Fibroids are the most common benign tumors in females and typically found during the middle and later reproductive years. While most fibroids are asymptomatic, they can grow and cause heavy and painful menstruation, painful sexual intercourse, and urinary frequency and urgency.As many as 3 out of 4 women have uterine fibroids sometime during their lives, but most are unaware of them because they often cause no symptoms.

Fibroid tumors are solid tumors which are made of fibrous tissue, hence the name ‘fibroid’ tumor. Most often fibroids occur as multiple tumor masses which are slow-growing and often cause no symptoms. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during your childbearing years. Also called fibromyomas,
leiomyomas or myomas, uterine fibroids aren’t associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer and almost never develop into cancer.

Fibroid tumors are usually benign (non-cancerous) tumors found, most often, in the uterus of women in their 30’s and 40’s, although they occasionally develop on other organs which contain smooth muscle cells.

In general, uterine fibroids cause no problems and seldom require treatment. Medical therapy and surgical procedures can shrink or remove fibroids if you have discomfort or troublesome symptoms. Rarely, fibroids can require emergency treatment if they cause sudden, sharp pelvic pain or profuse menstrual bleeding.

Types of Fibroid Tumors

* Intramural fibroids are located within the wall of the uterus and are the most common type; unless large, they may b asymptomatic .

* Subserosal fibroids are located underneath the mucosal (peritoneal) surface of the uterus and can become very large. They can also grow out in a papillary manner to become pedunculated fibroids. These pedunculated growths can actually detach from the uterus to become a parasitic leiomyoma.

* Submucosal fibroids are located in the muscle beneath the endometrium of the uterus and distrot the uterine cavity; even small lesion in this location may lead to bleeding and infertility. A pedunculated lesion within the cavity is termed an intracavitary fibroid and can be passed through the cervix.

* Cervical fibroids are located in the wall of the cervix (neck of the uterus). Rarely fibroids are found in the supporting structures (round ligament, broad ligament, or uterosacral ligament) of the uterus that also contain smooth muscle tissue.

Fibroids may be single or multiple. Most fibroids start in an intramural location, that is the layer of the muscle of the uterus. With further growth, some lesions may develop towards the outside of the uterus or towards the internal cavity. Secondary changes that may develop within fibroids are hemorrhage, necrosis, calcification, and cystic changes.

Symptoms

*Heavy Menstrual Bleeding : Although most fibroids cause no symptoms, the estimated 25 percent of women who do have symptoms may have abnormal bleeding, pain during menstruation, Women with fibroids often have longer periods, which may last seven or more days. These periods may be unusually heavy, sometimes requiring a woman to change her pad or tampon hourly. In addition to the inconvenience, heavy bleeding may also cause anemia and fatigue. Bleeding between periods is not usually a sign of fibroids.

*Pressure in the Pelvis : A large fibroid can cause a feeling of pressure in the pelvis. It is sometimes possible to feel a hard spot where large fibroids are present. This pressure may cause,frequent urination,pain during intercourse,constipation,abdominal bloating,abdominal pain and/or back ache.

*Pain during sexual intercourse.

*Constipation.
Diagnosis of Fibroid Tumors.

* pelvic examination.

* radiological imaging i.e. ultrasound.

Treatment of Fibroid Tumors.

*Anti-inflammatory medication.

*Contraceptives and hormones .

*Surgical interventions i.e. Myomectomy, Hysterectomy or Uterine Fibroids Embolization.

*Alternative treatments, such as certain dietary recommendations, enzymes, hormone creams or homeopathy, which combine stress reduction techniques and herbal preparations.

When to see a doctor see your doctor if you have:

* Pelvic pain that doesn’t go away.

* Overly heavy or painful periods.

* Spotting or bleeding between periods.

* Pain with intercourse.

* Difficulty emptying your bladder.

* Difficulty moving your bowels.

Seek prompt medical care if you have severe vaginal bleeding or sharp pelvic pain that comes on suddenly.