Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors connected to the uterine wall.
The cause remains unknown, but researchers think estrogen therapy or pregnancy may enlarge the tumors. Fibroids may cause infertility because they interfere with conception. They may also cause premature delivery in pregnant women. Fibroids can result in severe pain or excessively heavy bleeding that may require emergency surgery. Myomectomy, a surgical procedure to remove the fibroids, is frequently the most common treatment.