Understanding Uterine Fibroids

What Are Uterine Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths that form in or on the uterus or womb. They’re made of muscle and tissue and can be as small as a seed or as big as a melon. Even though they may sound scary, fibroids are very common and may not require treatment, depending on how severe your symptoms are.

Watch this Short Video on Fibroids

How Common Are They?

Fibroids affect up to 80% of women by the age of 50. They're most common in women between 30 and 50 years old. Many women don’t even know they have them because fibroids often don’t cause any problems.

Who Gets Fibroids?

Anyone with a uterus can get fibroids, but they are more common in:

Women in their 30s, 40s, and early 50s
Black women, who may have more fibroids and stronger symptoms
Women with a family history of fibroids

What Causes Fibroids?

Doctors aren’t sure exactly what causes fibroids, but they think it might be related to:

Hormones like estrogen and progesterone
Genetics (passed down from family)
Starting your period at a young age

What Are the Symptoms?

Some women don’t feel anything at all. But if fibroids do cause problems, you might notice:

Heavy or long periods
Pain in your belly or lower back
Pain during sexual intercourse
Feeling like you have to urinate a lot
Trouble getting pregnant
A belly that looks bigger than usual

How Are Fibroids Treated?

There are many ways to treat fibroids, depending on how big they are and how much they bother you. They also range from uterine-sparing to removal of the uterus during hysterectomy.

Here are some options:

1. Watch and Wait

If fibroids aren’t causing problems, your doctor may just keep an eye on them.

2. Medicine

Some medicines can help with pain or heavy bleeding. Others can shrink the fibroids.

3. Uterine Artery Embolization

This is a minimally invasive treatment that spares your uterus. A specially trained doctor blocks the blood flow to the fibroids, which makes them shrink. It’s done without surgery and helps avoid long recovery times.

4. Robotic Myomectomy

Robotic-assisted myomectomy is a minimally invasive procedure to remove fibroids from your uterus, involving tiny incisions.

5. Robotic Hysterectomy

If fibroids are very large or painful, a robotic-assisted hysterectomy may be recommended. This surgery removes the uterus using tiny tools and a robot for more precision. It usually means less pain and faster healing than traditional surgery.