They range from small to large, and usually cause few if any problems. It's estimated that up to a quarter of all women over 30 have fibroids. They're believed to be present in nearly 40 percent of women over 40. After menopause, they tend to shrink and even disappear. The cause is unknown, but many experts suspect a link with the female hormone estrogen.
Many women have fibroids without knowing it.
However, the tumors sometimes cause heavy bleeding or pain during the monthly period, bleeding between periods, or periods that are longer or shorter than normal. Fibroids can make sex painful, or cause pain in your abdomen or lower back. If a fibroid is pressing on your bladder, you may feel a frequent need to urinate. The growths can also interfere with efforts to become pregnant. If the fibroids are not causing problems, no action is needed.