What Is a Fibroid?
A fibroid is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor of the uterine smooth muscle. It is also called leiomyoma or myoma.
There can be a single or multiple fibroids within a woman’s uterus. They are the most common tumor of the female genital tract, occurring in 50 percent of women.
Who Fibroids Affect
Although roughly 30 percent of women with fibroids will have symptoms, African American women are more likely to be affected.
Symptoms typically affect women in their 30s and 40s.
Fibroids are the leading indication for the 600,000 hysterectomies performed in the United States each year.
Types of Fibroids
Fibroids may arise in different parts of the uterus and are named according to their position within the layers of the uterus. The position of the fibroid determines the type of symptom you may experience and the treatment options available.
Types of fibroids
The growth rate of a fibroid is dependent on hormones (estrogen, progesterone, and possibly others). Growth rates vary greatly among women and the cause for this variability is not known.
- Submucosal: This fibroid grows below the surface of the uterine cavity. It is associated with bleeding and pain.
- Intracavitary: This fibroid grows into the cavity of the uterus on a stalk much like a mushroom. It is associated with bleeding and pain.
- Intramural: This fibroid grows within the wall of the uterus and can cause pain and bleeding. If they grow large enough, they can cause urinary frequency and bloating.
- Subserosal: This fibroid grows below the outer surface of the uterus. It is associated with pain and cramping and can cause urinary frequency, bloating, and the sense of being pregnant.
- Pedunculated: This fibroid grows off the outer surface of the uterus on a stalk much like a mushroom. It is associated with pain and cramping and can cause urinary frequency, bloating, and the sense of being pregnant if they become large enough.
- Adenomyosis: This is the ingrowth of endometrial lining into the wall of the uterus. It can imitate the symptoms caused by fibroids. It is responsive to embolization and will be discussed in a separate section.
Make an Appointment
You may contact the offices of Michael J. Miller MD, David Sopko, MD, and Waleska M. Pabon-Ramos, MD, MPH, Division of Vascular-Interventional Radiology, at Duke University Medical Center at 919-684-7280 or e-mail Debbie Semmel, FNP-BC, at deborah.semmel@duke.edu to make an appointment.
Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) Care Guide Index
