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UAE PowerPoint Presentation
Uterine fibroids are the most common tumors of the female genital tract. You might hear
them referred to as "fibroids" or by several other names, including leiomyoma,
leiomyomata, myoma and fibromyoma. Fibroids are noncancerous (benign) growths that develop in the
muscular wall of the uterus. While fibroids do not always cause symptoms, their size and location
can lead to problems for some women, including pain and heavy bleeding.
The exact causes for fibroid development are unclear, but researchers have linked them to both a
genetic predisposition and a subsequent development of susceptibility to hormone stimulation.
Women may have a genetic predisposition to fibroid development and then subsequently develop
factors that allow fibroids to grow under the influence of a number of hormones. This would
explain why certain ethnic groups or racial groups are more likely to develop fibroids and also
why there tends to be genetic predisposition in some families.
Fibroids range greatly in size from very tiny (a quarter of an inch) to larger than a cantaloupe (10 inches or more).
In most cases, there is more than one fibroid in the uterus.
Fibroids can be located in various parts of the uterus. There are three primary types:
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Subserosal fibroids, which develop under the outside covering of the uterus and expand outward
through the wall, giving the uterus a knobby appearance.
They typically do not affect a woman's menstrual flow, but can cause pelvic pain, back pain and
generalized pressure. The subserosal fibroid can develop a stalk or stem-like base, making it
difficult to distinguish from an ovarian mass. These are called pedunculated. The correct diagnosis
can be made with either an ultrasound or magnetic resonance (MR) exam.
- Intramural fibroids, which develop within the lining of the uterus and expand inward, increasing the
size of the uterus, and making it feel larger than normal in a gynecologic internal exam. These are
the most common fibroids. Intramural fibroids can result in heavier menstrual bleeding and pelvic
pain, back pain or the generalized pressure that many women experience.
- Submucosal fibroids, which are just under the lining of the uterus. These are the least common
fibroids, but they tend to cause the most problems. Even a very small submucosal fibroid can cause
heavy bleeding — gushing, very heavy and prolonged periods.
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