Minimal Invasive
Surgery
Fibroids
WHAT ARE FIBROIDS?
Uterine fibroids are growths, or tumors, that develop in the muscular
wall of the uterus. They may also be called myomas, leiomyomas, leiomyomata
uteri, or simply fibroids. Fibroids are generally benign—that is, they are
not cancerous (malignant). A woman may have just one fibroid, or many.
Fibroids are the most common kind of growths of the uterus. In fact, it
is believed that approximately 20 to 30% of women have fibroids.
TYPES OF FIBROIDS
Submucous fibroids grow below and into the lining of the uterus. They
interfere with the endometrial cells that are shed monthly and can
therefore lead to heavy and irregular bleeding.
Intramural fibroids are embedded into the uterine wall which is made
of muscle. If they grow towards the cavity they can lead to bleeding.
Intracavity fibroids grow inside of the cavity.
Subserous fibroids protrude and push out of the skin or serous layer
of the uterine muscle forming bulges.
Pedunculated fibroids are connected to the uterus by a thin stock.
SIZE AND LOCATION OF FIBROIDS
Uterine fibroids can range in size, for example from as small as a grape
(less than 1 inch) to larger than a melon. They can appear:
Beneath the outer surface of the uterus
Totally within the wall of the uterus
Inside the uterus
WHAT CAUSES FIBROIDS?
Not much is known about the cause of fibroids, but evidence suggests that
their growth is related to estrogen and possibly other hormones. In fact,
increased levels of these hormones may speed up the growth rate of fibroids.
CHANGES IN ESTROGEN AND FIBROID GROWTH
Estrogen levels in the body may go up or down for a number of reasons.
For example, estrogen levels rise and fall during the menstrual cycle. If
you are pregnant or taking certain kinds of birth control pills, your
estrogen level increases. When you enter menopause, your level decreases as
your body stops producing estrogen. As a result, fibroids tend to be less of
a problem at this stage of a woman's life.
RISK FACTORS FOR DEVELOPING FIBROIDS
Even though the medical community is not completely certain what causes
fibroids and why some women have them and others don’t, there do seem to
be factors that may play a role.
