Fibroids Are Common And Frequently Asymptomatic

Uterine fibroid tumors grow on your uterine wall and are the most common solid pelvic tumors in found in women. Treatment is typically unnecessary because you usually don't experience any symptoms. This condition is quite common during your child-bearing years and 20 to 50 percent of women have clinically apparent uterine fibroid tumors, also known as leiomyomas or simply as fibroids. In fact, pathological examinations of removed uteri show that the prevalence of fibroids may be as high as 80 percent, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The two most common symptoms of fibroids that cause women to seek the advice of their healthcare providers are:

Excessive uterine bleeding, called or menorrhagia, that lasts longer than seven days.
A feeling of pelvic pressure – somewhat like the pressure experienced during pregnancy when the uterus grows larger.

Fibroid Tumors and Estrogen

Fibroid tumors are estrogen dependent and never develop before the onset of menstruation which is when the female body begins producing estrogen. Women should know:

During pregnancy, fibroids often grow extremely fast due the extra estrogen your body produces.
Most women diagnosed with fibroids before menopause may discover their uterine fibroid tumors shrink and disappear once estrogen production stops in the body.
Women who currently have fibroids and those who've had them in the past need to pay particular attention to the potential side effects of estrogen-containing medications.

Symptoms and Complications of Fibroid Tumors

If you experience symptoms from your fibroids, you might notice:

Painful periods with heavy bleeding.
An enlarged lower abdomen.
Pain while having sex.

Fibroids can cause complications including:

Reproductive problems, although infertility is rare.
A significant increase in cesarean section.
Complications during pregnancy, including an association with an increased rate of spontaneous miscarriage, preterm labor and more.