By Liz Brown

Fibroids are incredibly common — and for some people, they can cause heavy periods, bloating, pelvic pressure, bladder issues, pain during sex, and even fertility difficulties.

Physiotherapy can help you control your pain, or help you recover post-surgery.

Whether you’ve just been diagnosed, are considering treatment options, or are recovering from surgery, pelvic health physiotherapy can support you in managing symptoms and feeling more confident in your body.

What are fibroids?

Fibroids (also called uterine fibroids or myomas) are non-cancerous growths of muscle and fibrous tissue that develop in or around the womb. They affect around 1 in 3 women or people assigned female at birth, often between their 30s and 50s.

Some people have no symptoms at all — but others may experience heavy bleeding, pressure, pain, or difficulty conceiving.

Fibroids are very common!

They affect around 1 in 3 women or people assigned female at birth, often between their 30s and 50s.

When do fibroids tend to appear?

Fibroids can develop any time during the reproductive years, but symptoms often peak in your 30s, 40s, or early 50s — especially during perimenopause, when hormone levels fluctuate.

After menopause, fibroids usually shrink. But during the lead-up, many people notice more intense or new symptoms.

Who is most likely to develop fibroids?

You may be more likely to develop fibroids if you:

Are aged 30–50
Have a family history of fibroids
Are of African or Afro-Caribbean descent
Have high oestrogen levels
Have low vitamin D
Have never been pregnant
Have a higher BMI or metabolic conditions

Common symptoms of fibroids

You might recognise some of these:

Heavy or prolonged periods
Bloating or a visible bulge in your lower belly
A dragging or heavy sensation in the pelvis
Needing to wee more often
Painful sex
Pelvic or back pain
Fertility or pregnancy difficulties

If these are starting to affect your quality of life, it’s worth getting assessed by your GP or a gynaecologist.

Don’t put up with pain.

If your symptoms are starting to affect your quality of life, it’s worth getting assessed by your GP or a gynaecologist so you can get proper support.

What are the treatment options?

If fibroids aren’t causing any problems, you might not need treatment at all. But if they’re affecting your wellbeing, your medical team may have several options such as:

Medication to manage bleeding or pain
Hormonal contraception (e.g. the Mirena coil)
Uterine Fibroid Embolisation (UFE)
Myomectomy (surgical removal of fibroids)
Hysterectomy (removal of the womb) in more severe cases

How can physiotherapy help with fibroids?

Physiotherapy can’t shrink fibroids — but it can help manage the symptoms and support your recovery.

Here’s how we help:

✔️ Bladder and bowel issues
If fibroids press on your bladder or bowel, we can help you manage urgency, frequency, and emptying difficulties.

✔️ Pelvic pain and pressure
We assess tension patterns in your pelvic floor and core, helping you move and breathe more comfortably.

✔️ Pain during sex
Pelvic physio can reduce muscle guarding and improve mobility, so you feel safer and more confident in intimacy.

✔️ Rebuilding strength and connection
Heavy periods and bloating can leave you feeling disconnected from your core. We guide you through safe, progressive movement.

✔️ Post-surgery rehab
If you’ve had a myomectomy, embolisation or hysterectomy, we support your recovery — including scar care, mobility, and pelvic floor rehab.

Don’t put up with being in pain.

Fibroids are incredibly common — but that doesn’t mean you have to put up with the symptoms.

If you’re feeling frustrated, dismissed, or unsure what to do next, physiotherapy could be a gentle, empowering step forward. Your physiotherapist may also suggest other options to help settle your nervous system, such as acupuncture. Victoria offers chinese medicine and acupuncture at the clinic and works alongside the physiotherapists often to optimise pain management.

Want to chat?

We offer free 10-minute discovery calls if you'd like to speak to a member of the team about how physiotherapy could help with fibroid symptoms.

Book 10 minute Discovery Call with a Pelvic Physio

Can physiotherapy help me if I have Fibroids?