Summarize this article:

After a physical exam, your doctor may order an ultrasound of the uterus. This may include both an external and internal (transvaginal) screening. This may be necessary to detect where the fibroid may be, what size it is, and how many there are. Once your doctor identifies fibroids, they will tell you what type you have. There are three types of uterine fibroids: subserosal, intramural, and submucosal. They differ based on where they are located in your reproductive system. These different types of fibroids can cause different symptoms and may require different types of treatments. Subserosal fibroids extend more than 50% outside of the uterus. These fibroids rarely affect fertility. Intramural fibroids are within the muscle of the uterus, without any indentation of the uterine cavity. Submucosal fibroids project into the uterine cavity. These fibroids can reduce your pregnancy rate dramatically. Depending on the type of fibroids you have and their severity, your doctor will recommend a treatment plan. This could include removal or leaving them in place. Whether the doctor suggests surgery or not, they may also prescribe medication to shrink the fibroids and minimize any symptoms. In many cases the doctor will prescribe pain killers, birth control, and gonadotropin-releasing hormones, which slow or stop the growth of fibroids. The birth control will limit bleeding, if that is a symptom of your fibroids. If your doctor recommends surgery, it could mean a variety of types of surgery. These include laparoscopic myomectomy, hysteroscopic myomectomy, or laparotomy, all of which are surgical procedures used to remove the fibroids. Many women who have less severe cases of fibroids, about 30 percent, do not require treatment due to lack of symptoms or pain. If you want to become pregnant in the future, be sure to tell your doctor, as this may affect your treatment options.
Undergo an ultrasound. Discuss what type of fibroids you have. Agree to medical treatment.