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Fibroids FAQ: What Women Need to Know.

Fibroids are a common problem for women. Below are the most common questions and answers about this condition.

Q:   What are fibroids?
A:
  Uterine fibroids are growths in the womb (uterus). They are made of muscle and other tissue. Fibroids almost never develop into cancer.

Q:  Who is at risk for fibroids?

A:   African-American women have a greater risk than white women. Also, women who are overweight have greater risk than those who are not.

Q:  What are the symptoms?

A:  Many women don’t feel any symptoms and may not even know that they have fibroids. Fibroids can cause these symptoms:

  • Heavy bleeding or painful periods
  • Bleeding between periods
  • Feeling “full” in the lower part of your belly
  • Need to use the bathroom often
  • Pain during sex
  • Lower back pain
  • Not being able to have a baby (infertility), losing a baby (miscarriages), and early labor during pregnancy

Q:  Where do fibroids grow?

A:   Fibroids can be found in different areas of the womb.

Q:  How can fibroids be treated? 

A: The range of possible treatments include:

  • Pain medicines
  • Shrinking fibroids without surgery:

— By decreasing the blood flow to them (uterine artery embolization).

— By removing the fibroids without taking out the womb (myomectomy).

  • Surgery to take out the womb (hysterectomy). Talk to your doctor about the kinds of hysterectomies that are available. A woman would not want this form of treatment if she wants to have children.

Q:  What if I still want to have a child?

A:  In some cases, fibroids can prevent a woman from getting pregnant. Doctors have ways to treat fibroids and to help a woman get pregnant. 

Q:   Do fibroids cause cancer?

A:  Fibroids almost never develop into a muscle type of cancer. Having fibroids does not increase your risk for getting other kinds of cancer in the womb.

Q: Do they ever go away?

A: Fibroids usually stop growing or shrink after menopause.

To find a physician, click here.

Sources include: McLeod Health, FDA Office of Women’s Health, National Women’s Health Network, Medical News Today, National Institutes of Health, www.health.ny.gov, Modern Drug Discovery (American Chemical Society), American Society for Reproductive Medicine

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The information on this site is intended to increase your awareness and understanding of specific health issues and services at McLeod Health. It should not be used for diagnosis or as a substitute for health care by your physician. To report technical issues, please contact us.

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