This common growth in the uterus is usually harmless

While uterine fibroids often do not produce symptoms, any woman experiencing sudden sharp pelvic pain should seek medical attention quickly as the fibroid is likely to be dying and needs to be removed. — TNS

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during a woman’s child-bearing years.

Also called leiomyomas (lie-o-my-O-muhs) or myomas, uterine fibroids aren’t associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer.

Fibroids range in size from seedlings undetectable by the human eye, to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus.

You can have a single fibroid or multiple ones.

In extreme cases, multiple fibroids can expand the uterus so much that it reaches the rib cage and adds weight to the body.

Many women have uterine fibroids some time during their lives.

But you might not know that you have uterine fibroids as they often cause no symptoms.

Your doctor may discover fibroids incidentally during a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound.

For those women that do have symptoms, they can be influenced by the location, size and number of fibroids.

The most common signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids in these women include:

• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Menstrual periods lasting more than a week
• Pelvic pressure or pain
• Frequent urination
• Difficulty emptying the bladder
• Constipation
• Backache or leg pains

Rarely, a fibroid can cause acute pain when it outgrows its blood supply and begins to die.

Fibroids are generally classified by their location.

Intramural fibroids grow within the muscular uterine wall.

Submucosal fibroids bulge into the uterine cavity.

And subserosal fibroids project to the outside of the uterus.

Do see your doctor if you have:

• Pelvic pain that doesn’t go away
• Overly heavy, prolonged or painful periods
• Spotting or bleeding between periods
• Difficulty emptying your bladder, or
• Unexplained low red blood cell count (anaemia)

And seek prompt medical care if you have severe vaginal bleeding or sharp pelvic pain that comes on suddenly. – Mayo Clinic News Network/Tribune News Service

Uterine fibroids are classified according to their position in the uterus. — Filepic