Non-cancerous growths in the uterus that can develop during a woman’s childbearing years. The cause of fibroid isn’t well understood. Risk factors include a family history of fibroid, obesity or early onset of puberty. Symptoms include heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged periods and pelvic pain. In some cases, there are no symptoms.
Fibroids are common, with around 1 in 3 women developing them at some point in their life. They most often occur in women aged 30 to 50. It’s also thought they occur more often in overweight or obese women because being overweight increases the level of estrogen in the body.
Types of fibroids
Fibroids can grow anywhere in the womb and vary in size considerably. Some can be the size of a pea, whereas others can be the size of a melon. The main types of fibroids are:
- Intramural fibroids – the most common type of fibroid, which develops in the muscle wall of the womb
- Subserosal fibroids – fibroids that develop outside the wall of the womb into the pelvis and can become very large
- Submucosal fibroids – fibroids that develop in the muscle layer beneath the womb’s inner lining and grow into the cavity of the womb
In some cases, subserosal or submucosal fibroids are attached to the womb with a narrow stalk of tissue. These are known as pedunculated fibroids.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms of uterine fibroids include:
- Heavy, prolonged, or painful periods
- Pain in the lower abdomen or back
- Painful sex
- Frequent Urination
- Discomfort in the rectum