Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids (leiomyoma) are muscular tumors growing on or in the uterus. Most fibroids are benign (not cancerous) and many women who have them may not even know it.

Fibroid tumors can be as small as an apple seed or as large as a grapefruit. In rare cases, they may grow even larger, to the point where a woman can appear pregnant.

Types of Fibroids
Doctors designate three major different types of fibroids.

Submucosal fibroids grow inside the uterine cavity.
Intramural fibroids grow within the muscular walls of the uterus.
Subserosal fibroids grow on the outside of the uterus and extend into the abdominal cavity.

Fibroid Symptoms
Some common symptoms of fibroids include:

Heavy and painful menstrual bleeding (may lead to anemia)
Pain during sex
Feeling of fullness or pressure on the bladder or rectum
Frequent need to urinate
Enlarged abdomen
Lower back pain

Fibroids can also complicate pregnancy in some cases and may lead to an increased risk of cesarean section. In rare cases, infertility can also result.

Treatment for Fibroids
Over-the-counter pain medications and birth control methods can help lessen the severity of period pain and bleeding due to fibroids. Hormone therapies can also be prescribed to shrink fibroids.

For moderate to severe symptoms, your doctor may recommend a procedure to remove, freeze, cut off blood flow to, or otherwise destroy the fibroids. Some procedures also destroy the endometrial lining of the uterus, preventing a woman from becoming pregnant in the future.

In very severe cases, a hysterectomy (surgical removal of the uterus) may be necessary.