Being International Women’s Day, St John & St Elizabeth Hospital shine a spotlight on some common conditions that can affect women.

Fibroids 

Fibroids are growths that develop in the womb. They are made of muscle and tissue, can vary in size, and can grow anywhere within the uterus. Around 2 in 3 women will develop at least one fibroid during their lifetime, though they are more prevalent in women aged 30-50. 

Many women won't have any symptoms, but when they do, the main symptom is heavy periods. If you have fibroids that need treatment, a GP may recommend medicine, but if it doesn’t work, you may need to see a gynaecologist for further medicine or surgery. 

Ovarian cysts 

Ovarian cysts are very common. The vast majority are ‘functional’, which means they develop as part of the menstrual cycle. Most of the time, these disappear on their own within 6 – 12 weeks. They are not dangerous and are absolutely fine to have. 

Sometimes, a cyst can bleed or rupture, which can be very painful. Most of the time, this can be managed with painkillers. However, if the pain is intense or doesn’t go away, see a doctor straight away. 

Cysts can also be ‘pathological’, which means they can become nasty. Thankfully, this isn’t that common, but it’s still very important to have a check-up if you have symptoms or are worried. Symptoms can include bleeding, needing to pee often, pain, and a swollen tummy.  

Another type of cyst is called a dermoid cyst. These can be filled with all sorts of funny things, such as hair, teeth, or sebum (oil that’s found in the skin). The risk with dermoid cysts is that they can twist, particularly when they grow larger. 

When a cyst twists the ovary, it can cause sudden, sharp pain, nausea and vomiting. This is an emergency and will require surgery. 

PCOS 

PCOS is a common condition that affects how a woman's ovaries work. 

The three main features of PCOS are: irregular periods, hormone imbalances, polycystic ovaries (ovaries which contain many fluid-filled sacs).  

PCOS can make it harder to get pregnant, cause weight gain, acne, excessive body hair, as well as hair loss from the head. 

PCOS is also associated with an increased risk of developing health problems in later life, such as type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol. The good news is that it’s very treatable and can be managed with lifestyle changes and a medical management plan.  

Did you know? 

Waiting times for gynaecology care have trebled in the past decade, with more than 540,000 women in the UK facing extremely long waits for gynaecology care.* 

Gynaecological issues can cause extremely distressing symptoms. Waiting months for help only adds unnecessary stress and suffering. 

*as of October 2022 

Help is at hand 

Whether you’re looking to have a routine check-up or have a diagnosed condition that needs treating, St John & St Elizabeth Hospital’s Gynaecology Clinic can help. Their compassionate consultants are experts in their field and available to help without a wait. 

Call their friendly team on 020 7806 4098 or find out more: https://hje.org.uk/gynaecology 

A hospital with a heart 

Founded in 1865, St John & St Elizabeth Hospital is one of the UK’s largest independent charitable hospitals. All treatments in the hospital help fund the onsite St John’s Hospice, which provides free care to over 4,500 people and their families each year, across seven boroughs. 

St John & St Elizabeth Hospital, 60 Grove End Road, London, NW8 9NH