What are fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are tumors or growths, made up of muscle cells and other tissues that grow within the wall of the uterus (or womb). Although fibroids are sometimes called tumors, they are almost always benign (not cancerous). The medical term for fibroids is uterine leiomyomata (you-ter-in lie-oh-my-oh-mah-tah). Fibroids can grow as a single growth or in clusters (or groups). Their size can vary from small, like an apple seed (or less than one inch), to even larger than a grapefruit, or eight inches across or more.

Why should women know about fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are the most common, benign tumors in women of childbearing age, but no one knows exactly what causes them. They can be frustrating to live with when they cause symptoms. Not all women with fibroids have symptoms, but some have pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. Fibroids also can put pressure on the bladder, causing frequent urination.

What are the symptoms of fibroids?

Most fibroids do not cause any symptoms, but some women with fibroids can have:

• heavy bleeding or painful periods
• bleeding between periods
• feeling of fullness in the pelvic area (lower abdomen)
• urinating often
• pain during sex
• lower back pain
• reproductive problems, such as infertility, having more than one miscarriage, or having early onset of labor during pregnancy

Where can fibroids grow?

Doctors put fibroids into three groups based on where they grow, such as just underneath the lining of the uterus, in between the muscles of the uterus, or on the outside of the uterus. Most fibroids grow within the wall of the uterus. Some fibroids grow on stalks (called peduncles) that grow out from the surface of the uterus, or into the cavity of the uterus.

What causes fibroids?

No one knows for sure what causes fibroids. Researchers have some theories, but most likely, fibroids are the result of many factors interacting with each other. These factors could be hormonal (affected by estrogen levels), genetic (running in families), environmental, or a combination of all three. Because no one knows for sure what causes fibroids, we also don’t know what causes them to grow or shrink. For the most part, fibroids stop growing or shrink after menopause. But, this is not true for all women with fibroids.

Can fibroids turn into cancer?

Fibroids are almost always benign, or not cancerous, and they rarely turn into cancer (less than 0.1 percent of cases). Having fibroids does not increase a woman’s chances of getting cancer of the uterus.

How do I know for sure that I have fibroids?

A Doctor may find that you have fibroids when you see him for a regular pelvic examination. Often, a doctor will describe how small or how large the fibroids are by comparing their size, to the size your uterus would be if you were pregnant. For example, you may be told that your fibroids have made your uterus the size it would be if you were 8 weeks pregnant.

Your doctor can do imaging tests, or tests that create a “picture” of the inside of your body without surgery, in order to confirm that you have fibroids. These tests might include:

• ultrasound – uses sounds waves to produce the picture.
• magnetic resonance imaging or MRI – uses magnets and radio waves to produce the picture.
• CAT scan or CT – makes many pictures of the body from different angles to provide a more complete image.

What is the treatment for fibroids?

Talk with the doctor about the best way to treat your fibroids. He will consider a number of things before helping you choose a treatment. Some of these things include:

• whether or not you are having symptoms from the fibroids
• if you might want to become pregnant
• the size of the fibroids
• the location of the fibroids
• your age

If you have fibroids, but do not have any symptoms, you may not need any treatment. 

Surgery

If you have fibroids with moderate or severe symptoms, surgery may be the best way to treat them. Here are the options:

• Myomectomy – Surgery to remove fibroids without taking out the healthy tissue of the uterus. There are many ways a surgeon can perform this procedure. It can be open surgery (with an abdominal incision) or by Keyhole surgery. The type, size, and location of the fibroids will determine what type of procedure will be done. Talk with your doctor about the different types of this surgery.
• Hysterectomy – Surgery to remove the uterus. This surgery is the only sure way to cure uterine fibroids. This surgery is used when a woman’s fibroids are large, or if she has heavy bleeding, and is either near or past menopause and does not want anymore children.