Fibroids are noncancerous growths in the uterus that often happen during a woman’s childbearing years. Fibroids in the uterus, also called leiomyomas or myomas, do not increase the risk of uterine cancer and almost never become cancerous.
Fibroids can be as small as tiny seedlings that are hard to see or as big as huge masses that can make the uterus stretch and grow. There may be just one fibroid or a lot of them. If there are a lot of fibroids, the uterus can get so big that it touches the rib cage and gets heavier.
Women often have uterine fibroids for the rest of their lives. But because uterine fibroids rarely cause symptoms, you might not know you have them. Your doctor might find fibroids by accident during a prenatal ultrasound or pelvic exam.
Symptoms
Many women with fibroids don’t have any symptoms. How a person feels depends on where, how big, and how many fibroids they have.
Here are some of the most common signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids among women who have them:
1. A long time between periods
2. Trips that last longer than a week Pelvic pressure or discomfort 3.
4. Peeing over and over
5. Not being able to pee 6. indigestion
7. Pain in my legs and back
When a fibroid grows too big for its blood supply and starts to die, it can sometimes cause unbearable pain.
The type of fibroids is based on where they are. Fibroids that grow inside the uterus do so in the muscle wall of the uterus. Fibroids under the uterine lining stick out of the uterus. Subserosal fibroids stick out of the uterus from below the cervix.
When should you go to the doctor?
If any of the following happen, you should talk to your doctor:
1. Excruciating, persistent pelvic pain
2. Periods that are very long, painful, or heavy
3. Spotting or bleeding in between periods
4. Bladder emptying issues
5. The number of red blood cells dropped in a strange way (anemia)
Get medical help right away if you have a lot of bleeding or a lot of pain in your pelvis.
Causes
Even though no one knows what causes uterine fibroids, research and clinical experience suggest:
1. Changes in genes. Many changes in the genes of fibroids are different from changes in the genes of healthy uterine muscle cells.
2. Chemical.
Estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that help make the lining of the uterus so it can be ready for pregnancy, seem to help fibroids grow during each menstrual cycle.
Most of the muscle cells in the uterus don’t have as many receptors for estrogen and progesterone as fibroids do. After menopause, the body makes less hormones, which usually makes fibroids contract.
Three more ways to grow
Insulin-like growth factor and other chemicals that help keep tissues healthy may affect the growth of fibromas.
