A fibroid starts as a single muscle cell. For reasons that are not known, this cell changes into a fibroid tumor cell and starts to grow and multiply. Heredity may be a factor. It is thought that a muscle cell may be "programmed" from birth to develop into a fibroid sometime-perhaps many years-after puberty (the start of menstrual periods).
After puberty, the ovaries produce more hormones, especially estrogen. Higher levels of these hormones may help fibroids to grow, although exactly how this might happen is not understood.
Return to top
Who gets fibroids?There are factors that can increase a woman's risk of developing fibroids.Return to top
Where can fibroids grow?Most fibroids grow in the wall of the uterus. Doctors put them into three groups based on where they grow:Some fibroids grow on stalks that grow out from the surface of the uterus or into the cavity of the uterus. They might look like mushrooms. These are called pedunculated(pih-DUHN-kyoo-lay-ted) fibroids.
Return to top
What are the symptoms of fibroids?Most fibroids do not cause any symptoms, but some women with fibroids can have:Return to top
What causes fibroids?No one knows for sure what causes fibroids. Researchers think that more than one factor could play a role. These factors could be:Because no one knows for sure what causes fibroids, we also don't know what causes them to grow or shrink. We do know that they are under hormonal control - both estrogen and progesterone. They grow rapidly during pregnancy, when hormone levels are high. They shrink when anti-hormone medication is used. They also stop growing or shrink once a woman reaches menopause.
Return to top
Can fibroids turn into cancer?Fibroids are almost always benign (not cancerous). Rarely (less than one in 1,000) a cancerous fibroid will occur. This is called leiomyosarcoma (leye-oh-meye-oh-sar-KOH-muh). Doctors think that these cancers do not arise from an already-existing fibroid. Having fibroids does not increase the risk of developing a cancerous fibroid. Having fibroids also does not increase a woman's chances of getting other forms of cancer in the uterus.Return to top
What if I become pregnant and have fibroids?Women who have fibroids are more likely to have problems during pregnancy and delivery. This doesn't mean there will be problems. Most women with fibroids have normal pregnancies. The most common problems seen in women with fibroids are:Talk to your obstetrician if you have fibroids and become pregnant. All obstetricians have experience dealing with fibroids and pregnancy. Most women who have fibroids and become pregnant do not need to see an OB who deals with high-risk pregnancies.
Return to top
How do I know for sure that I have fibroids?Your doctor may find that you have fibroids when you see her or him for a regular pelvic exam to check your uterus, ovaries, and vagina. The doctor can feel the fibroid with her or his fingers during an ordinary pelvic exam, as a (usually painless) lump or mass on the uterus. 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 16 weeks pregnant. Or the fibroid might be compared to fruits, nuts, or a ball, such as a grape or an orange, an acorn or a walnut, or a golf ball or a volleyball.Your doctor can do imaging tests to confirm that you have fibroids. These are tests that create a "picture" of the inside of your body without surgery. These tests might include:
You might also need surgery to know for sure if you have fibroids. There are two types of surgery to do this:
Return to top
What questions should I ask my doctor if I have fibroids?A second opinion is always a good idea if your doctor has not answered your questions completely or does not seem to be meeting your needs.
Return to top
How are fibroids treated?Most women with fibroids do not have any symptoms. For women who do have symptoms, there are treatments that can help. Talk with your doctor about the best way to treat your fibroids. She or he will consider many things before helping you choose a treatment. Some of these things include:If you have fibroids but do not have any symptoms, you may not need treatment. Your doctor will check during your regular exams to see if they have grown.
Medications
If you have fibroids and have mild symptoms, your doctor may suggest taking medication. Over-the-counter drugs such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be used for mild pain. If you have heavy bleeding during your period, taking an iron supplement can keep you from getting anemia or correct it if you already are anemic.
Several drugs commonly used for Birth Control can be prescribed to help control symptoms of fibroids. Low-dose birth control pills do not make fibroids grow and can help control heavy bleeding. The same is true of progesterone-like injections (e.g., Depo-Provera®). An IUD (intrauterine device) called Mirena® contains a small amount of progesterone-like medication, which can be used to control heavy bleeding as well as for birth control.
Other drugs used to treat fibroids are "gonadotropin releasing hormone agonists" (GnRHa). The one most commonly used is Lupron®. These drugs, given by injection, nasal spray, or implanted, can shrink your fibroids. Sometimes they are used before surgery to make fibroids easier to remove. Side effects of GnRHas can include hot flashes, depression, not being able to sleep, decreased sex drive, and joint pain. Most women tolerate GnRHas quite well. Most women do not get a period when taking GnRHas. This can be a big relief to women who have heavy bleeding. It also allows women with anemia to recover to a normal blood count. GnRHas can cause bone thinning, so their use is generally limited to six months or less. These drugs also are very expensive, and some insurance companies will cover only some or none of the cost. GnRHas offer temporary relief from the symptoms of fibroids; once you stop taking the drugs, the fibroids often grow back quickly.
Surgery
If you have fibroids with moderate or severe symptoms, surgery may be the best way to treat them. Here are the options:
Return to top
Are other treatments being developed for uterine fibroids?Yes. Researchers are looking into other ways to treat uterine fibroids. The following methods are not yet standard treatments; so your doctor may not offer them or health insurance may not cover them.Return to top
More information on uterine fibroidsFor more information about uterine fibroids, call womenshealth.gov at 800-994-9662 (TDD: 888-220-5446) or contact the following organizations:I got all of my information at this website www.womenshealth.gov ›
. About 25% of women in their reproductive years have noticeable fibroids. There are probably many more women who have tiny fibroids that are undetected.
It is estimated that about 20-80% of women over the age of 35 will develop fibroids at some point in their lives. The risk of developing fibroids increases with age, with women in their 40s and 50s being at the highest risk.
no
Fibroids develop between the ages of 30-50. They are never seen in women less than 20 years old. After menopause, if a woman does not take estrogen, fibroids shrink.
No. They are growths on the uterus. They are benign and not that rare. As many as 20-30% of women above 45 have it, big or small.
A Myomectomy is a surgery that removes Fibroids without disturbing the healthy tissue of the Uterus. It is typically best for women who still want to be able to have children after treating their Fibroids.
They can. But so can many other disorders in your reproductive system.
Submucous fibroids are found in the uterine cavity; intramural fibroids grow on the wall of the uterus; and subserous fibroids are located on the outside of the uterus.
Fibroids are divided into different types, depending on the location. Submucous fibroids are found in the uterine cavity; intramural fibroids grow on the wall of the uterus; and subserous fibroids are located on the outside
It is unknown what the actual cause of a myoma is. It is believed that it may be linked to the hormone estrogen.
Yes. Women with fibroids usually have no harder of a time trying to conceive than a normal woman. However you should tell your Dr right away that you have them because they can cause a few risks during pregnancy.
Yes, you can get fibroids while on the pill.
Fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus, not the ovary.