About 20 to 25 percent of women between the ages of 30 and 50 have fibroids, noncancerous growths made of muscle and fibrous tissue that form on the inside or outside of the uterus. Fibroids are one of the most common tumors to grow in the pelvises of women. Physicians don t completely understand why fibroids occur, but it is believed that the hormone estrogen increases their growth. In some women, fibroids disappear after menopause.
Many women have fibroids and no symptoms.
And, unfortunately, when symptoms occur, they can be related to any number of medical problems, not just fibroids. Fibroids can cause heavy menstrual periods, pressure on the pelvis, distortion of the abdomen, pain, and frequent urination or constipation. Although fibroids don t always complicate pregnancy, they can cause repeated miscarriage, premature labor or infertility. In many cases, fibroids are only treated when they cause symptoms, are large enough to disrupt future fertility or there is suspicion that they are not fibroids, but cancerous, a complication that occurs rarely. A physician will perform several diagnostic tests to determine the diagnosis.