These are benign tumors in the muscle lining the uterine wall. They vary in size and number; they can be anything from the size of a pea to as large as a tennis ball. About one woman in five develops fibroids by the time she is 45 years old.

There is often no reason for concern because the fibroids may never grow large enough to distort the uterus and present symptoms to alarm you. However, if you are having difficulty in conceiving, they may be interfering with your fertility by blocking the fallopian tubes. Large fibroids cause the muscular coating of the uterus to feel lumpy and bumpy to the doctor when he examines your abdomen during routine pelvic examinations.

Should I See The Doctor?

If you are having difficulty conceiving, if you have increasing pain or bleeding with your menstrual periods, or if you have any other change in your normal cycle, see your doctor at once.

What Might The Doctor Do?

• Your doctor will first perform a routine pelvic examination and question you about any symptoms you may have experienced.
• If she feels that your condition warrants it, she may then refer you to a gynecologist for further investigation and tests, which will probably include an ultrasound scan of your uterus or a laparoscopy.

What Is The Treatment?

• Fibroids are treated according to the seriousness of the symptoms and whether you wish to conceive. Once you are past child bearing days, the fibroids usually shrink and disappear anyway.
• If you want children and the fibroids are numerous, your doctor may suggest a myomectomy. This removes the fibroids from the uterine lining and leaves the uterus intact and back in its usual shape.
• If the symptoms are difficult and you do not plan to get pregnant in the future, a hysterectomy might be advised. This should be considered as a last resort and only after at least two opinions and discussion with your doctors.
• Antiestrogen hormone treatments may be given. These make fibroids shrink, but can only be given for a period of six months because of the risk of osteoporosis, and are only given before a myomectomy.

What Can I Do?

• Fibroids are the most common reason for hysterectomy operations in the United States , so make sure your condition requires an operation of such a radical nature. If you are suffering from profound anemia, or have unbearable symptoms, obviously you should consider it; otherwise, you should look for alternatives.
• There is a high incidence of uterine cancer in women who suffer from benign fibroids, so any unusual bleeding or other irregularity in your menstrual pattern should be investigated immediately.

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