What are Fibroids?

You may have heard your doctor mention them after your yearly exam. Maybe a sister, aunt or friend has asked you about them. Uterine fibroids are the most common pelvic tumor in women. Now don't be alarmed by the word tumor. Fibroids are benign which means they aren't cancerous. However, fibroids can still be a serious medical problem for many women. Fibroids can also be called leiomyomas or myomas so don't be confused if you hear those words tossed around too.

So what are they exactly?

Fibroids are basically an overgrowth of the muscle that makes up the uterus. They can be located within the wall of the uterus, inside the uterine cavity, and some even grow on stalks.

It is estimated that up to 25% of women of reproductive age have at least one fibroid but as many of 80% of surgically removed uteri are found to have fibroids.

So how do I know if I have fibroids?

Often women who have fibroids don't even know it because they don't have any symptoms. The most common symptom is heavy menstrual bleeding. Some women can experience pelvic pain. Even more rare are difficulties urinating or frequent urination. Fibroids can also cause difficulties getting pregnant (stay tuned for a future post on this topic). Fibroids can be diagnosed by a doctor in a few different ways. First is by pelvic examination. Whether the doctor can feel a fibroid on this exam depends on the location and the size. Ultrasounds are a very reliable way to diagnose them and are the most common method. Often a doctor will order an ultrasound to confirm the suspicion of fibroids. There are other modes of imaging such as MRI and hysteroscopy (camera for the uterus) that may also be used. The final and most invasive way fibroids are diagnosed is during surgery. These are often incidental findings during a procedure for another purpose.