What Are Fibroids?

This informational guide, part of POPSUGAR's Condition Center, lays out the realities of this health concern: what it is, what it can look like, and strategies that medical experts say are proven to help. You should always consult your doctor regarding matters pertaining to your health and before starting any course of medical treatment.

Editor's note: We at POPSUGAR recognize that people of many gender identities have uteruses: not just women. For this particular story, we interviewed one expert who generally referred to people with uteruses as women.

Uterine fibroids, also called leiomyomas or myomas, are noncancerous growths that occur in the uterus. An estimated one in three people who menstruate will get fibroids, and "most of the time, fibroids grow in women of childbearing age, such as their 30s and 40s," says James A. Gohar, MD, ob-gyn and cofounder of fibroid treatment and reproductive health center Viva Eve.

Dr. Gohar says that many people aren't aware of fibroids and the condition is often misdiagnosed. Learn how to spot the signs ahead.

Many people who have fibroids aren't aware of them because they experience no symptoms, while others can experience severe side effects that can significantly impact quality of life, including heavy, prolonged menstrual bleeding or unpredictable cycles; moderate to severe menstrual cramps; pelvic pressure; a bloated abdomen; weak bladder control or frequent urination; constipation; pain during sex; back or leg pain; and anemia.

There are three main types of fibroids: intramural (found within the uterine wall), subserosal (found on the outer uterine wall), and submucosal (found just under the lining of the uterine cavity). Some fibroids may become pedunculated, Kenosha Gleaton, MD, board-certified ob-gyn and Natalist medical advisor, says. This means that a fibroid is tethered to the outside of uterus via a broad ligament or "stock."

Intramural fibroid tumors (again, those that grow within the wall of the uterus) are the most common and can cause excessive menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual cycles, clot passing, and pelvic pain due to the additional pressure placed on surrounding organs by fibroid growth, Dr. Gohar says. Subserosal fibroids (those that grow on the outside surface), on the other hand, don't typically cause abnormal menstrual bleeding, but do put pressure on surrounding organs. Subserosal fibroids may also increase the size of the uterine cavity, potentially blocking the fallopian tubes and leading to fertility problems.

Some fibroids are completely asymptomatic, while others "can be severely symptomatic," Dr. Gohar says. Fibroids may make it difficult to get pregnant or maintain a pregnancy by becoming a physical barrier to sperm or a developing fetus. Other fibroids "may compete for the space where implantation of a fertilized egg would happen," Dr. Gohar says, and "large fibroids may prevent a fetus from growing fully due to decreased room in the uterus." That being said, many fibroids can be left alone without causing any harm to a pregnancy.

Fibroids may be discovered during routine pelvic exams in gynecology visits when the doctor presses on the abdomen to feel the uterus. The diagnosis is then confirmed through an ultrasound and/or MRI to gather more specific information. Other times, fibroids are discovered when a patient complains of heavier or longer periods or pelvic pain or pressure.

Like most conditions, it's difficult to narrow down the exact cause. But experts have a few ideas when it comes to fibroids, including genetic changes and hormones (estrogen and progesterone, in particular, are known to promote the growth of fibroids), among other things, according to the Mayo Clinic.

According to Mayo Clinic, there are also a few factors that can increase your risk for fibroids, including:

Treating fibroids mostly depends on what symptoms bother you and if you desire future pregnancy, Dr. Gleaton says.

For symptoms like heavy bleeding or menstrual issues, your doctor might recommend birth-control pills, IUDs, Nexplanon, progestin-only pills, or GnRH (Gonadotropin-releasing hormone) like Lupron or newer oral hormone medications. There are other nonhormonal options as well. But despite the rumors out there, Dr. Gleaton says, it's important to remember that "birth-control pills do not cause fibroids to grow."

For constipation, bloating, and urinary symptoms, medications, specifically GnRH agonists like Lupron, can help the uterus and significantly shrink fibroids, according to Dr. Gleaton.

Surgery might be on the table, too, especially if you want kids. A myomectomy is a surgery that removes only the fibroids and does not impact fertility.

"If you don't want any future pregnancies, you can consider endometrial ablation (a procedure that essentially burns the lining of the uterus), a uterine artery embolization (a procedure that temporizes blood flow to the uterus and can shrink the uterus and fibroids 30-50 percent in three to six months), or a hysterectomy (a surgery that removes the uterus)," Dr. Gleaton says.

The most important thing to remember is that if you feel something is off in your body or you're experiencing symptoms, see your doctor.

"Listen to your body regularly, and pay attention to your uterine and pelvic health. Visit your ob-gyn annually, and speak up if you're noticing symptoms. If your doctor isn't concerned but you are, seek a second opinion."