Uterine Fibroids
Source: MedlinePlus Health Topics, U.S. National Library of Medicine
What are uterine fibroids? Uterine fibroids are the most common noncancerous (benign) tumors in women of childbearing age. You may have uterine fibroids and not even know it since they often don't cause any symptoms. Fibroids are made of muscle cells and other tissues that grow in and around the wall of the uterus, or womb. They can vary in number and size and grow as one tumor or in clusters. Many women with fibroids can get pregnant with no problems. However, some uterine fibroids could cause infertility (not being able to get pregnant), pregnancy loss , or problems with fetal development or delivery . Who is more likely to get uterine fibroids? If you're a female and the age when you're usually able to get pregnant and give birth, you could develop fibroids. Some factors may increase your risk of having uterine fibroids. These can include: Age. Women who are older have a higher risk. Race/ethnicity. Black/African American women often have fibroids at a younger age. They're also more likely to have larger fibroids with worse symptoms. Family history. If your mother or sister had uterine fibroids. Other factors. If you started your period before age 10 or have never been pregnant. Certain medical conditions. These include obesity or vitamin D deficiency . Your risk of getting uterine fibroids lowers with each pregnancy and with long-term use of birth control pills or shots. What causes uterine fibroids? No one knows what causes uterine fibroids. A few things that might play a part in getting uterine fibroids include genetics and growth hormones. Also, other hormones like estrogen and progesterone seem to help fibroids grow. These hormones cause the tissue lining inside the uterus to thicken during each menstrual cycle to prepare for pregnancy. What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids? Many women with fibroids have no symptoms. If you do, the type of symptoms may be due to location, size, and number of fibroids. Symptoms may include: Heavy or painful periods or ble