Uterine Fibroids

Uterine fibroids are tumors or growths, made up of muscle cells and other tissues that grow within the wall of the uterus (or womb). Although fibroids are sometimes called tumors, they are almost always benign (not cancerous). The medical term for fibroids is uterine leiomyomata. Fibroids can grow as a single growth or in clusters (or groups). Their size can vary from small, like an apple seed (or less than one inch), to even larger than a grapefruit, or eight inches across or more.

Uterine fibroids are the most common, benign tumors in women of childbearing age.

Symptoms and Diagnosis

Most fibroids do not cause any symptoms, but some women with fibroids can have:

• heavy bleeding or painful periods
• bleeding between periods
• feeling of fullness in the pelvic area (lower abdomen)
• urinating often
• pain during sex
• lower back pain
• reproductive problems, such as infertility, having more than one miscarriage, or having early onset of labor during pregnancy

Fibroids may be found when you see your doctor for a regular pelvic exam to check your uterus, ovaries, and vagina. 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 8 weeks pregnant.

Your doctor can do imaging tests, or tests that create a "picture" of the inside of your body without surgery, in order to confirm that you have fibroids. These tests might include:

• ultrasound - uses sounds waves to produce the picture.
• magnetic resonance imaging or MRI - uses magnets and radio waves to produce the picture.
• x-rays - use a form of radiation to see into the body and produce the picture.
• CAT scan or CT - makes many pictures of the body from different angles to provide a more complete image.

Besides imaging tests, you also might need a surgery to know for sure if you have fibroids. These could include:

• laparoscopy - surgery with general anesthesia in which your doctor makes a small cut in the abdomen and places a small tube with a light inside to see any fibroids.
• hysteroscopy - surgery in which your doctor inserts a long tube with a camera into the vagina and directly into the uterus to see any fibroids. It also shows any growths or problems inside the uterus.

Causes

No one knows for sure what causes fibroids. Researchers have some theories, but most likely, fibroids are the result of many factors interacting with each other. These factors could be hormonal (affected by estrogen levels), genetic (running in families), environmental, or a combination of all three. Because no one knows for sure what causes fibroids, we also don't know what causes them to grow or shrink. For the most part, fibroids stop growing or shrink after menopause. But, this is not true for all women with fibroids.

Reference:

National Women's Health Information Center, USA