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What are fiboids?

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 (you-ter-in lie-oh-my-oh-mah-tah). 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.

Why should women know about fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are the most common, benign tumors in women of childbearing age, but no one knows exactly what causes them. They can be frustrating to live with when they cause symptoms. Not all women with fibroids have symptoms, but some have pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. Fibroids also can put pressure on the bladder, causing frequent urination.

Who gets fibroids?

More research is being done to figure out who is at risk for fibroids. But it is known that:

• Most of the time, fibroids grow in women of childbearing age.
• African American women are more likely to get them than women of other racial groups.
• African American women tend to get fibroids at a younger age than do other women.
• Women who are overweight or obese also are at a slightly higher risk for fibroids than women who are not overweight.
• Women who have given birth appear to be at a lower risk for fibroids.

Where can fibroids grow?

Doctors put fibroids into three groups based on where they grow, such as just underneath the lining of the uterus, in between the muscles of the uterus, or on the outside of the uterus. Most fibroids grow within the wall of the uterus. Some fibroids grow on stalks (called peduncles) that grow out from the surface of the uterus, or into the cavity of the uterus.

What are the symptoms of fibroids?

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

What causes fibroids?

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.

Can fibroids turn into cancer?

Fibroids are almost always benign, or not cancerous, and they rarely turn into cancer (less than 0.1 percent of cases). Having fibroids does not increase a woman's chances of getting cancer of the uterus.

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. 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.

To read the rest of this article (including treatment information) from WomensHealth.gov, please click here: http://www.4woman.gov/faq/fibroids.htm