Fibroids vary greatly in size and can remain for years with little change. While fibroids do not always cause symptoms, their size and location can lead to problems for some women, including pain and heavy bleeding. They typically imrpove after menopause when the level of estrogen, the female hormone that circulates in the blood, decreases dramatically.
Fibroids range in size from very small to the size of a cantaloupe or larger.
In some cases, they can cause the uterus to grow to the size of a five-month pregnancy or more. Fibroids may be located in various parts of the uterus. Subserosal fibroids develop in the outer portion of the uterus and expand outward. They typically do not affect a woman's menstrual flow, but can become uncomfortable because of their size and the pressure they cause. Intramural fibroids develop within the uterine wall and expand, making the uterus feel larger than normal.