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About
Uterine Fibroids
What are
uterine fibroids?
- Uterine fibroids (also referred to as myoma, leiomyoma,
lelomyomata, and fibromyoma) are benign (non-cancerous)
tumors that grow within the muscle tissue of the uterus.
Fibroids are not uncommon, in fact, 20-50% of women
of childbearing age have uterine fibroids. Some women
do not experience any complications or symptoms, but
for the women that do, they may require treatment.
 Fibroids
can vary in size; they can be as small as a coin or
larger than a melon. An extremely large fibroid can
expand the uterus to the size of a six or seven month
pregnancy. There can be one large fibroid or many small
ones grouped together.
There are three main types of uterine fibroids.
They are classified predominantly by the location in
the uterus:
- Subserosal Uterine Fibroids - Fibroids that develop
in the outer portion of the uterus and continue
to grow outward.
- Intramural Uterine Fibroids - These are the most
common type of fibroids. They develop within the
uterine wall and expand making the uterus feel
larger than normal. They may cause "bulk symptoms".
- Submucosal Uterine Fibroids - Fibroids that develop
just under the lining of the uterine cavity. They
can cause problems with heavy menstrual bleeding,
infertility, and miscarriage.
What are some common symptoms related to uterine
fibroids?
- Heavy and prolonged menstrual periods
- Having pain during sexual intercourse
- Having pain in the back of the legs
- Pelvic pain or pressure
- Having pressure on the bladder which leads to
a constant need to urinate, incontinence, or the
inability to empty the bladder
- Having pressure on the bowel which can lead to
bloating and/or constipation
- Having an enlarged abdomen which may be mistaken
for weight gain or pregnancy
- How do I find out if I have uterine fibroids?
If you have any of the symptoms listed above, see your doctor immediately. The
doctor will examine your uterus and if it seems enlarged the doctor might order
an ultrasound or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to confirm the presence of
fibroids and get their exact location and size. Your doctor may order other diagnostic
tests to rule out any other serious medical conditions. If you do not feel any
symptoms caused by fibroids, there may be no reason to treat them. Your doctor
may want to monitor them for future growth.
What
are the different treatments available for uterine fibroids
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