Uterine fibroids, also known as uterine leiomyomas, are benign (non-cancerous) growths of muscle cells in the uterine (womb) wall. This is a condition that occurs most commonly in women of childbearing age, but it can affect women of any age. Fibroids can range in size, from being undetectable with the human eye to the size of a grapefruit or larger. The majority of women with fibroids will not experience any symptoms and do not require therapy. However some women may experience heavy or prolonged menstrual bleeding, pelvic pain, and urinary issues due to the size and location of the fibroids.
Risk factors for uterine fibroids include:
- Family history of uterine fibroids
- African-American descent
- First menstruation period starting prior to the age of 10
- Never having given birth
- Diet including lots of meat and alcohol and low vitamin D