The time leading up to menopause is referred to as perimenopause. Studies indicate that it is when a woman is in perimenopause that she's most at risk of developing uterine fibroids. The reason is that, during this transition from normal menstruation to non-menstruation, a woman's estrogen levels can increase significantly. At the same time, her progesterone levels may decline. This leads to estrogen dominance, and fibroids depend on estrogen for their abnormal growth. The good news here is that, once estrogen decline stabilizes in menopause, fibroids may shrink. The not-so-good news is that, until that time, symptoms of fibroids can be a source of discomfort.
Your doctor is a great source of information, diagnostic data, and support as you transition into menopause. If you're experiencing the symptoms of uterine fibroids as you approach menopause, you have options to reduce them that don't have to involve surgery.