Your uterus is lined with smooth muscle cells that support pregnancy and labor. Sometimes these cells can grow out of control, causing you to develop a mass on the wall of your uterus called a uterine fibroid.
Uterine fibroids, sometimes called leiomyomas, are growths (tumors) made up of the muscle and connective tissue from the wall of the uterus. These fibroids are almost always benign, meaning they're not cancerous. Uterine fibroids can be so small they can't be detected or can grow as large as a grapefruit (or larger). Doctors most often find fibroids during a normal physical exam when they press on the uterus.
Some women may never have symptoms of uterine fibroids. Others, however, may have severe uterine fibroid symptoms that impact their daily lives, including:
Uterine fibroids are very common and affect up to 77 percent of women at some point in their lives. In 99 percent of cases, uterine fibroids are benign, but they can be painful. While the exact cause of uterine fibroids is unknown, it’s commonly been linked to:
People at increased risk for developing uterine fibroids include those who:
There is a variety of diagnostic tools available to your care provider. When screening for possible uterine fibroids, you may undergo:
Depending on the severity of your uterine fibroid symptoms, possible treatments include:
Minimally invasive gynecologic surgery can be used to treat a broad spectrum of gynecological disorders with advanced precision.
Main Line Health offers hysteroscopic myomectomy as an alternative to hysterectomy to treat uterine fibroids.
LAVH is a minimally invasive method of performing a hysterectomy.
For the patient, uterine fibroid embolization is a simple procedure that takes from one to two hours and is performed under local anesthesia with a light sedation.
Whether you’re seeing us for common gynecological problems or seeking out advanced therapies and the very best surgical expertise, our physicians, board-certified are here for in gynecology, are here for you every stage of your life from adolescence through the childbearing years into menopause and beyond.
Discover how Main Line Health provides comprehensive and compassionate care for women in all stages of life.
If you’re ready to have a child, but facing fertility challenges, reproductive endocrinologists can help. Find fertility solutions and services at locations throughout the Philadelphia area.
