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Definition

By Mayo Clinic staff

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Illustration showing fibroid locations Fibroid locations

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during your childbearing years. Also called fibromyomas, leiomyomas or myomas, uterine fibroids aren't associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer.

As many as 3 out of 4 women have uterine fibroids sometime during their lives, but most are unaware of them because they often cause no symptoms. Your doctor may discover fibroids incidentally during a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound.

In general, uterine fibroids seldom require treatment. Medical therapy and surgical procedures can shrink or remove fibroids if you have discomfort or troublesome symptoms. Rarely, fibroids can require emergency treatment if they cause sudden, sharp pelvic pain or profuse menstrual bleeding.

Symptoms
References
  1. Haney AF. Leiomyomata. In: Gibb RS, et al. Danforth's Obstetrics and Gynecology. 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:916.
  2. Baird DD, et al. High cumulative incidence of uterine leiomyoma in black and white women: Ultrasound evidence. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2003;188:100.
  3. Stewart EA. Epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and natural history of uterine leiomyomas. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 17, 2011.
  4. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Alternatives to hysterectomy in the management of leiomyomas. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2008;112:387.
  5. Peddada SD, et al. Growth of uterine leiomyomata among premenopausal black and white women. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2010;105:19887.
  6. Laughlin SK, et al. Uterine leiomyomas: Individualizing the approach to a heterogeneous condition. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;117:396.
  7. Uterine fibroids. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp074.cfm. Accessed May 17, 2011.
  8. Stewart EA. Pathogenesis of uterine leiomyomas. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 17, 2009.
  9. Management of uterine fibroids: An update of the evidence. Rockville, Md.: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. http://www.ahrq.gov/downloads/pub/evidence/pdf/uterupdate/uterup.pdf. Accessed May 17, 2011.
  10. Stewart EA. Overview of treatment of uterine leiomyomas. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed May 17, 2011.
  11. Marshall LM, et al. A prospective study of reproductive factors and oral contraceptive use in relation to the risk of uterine leiomyomata. Fertility and Sterility. 1998;70:432.
  12. Faerstein E, et al. Risk factors for uterine leiomyoma: A practice-based case control study. I. African-American heritage, reproductive history, body size, and smoking. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2001;153:1.
  13. Chiaffarino F, et al. Use of oral contraceptives and uterine fibroids: Results from a case-control study. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 1999;106:857.
  14. Stewart EA. Alternative and complementary therapies. In: Stewart EA. Uterine Fibroids: The Complete Guide. Baltimore, Md.: Johns Hopkins University Press; 2007:172.
  15. Salman T, et al. Uterine fibroids, management and effect on fertility. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2010;22:295.
  16. Al Hilli MM, et al. Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound surgery. Seminars in reproductive medicine. 2010;28:242.
  17. Wise LA, et al. Reproductive factors, hormonal contraception, and risk of uterine leiomyomata in African-American women: A prospective study. American Journal of Epidemiology. 2004;159:113.
  18. Pritts EA, et al. Fibroids and infertility: An updated systematic review of the evidence. Fertility and Sterility. 2009;91:1215.
  19. Stewart EA (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. May 25, 2011.
DS00078 June 11, 2011

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