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Uterine Fibroid

Uterine Fibroid

1. What are uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids, or leiomyomas, are common non-cancerous smooth tissue growth of the uterus that appears during the woman’s child bearing years. They are benign and not associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer; most will never develop into cancer. However, uterine fibroids can vary in range, from small (a few inches) to larger (some are at the size of a cantaloupe), often causing discomfort and frequent urination. In special cases, the fibroids can grow very large, leading to pain and bleeding in women. Fibroids are in fact very common in women; about 80% will experience them at some point but most will not report to their doctors, as they don’t often cause any symptoms.

There are three types of uterine fibroids, classified by the site of growth:

Intramural fibroids develop within the lining of the uterus and expand inward, increasing the size of the uterus. These are the most common fibroids and can be detected through gynecologic exam. Intramural fibroids can cause bleeding, back pain and the general pressured feeling that many women experience.

Subserosal fibroids happen when the growth develop outside of the uterus and expand inward. These do not affect women’s normal menstrual cycle but can cause back pain, pelvic pain and generalized pressure. In some cases, fibroids can grow on stalk or stem that grows out from the surface of the uterus or into the cavity. These are called pedunculated and can be diagnosed using MRI.

Submucosal fibroids grow underneath the lining of the uterus. These are the least common fibroids, but can also cause the most problems. A small growth in the submucosal area of the uterus could lead to heavy bleeding, heavy and prolonged periods.

2. Epidemiology

Because of their nature, uterine fibroids are not commonly detected unless patients are going through a routine gynecologic exam. Thus, epidemiological data on the disease is limited and current population-based researches are lacking. Prevalence can range from 20 to 40% of women age 35 or older having fibroids of significant size. Fibroids account for approximately one-third of hysterectomy cases in the US.

3. Risk factors

Common risk factors for uterine fibroids include age, ethnicity and genetic factors. Onset of menstruation at an early age, diet, alcohol and obesity may also contribute to an overall increased risk of getting fibroids.

Sources:

http://www.sirweb.org/patients/uterine-fibroids/

http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/uterine-fibroids.html