The Fibroids Guide
Every fibroid question, answered by a doctor
Fifteen in-depth articles organised as a patient journey — from your first ultrasound report to recovery and menopause. Written and reviewed by Dr Berra Önsoy, consultant obstetrician & gynaecologist.
Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa (English) MD, 1997. Ob-Gyn residency at Taksim Training & Research Hospital (2001). Private practice in Istanbul focused on endometriosis, myoma surgery, high-risk pregnancy and aesthetic gynaecology.
- Endometriosis surgery
- Myoma (fibroid) surgery
- High-risk pregnancy
- Aesthetic gynaecology
- HPV & colposcopy
Understand what you have
Start here if you have just been told you have fibroids. These guides explain what fibroids actually are, how size is measured, why type and location matter more than size, and how to read your ultrasound or MRI report.
Fibroid symptoms: bleeding, pressure and fertility impact
The three symptom clusters fibroids cause — heavy bleeding, pressure and fertility issues — and how to tell which needs treatment.
Fibroid sizes explained: when small becomes serious
How fibroid size is measured, what 'large' really means in cm, and the sizes at which surgery is usually recommended — a consultant gynaecologist's guide.
Fibroid types: submucosal, intramural, subserosal explained
What each type of fibroid does, how they behave differently, and why the type matters more than the size.
Not sure what your scan report actually means?
Send your ultrasound or MRI and Dr Berra Önsoy will translate it into plain language on a 30-minute video consultation.
Recognise the symptoms that need action
Fibroid symptoms creep in slowly and are often normalised. These guides help you decide when heavy periods, anaemia, pressure symptoms or fertility concerns cross the line into needing treatment.
Heavy periods from fibroids: medical vs surgical options
What works for fibroid-related heavy periods: tranexamic acid, Mirena, hysteroscopic myomectomy — and when to escalate.
Fibroids and iron-deficiency anaemia: the exhaustion no one warned you about
How fibroids cause iron-deficiency anaemia through heavy periods, which blood tests matter (haemoglobin, ferritin, transferrin saturation), and how to fix both the anaemia and the bleeding — a consultant gynaecologist's guide.
Fibroids and fertility: pregnancy after myomectomy
How fibroids affect fertility and pregnancy, when myomectomy improves outcomes, and how long to wait before trying to conceive.
Fibroids and pregnancy: risks, monitoring and delivery
How fibroids affect conception, pregnancy course, complications and mode of delivery — and when to treat before pregnancy.
Living with heavy periods or exhaustion?
A doctor-led review can identify whether iron optimisation, hormonal control or surgery is the right next step — often within one consultation.
Decide between treatment options
Before agreeing to any operation, understand every alternative. These guides compare surgery vs conservative management, myomectomy vs hysterectomy, and UAE vs surgery — so you can weigh the real trade-offs.
Do I really need my fibroids removed?
When fibroids need treatment and when watchful waiting is safe: a consultant gynaecologist's honest guide.
Myomectomy vs hysterectomy: do I have to lose my uterus?
You do not have to accept hysterectomy for fibroids. When myomectomy is the right choice, and how to protect your uterus.
Open, laparoscopic and hysteroscopic myomectomy compared
The three ways fibroids are removed — open, keyhole and hysteroscopic — and how the choice depends on fibroid location and size.
UAE vs. Myomectomy: Which Fibroid Treatment Is Right for You?
A gynaecologist compares Uterine Artery Embolisation (UAE) and myomectomy for treating fibroids, covering recovery, fertility implications, and success rates.
Been offered a hysterectomy?
Most women can preserve their uterus. Book a second-opinion consultation with Dr Berra Önsoy before agreeing to anything irreversible.
Choose the right surgery, in the right place
If surgery is the right answer, the technique and the surgeon matter more than the hospital brochure. These guides cover robotic myomectomy in detail and how the Istanbul pathway works for international patients.
Robotic Myomectomy: A UK Patient's Guide to da Vinci Fibroid Surgery
A consultant gynaecologist explains robotic-assisted myomectomy — how the da Vinci system works, who is a candidate, recovery times, and NHS vs private access in the UK.
Fibroid surgery in Turkey: uterus-sparing options for UK patients
How UK women access consultant-led myomectomy in Istanbul — techniques, costs, hospital stay, and follow-up integrated with the NHS.
Planning fibroid surgery from abroad?
Dr Berra Önsoy's team coordinates imaging review, anaesthetic screening, JCI-accredited hospital booking and post-op remote follow-up — before you fly.
Recover well and plan what comes next
Recovery timelines depend on how the uterus was closed, not on the number of fibroids removed. And fibroids behave very differently around menopause — these guides cover both.
Recovery after myomectomy: week by week
A realistic weekly recovery guide after laparoscopic, robotic or open myomectomy — work, exercise, sex and future pregnancy timing.
Fibroids after menopause: shrinkage, red flags and when growth means something serious
How fibroids normally shrink after menopause, why any postmenopausal growth or bleeding is a red flag, HRT considerations, and how uterine sarcoma is excluded — a consultant gynaecologist's guide.
Something new after surgery or menopause?
Any postmenopausal bleeding, new growth, or unexpected symptom after myomectomy deserves an urgent doctor-led review — not another wait-and-see appointment.
All fibroid articles (A–Z)
- Do I really need my fibroids removed?
- Fibroid sizes explained: when small becomes serious
- Fibroid surgery in Turkey: uterus-sparing options for UK patients
- Fibroid symptoms: bleeding, pressure and fertility impact
- Fibroid types: submucosal, intramural, subserosal explained
- Fibroids after menopause: shrinkage, red flags and when growth means something serious
- Fibroids and fertility: pregnancy after myomectomy
- Fibroids and iron-deficiency anaemia: the exhaustion no one warned you about
- Fibroids and pregnancy: risks, monitoring and delivery
- Heavy periods from fibroids: medical vs surgical options
- Myomectomy vs hysterectomy: do I have to lose my uterus?
- Open, laparoscopic and hysteroscopic myomectomy compared
- Recovery after myomectomy: week by week
- Robotic Myomectomy: A UK Patient's Guide to da Vinci Fibroid Surgery
- UAE vs. Myomectomy: Which Fibroid Treatment Is Right for You?
Still unsure what your next step should be?
Send your ultrasound or MRI and Dr Berra Önsoy will give you a clear, written plan on a 30-minute video consultation — before you decide on any operation.
Request a doctor-led consultation