Did you know?

 Up to 90% of Black and

70% of White women

will be diagnosed with fibroids by the age of 50

 

What are fibroids?

Fibroids are muscular tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus (womb). Another medical term for fibroids is leiomyoma or just "myoma". Fibroids are almost always benign (not cancerous). Fibroids can grow as a single tumor, or there can be many of them in the uterus. They can be as small as an apple seed or as big as a grapefruit. In unusual cases they can become very large. It is estimated that 70 to 80 percent of women will develop fibroids in their lifetime — however, not everyone will develop symptoms or require treatment.

Types of Fibroids

Intramural: Within the muscular walls of the uterus and typically can cause heavy bleeding or pressure symptoms.

Submucosal: Either inside or abutting the uterine cavity and typically cause heavy bleeding (least common type).

Subserosal: Outer wall of the uterus and typically cause bulk or pressure symptoms.

Pedunculated: Fibroids on a thin stalk (less common).

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“It’s time to break the walls of silence because we should not have to suffer. Far too many women are living with life-altering symptoms that have been cast aside as “normal’ It is not normal and you are not alone.”

Symptoms

 
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Heavy bleeding

(which can be heavy enough to cause iron-deficiency anemia) or painful periods

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Feeling of fullness

in the pelvic area (lower stomach area)

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Enlargement

of the lower abdomen

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Pain during sex

 
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Lower back pain

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Frequent urination

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Complications during pregnancy and labor

including a six-time greater risk of cesarean section

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Reproductive problems

such as infertility and complications with pregnancy

Risk Factors

Although the exact cause of fibroids is unknown, there are risk factors that increase a woman's risk of developing them.

  • Age. Fibroids become more common as women age, especially during their 30s and 40s through menopause. After menopause, fibroids usually shrink.

  • Family history. Having a family member with fibroids increases your risk. If a woman's mother had fibroids, her risk of having them is about three times higher than average.

  • Ethnic origin. African-American women are more likely to develop fibroids than white women.

  • Obesity. Women who are overweight are at a higher risk for fibroids. For very heavy women, the risk is two to three times greater than average.

  • Eating habits. Eating a lot of red meat (e.g., beef and ham) is linked with a higher risk of fibroids. Eating plenty of green vegetables seems to protect women from developing fibroids.

  • Vitamin D deficiency/insufficiency. Vitamin D is a powerful inhibitor of fibroid growth but only 10% of African-Americans have adequate levels. Sunlight (in moderation), supplements, and food sources (i.e., salmon) can help get your numbers up to where they should be.

 

"When I first found out I had fibroids, I found out that my aunts and others in my family also struggled with them. My family never told me some of them had issues with fibroids. If we had those conversations when I was younger, I would have sought help sooner because I would have known what signs to look out for and I would not have normalized my symptoms"

Materials on this page provided by: womenshealth.gov, Acessa Procedure