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Fibroid - Fibroids

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What Are Fibroids? What Are The Treatments For Fibroids?

Fibroids are non-cancerous (benign) tumors that grow from the muscle layers of the uterus (womb). They are also known as uterine fibroids, myomas, leiomyomas, or fibromyomas. The singular of uterine fibroids is uterine fibroma. Fibroids are growths of smooth muscle and fibrous tissue. Fibroids can vary in size, from that of a bean to as large as a melon.

Fibroids affect at least 20% of all women at sometime during their life. Women aged between 30 and 50 are the most likely to develop fibroids. Overweight and obese women are at significantly higher risk of developing fibroids, compared to women of normal weight. This is due to the fact that fibroids grow in response to estrogen. A higher state of body fat means that there is excess conversion of the body's sex steroids into an estrogen analog, estrone, due to a higher amount of aromatase (the converting enzyme) in fat cells. 

In extremely rare cases, malignant (cancerous) growths on the smooth muscles inside the womb can develop, which is called a leiomyosarcoma of the uterus. 

There are four types of fibroids

1. Intramural: these are located in the wall of the uterus. These are the most common types of fibroids.

2. Subserosal fibroids: these are located outside the wall of the uterus. They can develop into pedunculated fibroids (with stalks). Subserosal fibroids can become quite large.

3. Submucosal fibroids: these are located in the muscle beneath the lining of the uterus wall.

4. Cervical fibroids: these are located in the neck of the uterus (the cervix).

More information please go to

How do I find a good local fibroid doctor?

1. Starting off with a lot of online research (crude Google searches in the beginning) about area specialists and hospitals.

2. Asking anyone you know who has had any gynecological procedures to talk about their experience of the hospital and/or ask for their doctor's name if applicable.

3. Making a list of major area hospitals & going to their websites to read what they have to say about this area of gynecology care. For example, in NYC many of the big hospitals have a special fibroid information pages and this is one way to start reading up on people who specialize in the field.