Fibroids are extremely common benign tumors arising from the uterus. By the time they turn 45 years of age, 20%-40% of all women and up to 50% of women of African descent will suspect they have fibroids because they will experience some symptoms from them. However, ultrasound examination has shown that up to 80% of women in this age group actually have fibroids.

Fibroid tumors are benign and never become malignant. It is extremely rare to confuse other tumors for fibroids. The fibroids grow slowly throughout the reproductive life of a woman. When a woman reaches menopause the fibroids stop growing and begin to shrink.

Although we do not know the exact cause of fibroids, hereditary factors clearly play a role. There are no scientifically proven ways for a patient to prevent fibroids from developing or to slow their growth.

Fibroids can vary greatly in size and at the rate at which they expand. Fibroids are classified according to where they grow within the uterus.

• Subserosal fibroids are located just beneath the outer capsule of the uterus and grow outwards.


• Intramural fibroids develop within the wall of the uterus


• Submucosal fibroids develop near the inner lining of the uterine wall and can deform the uterine cavity as they grow.

Symptoms

Although the majority of fibroids will not cause symptoms, a significant number of women will suffer from symptoms attributable to their fibroids. These symptoms most often include:

• Heavy bleeding during menstrual periods (menorrhagia)
• Bleeding between menstrual periods (metrorrhagia)
• Pelvic, back, or leg pain/pressure
• Urinary frequency due to bladder compression
• Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
• Fertility difficulties, in particular recurrent miscarriages

Because fibroids are benign, grow slowly, and are so common, treatment is generally reserved for those woman with fibroid-related symptoms which affect the quality of their life or for patients in whom the fibroids are thought to be responsible for fertility problems.