Uterine fibroids can appear in different locations and cause different symptoms
Uterine fibroids are extremely common.
In other cases, fibroids can causesymptomslike heavy periods, pain, or trouble getting pregnant.
Symptoms overlap among the different types, but certain types can be more likely to cause certain symptoms.
Verywell / Julie Bang
The most common symptom of all fibroids is heavy or prolonged menses.
Fibroids are all made up of muscle fiber that originates in the uterus.
However, they are categorized by where they grow and the shape they take.
Heres what you should know about the different types of fibroids.
Verywell / Julie Bang
What Are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids (also called uterineleiomyomasormyomas) are muscular tumors that grow in the uterine wall.
These growths are quite common and are not considered cancerous.
It’s estimated that 80% of females will develop fibroids in their lifetime.
Pedunculated Fibroids
Pedunculated fibroids are fibroids that grow on a long stalk.
Subserosal Fibroids
Subserosal fibroids grow on the outside of the uterus.
They are the most common pop in of fibroid.
Some subserosal fibroids grow directly on the uterus, while others arepedunculated subserosalfibroids on a stalk.
They grow underneath the lining of the uterus, called theendometrium.
Submucosal fibroids can cause trouble with fertility.
They can also grow on stalks, extending through the endometrium into the open space of the uterus.
These fibroids can increase the risk of miscarriage or birth defects.
Treatments
Thetreatment for fibroidscan be complex and highly individualized.
Many treatments for fibroids are suitable only for people who do not want to become pregnant in the future.
In some cases, you wont need to treat your fibroids at all.
Fibroids need to be treated only if theyre causing symptoms like heavy bleeding or trouble getting pregnant.
Fibroid Removal
Surgery to remove fibroids (myomectomy) can help reduce bleeding and size-related symptoms.
Whether or not a fibroid should be removed will depend on the types of symptoms it is causing.
Hysterectomy
The only foolproof cure for fibroids is ahysterectomy, or surgery to remove the uterus.
However, you will not be able to get pregnant in the future if you have a hysterectomy.
A hysterectomy is a major surgery associated with a six-week recovery period.
Embolization
Uterine fibroid embolizationis a procedure to cut off blood flow to the fibroids.
Tiny particles are then injected into the artery, which stops the flow of blood to the fibroid.
This causes the fibroids to shrink over the span of weeks to months.
This can cause them to shrink.
Pregnancy is not recommended following this procedure.
The only cure for fibroids is a fullhysterectomy.
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