Uterine fibroids are benign, (non- cancerous) growths present in a woman's uterus. Studies have shown that 20% of all women between the ages of 20 and 35 and 30% of women over the age of 35 are most susceptible to fibriods. They are composed of a solid mass of fibrous and muscular tissue. They generally grow in and around the uterus. They are usually detected during a pelvic examination or internal ultrasound.

The majority of cases are not detected and cause no symptoms. The size of a single fibroid may be smaller than a pea, or larger than a melon. In a given person, there may be a single fibroid, or multiple fibroids of varying size. Not all fibroids need to be removed.

They are categorized into 3 types:

Intramural tumors: Most common type of fibroid. They remain within the wall of the uterus.

Subserous Myomas: Rooted in the outer portion of the uterine wall. They push outward into the abdominal cavity. Some form a stem at the base- if the stem should twist you can have severe pain.

Submocous Myomas: These fibroids pusing inward- they sometime grow large enough to burst through the uterine lining and inflate the entire uterus. These can cause severe pain and very heavy bleeding. If the growth develop a stem they can dangle down into the cervix and cause pain during intercourse.

Studies show that it is often high levels of estrogen that spark growth in the fibroid tumors. They may grow larger during pregnancy and diminish during menopause. Other factors that can make you more susceptible to fibroids is hereditary (your mother or close female family member may have them too) and predisposition (some women are born with fibroid seedlings already implanted).

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Thanks for the information. My uterus is full of fibroids. (I'm 62 now). They never bothered me; but, I did have a couple of them removed years ago because they were right at the enterance.