically the surgical technique — is chosen based on fibroid type, size, number, and location. A submucosal fibroid is best treated hysteroscopically (from within the uterus), while a large intramural or subserosal fibroid requires laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy.
What Causes Fibroids? Risk Factors You Should Know
The precise cause of fibroid development remains an area of ongoing research. The following factors are well-established contributors:
- Hormonal Influence: Fibroids are oestrogen- and progesterone-sensitive. They tend to grow during the reproductive years when these hormones are at their highest, and typically shrink after menopause when hormone levels fall. This hormonal dependency underpins both medical and surgical approaches to fibroid management.
- Genetic Predisposition : Women with a mother or sister who has had fibroids are two to three times more likely to develop them. Certain chromosomal abnormalities in fibroid tissue have been identified, particularly mutations in the MED12 gene.
- Ethnicity: Fibroids are significantly more common and tend to be more severe in women of African and South Asian descent. Indian women are at higher risk than Caucasian women, with fibroids often presenting at a younger age and with greater symptoms.
Other Risk Factors:
- Early onset of menstruation (menarche before age 10)
- Obesity — higher circulating oestrogen from adipose tissue
- A diet high in red meat and low in green vegetables and fruit
- Alcohol consumption — particularly beer
- Vitamin D deficiency
- Nulliparity (never having been pregnant)
- Hypertension
Protective Factors:
- Multiple pregnancies and deliveries
- Prolonged use of oral contraceptives
- Increased physical activity
- High dietary intake of green vegetables and citrus fruit
Why Choose Dr. Sujata Datta for Fibroid Treatment in Kolkata?
Internationally Trained, Locally Available
Dr. Sujata Datta’s credentials place her in a category that is genuinely rare in Eastern India. Her qualifications include:
- MBBS — Medical foundation
- MRCOG (UK) — Member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK
- FRCOG (UK) — Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK — the highest credential in the specialty
- DFFP — Diploma of the Faculty of Family Planning (UK)
- CCT (London) — Certificate of Completion of Training, London — confirming she has met the full training requirements of the UK postgraduate medical system
The FRCOG is held by fewer than 7,000 gynaecologists worldwide. Access to an FRCOG-credentialed specialist in Kolkata — for a condition as common as fibroids — represents a meaningful advantage for patients in this region.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fibroid Treatment in Kolkata
The best fibroid treatment depends on your fibroid type, size, number, symptoms, and whether you wish to preserve your fertility or your uterus. At Gynae Care Kolkata, Dr. Sujata Datta offers the complete range of options: medical management for symptom control, hysteroscopic myomectomy for submucosal fibroids, laparoscopic myomectomy for intramural and subserosal fibroids, and robotic-assisted myomectomy for complex or multiple fibroids. Hysterectomy is only recommended when uterus-preserving options are not suitable. A personalised consultation with Dr. Datta is the best starting point for understanding your options.
Yes, in many cases. Medical management using hormonal treatments (such as GnRH agonists, progestogens, or the Mirena coil) and non-hormonal medications (such as tranexamic acid) can effectively control symptoms like heavy bleeding and pelvic pain. However, medical therapy does not eliminate fibroids — it manages symptoms, and these typically return when treatment stops. For women with significant symptoms, fertility concerns, or fibroids that do not respond to medical therapy, surgery (particularly minimally invasive myomectomy) is the most effective long-term solution.
Fibroid removal — particularly hysteroscopic removal of submucosal fibroids and laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy for intramural fibroids — is specifically shown to improve fertility outcomes. Submucosal fibroids that distort the uterine cavity are directly associated with implantation failure and miscarriage; their removal significantly improves conception rates. Dr. Sujata Datta’s uterus-preserving, fertility-focused surgical approach is designed to maximise your reproductive potential while effectively treating fibroids.
A myomectomy removes the fibroids while leaving the uterus intact — preserving your ability to conceive and carry a pregnancy. A hysterectomy removes the uterus entirely, permanently resolving fibroids and menstrual bleeding but ending the possibility of future pregnancy. At Gynae Care Kolkata, Dr. Datta always considers myomectomy first for women who wish to preserve their uterus or their fertility, regardless of age. Hysterectomy is only recommended in specific circumstances and after a full discussion of all alternatives.
Robotic myomectomy is an advanced minimally invasive surgical technique in which the surgeon controls a robotic system to remove uterine fibroids through small keyhole incisions. The robotic system provides 3D high-definition magnification, wristed instrument movement, and tremor filtering — making it especially suited to complex fibroid cases, deeply embedded fibroids, and women where precise uterine reconstruction is critical for future pregnancy. Dr. Sujata Datta, a member of the Association of Gynaecological Robotic Surgeons, performs robotic myomectomy at Gynae Care Kolkata — making this advanced technique accessible in Kolkata.
Most patients undergoing laparoscopic or robotic myomectomy are discharged within 1–2 days. Light activities can typically resume within a week, and most women return to full normal activity within 2–3 weeks. This compares very favourably with open (abdominal) myomectomy, which requires a hospital stay of 3–5 days and a recovery period of 6–8 weeks. Dr. Datta provides detailed, personalised post-operative instructions and a structured follow-up schedule at the time of discharge.
Medical therapy — because it does not remove fibroids — invariably sees symptoms return once treatment is stopped. After surgical myomectomy, fibroid recurrence is possible because the underlying hormonal environment that caused fibroids to develop in the first place remains. The recurrence rate after myomectomy is approximately 15–30% over 5 years, though many recurrences are asymptomatic. Hysterectomy is the only treatment that permanently prevents fibroid recurrence. Post-surgical medical therapy (such as progestogens) can help delay recurrence in women who wish to avoid or defer a second procedure.
Uterine fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumours. They do not become cancerous and are not associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer. The rare malignant equivalent — uterine leiomyosarcoma — is a completely separate condition that arises independently and is not a progression from a fibroid. While fibroids can cause significant symptoms and complications (such as severe anaemia, infertility, and pregnancy complications), they are not inherently dangerous in the sense of malignancy. However, symptomatic fibroids should not be left untreated indefinitely, as anaemia, bladder pressure effects, and fertility impairment can worsen over time.
Yes. Because fibroids are oestrogen-dependent, they typically shrink naturally following menopause as circulating oestrogen levels decline significantly. This is why watchful waiting may be appropriate for women approaching menopause with fibroids that are symptomatic but manageable. However, in women who are many years from menopause, or whose symptoms are significantly affecting their quality of life, waiting for menopause is not a practical management strategy and treatment should be pursued.
Dr. Sujata Datta is one of a very small number of gynaecologists in Kolkata holding the MRCOG and FRCOG from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, UK, with a CCT from London. She is a member of the Indian Association of Gynaecological Endoscopists and the Association of Gynaecological Robotic Surgeons, and has the expertise to offer the full spectrum of fibroid management — from medical therapy to hysteroscopic, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgery. Her approach is uterus-preserving, fertility-focused, and guided by international evidence-based protocols — giving patients in Kolkata access to the standard of care available in leading UK centres.
