Over time, they'll often shrink and disappear without treatment, particularly after the menopause. If you do have symptoms caused by fibroids, medicine to help relieve the symptoms will usually be recommended first.
There are also medications available to help shrink fibroids. If these prove ineffective, surgery or other, less invasive procedures may be recommended. Page last reviewed: 17 September Next review due: 17 September Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb uterus. Many women are unaware they have fibroids because they do not have any symptoms.
Women who do have symptoms around 1 in 3 may experience: heavy periods or painful periods tummy abdominal pain lower back pain a frequent need to urinate constipation pain or discomfort during sex In rare cases, further complications caused by fibroids can affect pregnancy or cause infertility.
Their impact on fertility depends on the location and the size of the fibroids, as well as the type of symptoms a woman has. Fibroids inside the uterine cavity can stop an embryo from implanting, which prevents it from growing into a fetus. Larger fibroids—about four centimeters or more—that are in the muscle of the uterus can also impact implantation.
Fibroids that are inside the muscle of the uterus might block the fallopian tubes, which can cause infertility. Sometimes fibroids can affect the mode of delivery of a baby.
For instance, if a woman has a fibroid in the lower part of her uterus, it might make it difficult for the cervix to open completely, which might make a C-section difficult. Health Home Conditions and Diseases.
What are uterine fibroids? What causes fibroids? What are the symptoms of fibroids? Can other issues cause these symptoms? How are fibroids diagnosed? Fibroids tend to shrink after menopause due to a decrease in hormone production. Doctors believe that uterine fibroids develop from a stem cell in the smooth muscular tissue of the uterus myometrium. A single cell divides repeatedly, eventually creating a firm, rubbery mass distinct from nearby tissue. The growth patterns of uterine fibroids vary — they may grow slowly or rapidly, or they may remain the same size.
Some fibroids go through growth spurts, and some may shrink on their own. Many fibroids that have been present during pregnancy shrink or disappear after pregnancy, as the uterus goes back to its usual size. There are few known risk factors for uterine fibroids, other than being a woman of reproductive age. Factors that can have an impact on fibroid development include:. Although uterine fibroids usually aren't dangerous, they can cause discomfort and may lead to complications such as a drop in red blood cells anemia , which causes fatigue, from heavy blood loss.
Rarely, a transfusion is needed due to blood loss. Fibroids usually don't interfere with getting pregnant. However, it's possible that fibroids — especially submucosal fibroids — could cause infertility or pregnancy loss. Fibroids may also raise the risk of certain pregnancy complications, such as placental abruption, fetal growth restriction and preterm delivery. Although researchers continue to study the causes of fibroid tumors, little scientific evidence is available on how to prevent them.
Preventing uterine fibroids may not be possible, but only a small percentage of these tumors require treatment. But, by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as maintaining a healthy weight and eating fruits and vegetables, you may be able to decrease your fibroid risk. Also, some research suggests that using hormonal contraceptives may be associated with a lower risk of fibroids. Uterine fibroids care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.
Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Fibroid locations Open pop-up dialog box Close. Fibroid locations There are three major types of uterine fibroids. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Can I get pregnant? Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Ferri FF. Uterine fibroids. In: Ferri's Clinical Advisor GnRH agonists can cause menopause-like symptoms, including hot flashes, a tendency to sweat more, vaginal dryness, and, in some cases, a higher risk of osteoporosis.
GnRH agonists are for short-term use only. A doctor may give a person these medications before surgery to shrink fibroids.
A newer therapy using GnRH antagonists is another possible treatment option. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen, can reduce fibroid pain, but they do not reduce bleeding. Ibuprofen is available to purchase online.
Oral contraceptives help regulate the ovulation cycle, and they may help reduce the amount of pain or bleeding during periods. Low dose hormonal birth control does not make fibroids grow. People can also use a progesterone intrauterine device, such as Mirena, or progesterone-like injections, such as Depo-Provera. Severe fibroids may not respond to more conservative treatment options. In these cases, surgery may be the best treatment option.
A hysterectomy is the partial or total removal of the uterus. This method can treat extremely large fibroids or excessive bleeding. Total hysterectomy can prevent the return of fibroids. If a surgeon also removes the ovaries and fallopian tubes, side effects can include reduced libido and early menopause. This is the removal of fibroids from the muscular wall of the uterus.
It can help people who still want to have children. Those with large fibroids or fibroids located in particular parts of the uterus may not benefit from this type of surgery. Removing the uterine lining may help if fibroids are near the inner surface of the uterus.
Endometrial ablation may be an effective alternative to a hysterectomy for some people with fibroids. Cutting off the blood supply to the area shrinks the fibroid. Guided by fluoroscopic X-ray imaging, the doctor will inject a chemical through a catheter into the arteries supplying blood to any fibroids. That said, the resolution of symptoms is highly variable depending on the location and size of fibroids.
This is not an appropriate treatment method for all types of fibroid. Maintaining a moderate weight by getting regular exercise and eating a healthful diet may help moderate estrogen levels, which may help reduce fibroids.
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