Large Fibroids — Why They Must Be Removed Immediately

WOMB INVADERS: Real Talk About Things That Attack Your Reproductive Health

Episode 4: Large Fibroids — Why They Must Be Removed Immediately

Imagine walking around with a uterus the size of a six-month pregnancy — but you're not pregnant. That's the reality for some women with large, untreated fibroids.

In a recent case shared by Dr. Sita Ayu Arumi, an OB-GYN specialist, a patient's uterus had enlarged all the way up to her belly button due to multiple fibroids. And here's the scary part: it wasn't just uncomfortable — it was starting to threaten her kidneys.

Let's talk about why large fibroids can't be ignored, how they affect other organs, and what modern surgery can do — even when things have gotten extreme.

📺 Watch Dr. Sita Ayu Arumi's Explanation (Indonesian with visuals):

Source: Dr. Sita Ayu Arumi, Sp.OG YouTube Channel

When Fibroids Grow Unchecked: What Happens?

We talked about fibroids in Episode 2 — how to detect them, what symptoms to watch for. But what happens when they're left untreated for years?

They grow. Sometimes massively.

In the case Dr. Sita shares, the patient's uterus had enlarged to the size of a six-month pregnancy. That means a uterus that normally weighs about 50-100 grams can end up weighing several kilograms, packed with multiple fibroids occupying every inch of space.

And when fibroids get that big, they stop being just a "uterine problem." They become a problem for your whole body.

The Kidney Connection: Why Large Fibroids Are Dangerous

Here's something most people don't know: your uterus and your kidneys are neighbors. Not literally, but they're connected through anatomy.

The ureters — the tubes that carry urine from your kidneys to your bladder — run right past the uterus. When the uterus grows abnormally large, it can compress these tubes, blocking the flow of urine.

This leads to a condition called hydronephrosis: swollen kidneys because urine can't drain properly. Left untreated, this can cause permanent kidney damage.

Yes, you read that right. Fibroids can hurt your kidneys. That's why large fibroids aren't just about heavy periods or pelvic pain — they're a threat to other vital organs.

When the Uterus Has No Healthy Tissue Left

In extreme cases, Dr. Sita explains, the entire uterine muscle can be completely taken over by fibroids. There's no healthy tissue left to save. The uterus becomes nothing but a collection of growths held together by thin strands of tissue.

When it gets to this point, options become limited. You can't just remove the fibroids (myomectomy) because there's no healthy uterus left to preserve. In these situations, hysterectomy (removing the uterus) may be the only safe option.

But Here's the Good News: Even Big Cases Can Be Done Minimally Invasively

Here's what's remarkable: even when the uterus is huge, modern surgical techniques allow for minimally invasive hysterectomy. No giant incisions. No weeks of recovery in a hospital bed.

Benefits of minimally invasive surgery for large fibroids:

• Better visualization: The camera gives surgeons a clear view of the entire abdominal cavity, including any adhesions or other organ involvement.
• Detection of complications: They can see if other organs are affected or stuck together (adhesions) and address those issues at the same time.
• Faster recovery: Smaller incisions mean less pain, shorter hospital stays, and quicker return to normal life.

Even in cases where the uterus is massively enlarged, skilled surgeons can often remove it through minimally invasive techniques. The size alone doesn't automatically mean open surgery.

The Bottom Line: Don't Wait

The message Dr. Sita wants you to take away is simple: don't let fibroids get to this point.

If you feel a lump in your abdomen. If your belly is growing but you're not pregnant. If your periods are getting heavier and heavier. Get checked. Early.

Because when fibroids are caught early, you have options. You can consider myomectomy (removing only the fibroids) and preserve your uterus. You can plan your treatment around your fertility goals.

But when they're left to grow for years? The options narrow. And the risks — including to your kidneys — increase.

A Message to You

If you're reading this and thinking, "Hmm, my stomach has been getting bigger and I don't know why..." — please don't ignore it.

It could be fibroids. It could be something else. But whatever it is, you deserve to know.

Make that appointment. Get that ultrasound. And if a doctor dismisses your concerns? Find another doctor. Your body — and your kidneys — will thank you.

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📖 More from the Womb Invaders series:

• Episode 1: Massive Ovarian Cyst in a Teenager — Can the Ovary Be Saved?
• Episode 2: Fibroids — How to Detect Them and Symptoms You Should Never Ignore
• Episode 3: Hysteroscopy — The Complete Solution for Removing Polyps Without Incisions
• Episode 5: Endometriosis — When Uterine Tissue Grows Where It Shouldn't
• Episode 6: PCOS — The Hormone Disruptor You Need to Understand

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Your body doesn't grow a six-month-sized uterus overnight. It sends signals along the way. Heavy periods. A feeling of fullness. A lump you can feel. Listen to those signals. Early detection means more options, fewer complications, and better outcomes.

— Summary and adaptation from Dr. Sita Ayu Arumi, Sp.OG's video