Fibroids occur more often in black women than in white women. They also seem to occur at a younger age in black women and to grow more quickly. Many women who have fibroids are not aware of them because the growths can remain small and not cause a problem. Although fibroids are not cancer, they can cause problems due to their size, number, and location. Like any growth, fibroids should be checked by a doctor.
Uterine fibroids are growths that develop from the cells that make up the muscle of the uterus.
The size, shape, and location of fibroids can vary greatly. They may appear inside the uterus, on its outer surface, within its wall, or attached to it by a stemlike structure. As they grow, they can distort the inside as well as the outside of the uterus. Sometimes fibroids grow large enough to completely fill the pelvis or abdomen. A woman may have only one fibroid or many of varying sizes.