Fibroids
Quick Reference
Reviewed by Jonathan Smith, MD
 Uterine fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumors that receive blood supply from the uterine arteries.
They are extremely common in women in their late reproductive years, and though they are not life-threatening, for some women who suffer from them, they can cause pain, discomfort, reproductive problems, and in some cases, severe bleeding, requiring treatment.
Detailed Description
Uterine fibroids generally occur in women between the ages of thirty-five and fifty, and are estimated to affect one in four women sometime during the course of their reproductive years. It is likely that an even larger proportion of women have undetected fibroids. Though rarely dangerous, large or multiple uterine fibroids can cause symptoms and complications serious enough to demand treatment. Problems and symptoms associated with uterine fibroids can include menorrhagia (unusually heavy periods), dysmenorrhea (painful periods), dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse), reproductive complications including miscarriage, digestive problems or urinary problems, abdominal pain, bloating or swelling, and back pain.There are three types of uterine fibroids. Intramural fibroids are fibroids that grow on or in the uterine wall. Subserosal fibroids grow outside of the uterine cavity, and submucosal fibroids grow inside the uterus. Especially large fibroids may fit into more than one category. The location of fibroids is an important factor in diagnosis and treatment, since types of complications and symptoms caused by fibroids are frequently a result of their location. Uterine fibroids are usually diagnosed with the help of transvaginal or abdominal ultrasound, although large ones may be felt by a doctor when examining the abdomen for abnormal masses. Sometimes, a laparoscope – a small, telescope-like device inserted into the uterus that allows doctors to see the inside of the uterine cavity – can be helpful in pinpointing the exact location of the fibroid or fibroids.
Treatment
There are a large number of treatments available for uterine fibroids, and they range from minimally invasive procedures to open abdominal surgery. Often drug therapy with hormones that stop fibroid growth or shrink fibroids is used in conjunction with a procedure to kill or remove the problematic tissue. Myolysis, which involves the use of a laser or electrical current, is used to kill fibroid tissue. Cryomyolysis uses liquid nitrogen to do the same, and uterine fibroid embolization aims to cut off circulation to the tissue by injecting a solution of tiny plastic particles into the artery supplying the fibroid with blood. Surgical treatments include laparoscopy, in which fibroids are surgically removed without open surgery, using a laparoscope and special surgical devices; and laparotomy, during which the abdomen is cut open and the fibroids are removed.Since the symptoms and complications associated with uterine fibroids can also occur in other medical conditions, including STDs, life-threatening uterine or other reproductive or abdominal cancers, pelvic inflammatory disease, and other potentially dangerous illnesses, it is important that those who experience symptoms seek the advice of a qualified medical caregiver. Also, as with many medical problems, early detection often makes treatment simpler and more effective, so catching fibroids before they grow large may help patients avoid weeks or months of discomfort and the anxiety and risk levels associated with more invasive treatments.
Last updated: 18-Nov-03
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