Fibroids health articles

Being told you're on a waiting list that is months or even years is a huge disappointment. You've finally got a resolution in sight, but it's still out of reach. If you have private medical insurance through work or a policy you pay for yourself, it may be worth checking whether you can use it for your fibroid care. Depending on your policy, insurance may cover specialist appointments, investigations and treatments such as fibroid surgery. This can give you another route to care alongside the NHS. But being insured doesn't automatically mean your fibroids, or every part of your treatment will be covered. Here’s what to check. How does private health insurance work? Private medical insurance, often called PMI, pays for eligible private healthcare according to the terms of your policy. Most policies are designed to cover new, acute medical conditions rather than the ongoing management of long-term or pre-existing conditions. The Financial Ombudsman Service explains that private medical insurance commonly covers acute conditions but may restrict chronic conditions. Depending on your level of cover, your policy could include: specialist appointments diagnostic tests and scans hospital treatment day-case procedures surgery follow-up appointments. You may have limits on outpatient appointments, particular hospitals or consultants, and certain treatments. You may also have an excess, meaning you pay the first part of a claim yourself. Are fibroids covered by private health insurance? They can be. If your fibroids require investigation or treatment and the condition is eligible under your policy, your insurance may cover some or all of your care. For example, AXA Health's current specialist schedule includes procedures such as myomectomy and hysteroscopic resection of fibroids. Bupa also recognises consultants who specialise in fibroid treatment and procedures such as myomectomy. However, this doesn't mean a particular procedure will automatically be covered. Your insurer will need to confirm that your condition, consultant, hospital and proposed treatment are eligible under your individual policy. One of the biggest factors is whether your fibroids are considered a pre-existing condition. What if I already had fibroids before my policy started? This is where insurance can get confusing. You don't necessarily need to have had a fibroid diagnosis for an insurer to consider the condition pre-existing. They may also look at whether you had related symptoms, investigations, medication or medical advice before your cover started. For example, if you'd already spoken to your GP about very heavy periods before taking out your policy and were later diagnosed with fibroids, your insurer may look at whether those symptoms were connected. Different types of underwriting also have different rules. With moratorium underwriting, for example, a pre-existing condition may become eligible again after a specified period without symptoms, treatment, medication or medical advice. The rules and time periods vary between insurers. And if you have health insurance through work, it's particularly worth checking. Some employer schemes use Medical History Disregarded (MHD) underwriting, where previous medical history may not be excluded in the same way. So even if you already have fibroids, don't assume you're covered, but don't assume you're excluded either. Ask. What should I ask my insurer? Before booking private appointments or treatment, call your insurer and explain that you are seeking investigation or treatment for fibroids. Ask: Is investigation and treatment of my fibroids covered? Do any pre-existing condition exclusions apply? What type of underwriting do I have? Does my outpatient cover include consultations and diagnostic scans? Do I need a GP referral? Which gynaecologists and hospitals can I use? If surgery is recommended, will I need separate authorisation? Do I have an excess or any other costs to pay? Are follow-up appointments covered? If you've already been recommended a particular procedure — such as a myomectomy — give the insurer the exact details rather than simply asking whether they cover “fibroid treatment”. How do I make a claim? The exact process varies between insurers, but it will usually follow a few simple steps. 1. Check your policy Find your policy documents or log into your insurer's app or website. Look for your underwriting terms, exclusions, outpatient allowance, excess and hospital list. 2. Get a referral You may need a GP referral before seeing a private gynaecologist. Some insurers offer their own digital GP services, while others may accept a referral from your NHS GP. Your insurer may ask for an open referral, which means your GP refers you to a type of specialist, such as a consultant gynaecologist, rather than one named doctor. 3. Contact your insurer Do this before booking treatment. Your insurer will check whether your claim is eligible and tell you which specialists and hospitals you can use. If authorised, you'll normally receive a claim or pre-authorisation number. 4. See your specialist Your consultant may recommend further scans, tests or treatment. If they recommend surgery or another procedure, contact your insurer again before going ahead. Your original authorisation may not automatically cover the next stage of treatment. Confirm that the specific procedure, consultant and hospital are covered and ask whether there is anything you will need to pay yourself. Keep your authorisation number and any confirmation emails or letters. Which insurers offer this type of cover? Major UK private medical insurers include Bupa, AXA Health, Aviva and Vitality Health. All provide policies that can cover specialist and hospital treatment for eligible medical conditions, but there isn't a simple rule that says one insurer “covers fibroids” and another doesn't. What matters is your particular policy: when your symptoms began, how the policy was underwritten, your outpatient allowance, hospital list and the treatment your consultant recommends. This is especially important with workplace insurance because your employer may have negotiated different levels of cover. Already insured? It's worth checking If you have fibroids and already have private medical insurance, find out what you're entitled to before assuming private treatment isn't an option. Start by checking your policy and speaking to your insurer. Be specific about your fibroids, symptoms and any treatment that has already been recommended. Private medical insurance isn't an option for everyone and it doesn't replace the NHS. But if you already have eligible cover, it may provide another route to specialist assessment and treatment. And if your insurer says your fibroids aren't covered, ask them to explain why. If you believe the decision doesn't match your policy terms, you can make a formal complaint and, where appropriate, take an unresolved complaint to the Financial Ombudsman Service. Useful resources Bupa – Making a health insurance claim AXA Health – Accessing treatment and making a claim Aviva – Understanding medical underwriting Financial Ombudsman Service – Private medical insurance Financial Ombudsman Service – Pre-existing medical conditions The Leio takeaway If you already have private medical insurance and need treatment for fibroids, use the cover you've got and find out what's available to you. Start by checking your policy, getting the appropriate referral and speaking to your insurer before arranging private care. The important thing isn't to assume you're covered, or assume you're not. Ask specifically about fibroids, your outpatient benefits, your underwriting terms and the treatment being recommended. And get authorisation before you proceed. Private medical insurance won't be an option for everyone, and it doesn't replace the NHS. But for women who already have eligible cover, it can provide another route to specialist assessment and treatment. This article provides general information about private medical insurance in the UK and is not medical, financial or insurance advice. Insurance policies and eligibility vary. Always check your individual policy and obtain authorisation from your insurer before arranging private treatment.

Why iron can be a helpful addition in the treatment for Fibroids, and why vitamin C is needed alongside it.

How green tea and the green tea extract EGCG can help fibroids.

Heavy periods are horrible. No girl or woman should be told they're common or "that's just a period" and left to cope. If you think you have heavy periods, it's important to speak with your GP.  If you've ever tried to explain your bleeding to a GP, you'll know how akward it can be. Is changing a pad every two hours heavy? What about passing clots? Bleeding through at night? And how are you supposed to know how much blood you're actually losing? The good news is you don't need an exact measurement for your bleeding to be taken seriously. But understanding your flow and its impact on your life can help you have a much more useful conversation with your GP. How do I know if my period is heavy? Historically, heavy menstrual bleeding has been defined as losing 80 ml or more of blood during one period. In real life, very few women know how many millilitres of blood they lose. So the NHS suggests looking for more practical signs. Your periods may be heavy if you: change a pad or tampon every 1–2 hours use two period products together, such as a tampon and pad regularly bleed through clothes or bedding need to change period products during the night pass clots larger than around 2.5 cm bleed for more than seven days avoid everyday activities because of your period frequently feel tired or short of breath. And the amount of blood isn't the only thing that matters. NICE recommends considering how your periods affect your quality of life, rather than focusing solely on blood loss. If you're arranging your work, travel, exercise or social life around your period, that's worth telling your GP. How is menstrual blood loss actually measured? There are a few ways clinicians and researchers can assess menstrual bleeding. Your experience For most women, the starting point is simply describing what's happening: how long you bleed, how frequently you change products, whether you experience flooding or clots and how your periods affect everyday life. You don't need to prove that your periods are heavy before asking for help. A period blood-loss chart A Pictorial Blood Loss Assessment Chart (PBAC) provides a more structured estimate. You record the pads or tampons you use, how saturated they are and things such as clots or flooding. It's useful for tracking patterns, but it's still an estimate. Laboratory measurement The recognised laboratory method is called the alkaline haematin method. Used period products are collected and chemically analysed to determine the amount of blood they contain. It's accurate, but understandably not very practical outside a research or clinical setting. What should I tell my GP? Rather than trying to remember everything during an appointment, keep a short record for a couple of periods. Include: how many days you bleed your heaviest days how frequently you change products flooding, leaking or bleeding through at night clots and approximately how large they are pain or other symptoms tiredness, dizziness or shortness of breath. But there's another part of the story that's just as important. Tell your GP what your period is doing to your life. Do you cancel plans? Work from home on your heaviest days? Avoid swimming, exercise or long journeys? Are you constantly worried about bleeding through your clothes? It can also help to explain what you'd consider a good outcome. “Better” means something different to everyone. Finally, tell them what you've already tried, what you'd be open to trying and anything you'd rather avoid, and why. That gives your GP a much clearer picture than simply saying, "My periods are heavy." Want more concrete evidence for your GP? If you're finding it hard to get support from your GP - many are incredible and supportive, but sadly not all are brilliant - then giving them evidence is very convincing, and Joii can help with that.  Joii is a UKCA-marked Class 1 medical device that uses compatible menstrual pads and your phone to objectively measure menstrual fluid volume and clot size. You use a Joii pad, scan it with your phone and build up a record of your flow over your period. It's worth making one distinction clear: menstrual fluid volume isn't exactly the same as menstrual blood loss. Joii currently measures menstrual fluid and clot size, while its technology for measuring blood loss is still being clinically validated. Joii isn't a replacement for speaking to your GP. But it can give you more objective information about your periods and help you track changes over time.  Shop Joii → When should I speak to my GP? Speak to your GP if heavy periods are affecting your everyday life, you've noticed a significant change in your bleeding or you're worried about your symptoms. Heavy menstrual bleeding can have several causes, including fibroids and adenomyosis. It can also contribute to iron-deficiency anaemia, which can leave you feeling exhausted, weak, dizzy or short of breath. Seek urgent medical advice if you're bleeding very heavily and feel faint or seriously unwell. The Leio Take You don't need to know exactly how many millilitres of blood you're losing to know that something isn't right. Pay attention to what happens during your period and what it stops you from doing. Tracking your flow, clots, flooding and other symptoms can give you a clearer picture and make it easier to explain what you're experiencing when you speak to your GP. Because ultimately, the question isn't just “How heavy is my period?” it's also “How much is my period affecting my life?” Useful resources NHS: Heavy periods NICE: Heavy menstrual bleeding — assessment and management Medical disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and isn't a substitute for personalised medical advice. If you're concerned about heavy or unusual bleeding, speak to your GP or another healthcare professional.

What is Linzagolix and how can it help with Fibroids? The new medication treatment being used for fibroids can help by inducing a medical menopause, and here we explain why that can help and what it is.

Over The Counter Pain Relief & Fibroids There are often lots of different options for pain relief you can buy in the supermarket or from a chemist, and knowing which one is the best option can be confusing. We are here to help explain what works best, and what is what. Not All Pain Relief Works The Same There are many different types of pain relief, and they don't work in the same way. Some medicines target the pain pathways and the brain, others work by targeting the chemicals (called prostaglandins) that are causing the pain. It is important to understand the difference so you can choose the type that will be most effective. Paracetamol Paracetamol is one of the commonest and cheapest painkillers available that can be bought in supermarkets and chemists without prescription.  Paracetamol works by targeting the pain 'pathways' to the brain, trying to block those pain signals. It can be taken as well as ibuprofen and can be an effective addition to other options, has very little side effects and can be safe in pregnancy. Ibuprofen & the group called NSAIDs Ibuprofen works different to paracetamol and is more effective for fibroids and period cramps because of how it works. Ibuprofen works by trying to reduce inflammation and lower the what we called prostaglandins, the chemicals involved that cause the period pains. Ibuprofen targets these more specifically and so is the better option out of the two. Ibuprofen is part of a group of pain relief medicines doctors call 'NSAIDs' (Non Steroidal Anti inflammatory drugs) which all work through the same mechanism of lowering the pain-causing prostaglandins. There are stronger versions to ibuprofen that you can buy from the chemist without a prescription, the ones behind the counter such as cuprofen or Feminax. If taking the stronger ones these are instead of ibuprofen, not as well as. These medicines can cause reflux or indigestion so always take with food. It is also important to know that they are not safe in pregnancy. CBD There are a growing number of CBD-based options available on the high street. The evidence is beginning to emerge to show these can be effective for period cramps. They work by reducing the inflammation and relaxing the muscles so easing the cramps and reducing the pain signals. Medical disclaimer - This information is for education only and is not a diagnosis or medical advice. Heavy bleeding, long periods, bleeding in between periods, or non-stop bleeding should always be checked by a GP or healthcare professional. They can arrange scans or tests to find the cause and discuss the right treatment options for you. Author, Dr Liz Murray June 2026 References: Murray, L. Not Just Painful Periods, 2026, Octopus Publishing NICE Guidelines Online, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, April 2023, Health Topics A to Z > Fibroids, https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/fibroids/ (Accessed online, 2026) BNF, https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/linzagolix/ (accessed online, 2026) National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2018) Dysmenorrhoea: ClinicalKnowledge Summary 2014 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (2018) Heavy menstrual bleeding:assessment and management https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2949838423000452

Why hormones are important to be aware of if you have fibroids.

Fibroids can cause many different symptoms, not just heavy bleeding. Here we explain what these symptoms can be and why they happen.

Does the size or number of fibroids affect symptoms? No, we explain why with fibroids you can have one small fibroid causing problems, or lots of fibroids with no symptoms.

Fibroids can be treated, and cured, and there are options to support your symptoms with your medical team, surgery and also natural approaches including diet and holistic options.

Getting pregnant with fibroids; can you get pregnant with fibroids? Yes! It can be more difficult, but many women can get pregnant naturally with the right support.

Tummy pain and period pain can be due to many different reasons, and knowing what the reason is can help to make sure you get the right support.

If you've found this page, chances are you've already been diagnosed with Fibroids. Here we explain what uterine fibroids are, the different types of fibroids and the related symptoms. 

Is magnesium good for fibroids? Magnesium is often recommended to women suffering with Fibroids, find out why, what the research says and which type of magnesium you should be looking to buy. 

Clotting, flooding and heavy bleeding are the most common symptoms of fibroids, but what is the cause? 

There's a lot of talk about Vitamin D and Fibroids, but does it actually help, and if so, what do you need to know.