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FACTS TO KNOW
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Fibroids are rarely cancerous. They are balls of muscular tissue that grow inside the uterus, on the surface of the uterus or in the muscular wall of the uterus.
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One out of every four women over the age of 35 has fibroids, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. They are most commonly found in women in their 30s and 40s.
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African-American women are twice as likely to have fibroids than are Caucasian women.
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If there are women in your family who already have been diagnosed with fibroids, you have an increased risk for developing them. Fibroids are also more common in obese women, and less common in women who are smokers and who have given birth.
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Fibroids growth is believed to be related to estrogen levels. They usually grow slowly during the reproductive years, but may increase in size with pregnancy. At menopause, fibroids usually shrink, because estrogen levels decline. Estrogen replacement therapy may interfere with this shrinkage after menopause.
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Half of women who have fibroids never experience symptoms and require no treatment. But even small fibroids can cause heavier or longer menstrual bleeding and severe pain.
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The two most common symptoms of fibroids are heavy bleeding or bleeding between periods and pelvic pressure. Normal menstrual periods last four to seven days, but if you have fibroids, your periods are likely to last longer. The bleeding might be so heavy that you may need to change your sanitary pads or tampons as often as every hour.
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Fibroids may be associated with a handful of reproductive problems, such as miscarriage, infertility, premature labor and labor complications. These problems may occur when fibroids physically alter the uterine cavity. But having fibroids doesn't necessarily mean you'll have problems during a pregnancy.
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Oral contraceptives (estrogen and progestin and progestin-only) are sometimes recommended to manage heavy bleeding caused by fibroids, but aren't used to treat fibroids.
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There are several treatment options available for fibroids, including medication, minimally invasive options and surgical options.
