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Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are benign lumps that grow inside the uterus. Symptoms include heavy periods, cramping, painful sex, and an urge to urinate. Uterine fibroid treatments include hysterectomy, embolization, and hormone therapy.
Uterine artery embolization is a good alternative to hysterectomy for the treatment of uterine fibroids, new research shows.
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Your Guide to Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that are made up of the muscle and connective tissue from the wall of the uterus -- a woman's womb. Fibroids may grow as a single nodule or in clusters and may range in size from 1 mm to more than 20 cm (8 inches) in diameter. They may grow within the wall of the uterus or they may project into the interior cavity or toward the outer surface of the uterus. In rare cases, they may grow on stems projecting from the surface of the uterus.
What Causes Uterine Fibroids?
The causes of uterine fibroids are not known. Most fibroids occur in women of reproductive age, and according to some estimates, they are diagnosed in black women two to three times more frequently than in white women. They seldom are seen in young women who have not begun to menstruate, and they usually stabilize or shrink in women after menopause.
Fibroids are usually non-cancerous, but that doesn't mean they aren't problematic. Learn how little plastic beads spell big relief.
