Women's HealthPending review

Uterine fibroids

Benign smooth-muscle tumours of the myometrium grow under the drive of oestrogen and progesterone, which is why they enlarge through the reproductive years and regress after the menopause, distorting the uterus and disrupting normal menstrual haemostasis as they grow.

In a nutshell

Fibroids are monoclonal, oestrogen- and progesterone-dependent smooth-muscle tumours of the myometrium, which is why they grow through the reproductive years and regress after the menopause. They cause heavy bleeding by distorting the cavity and disrupting coordinated myometrial contraction, and bulk symptoms by simple mass effect.

Classic presentation

Heavy menstrual bleeding with pelvic pressure or a palpable abdominal mass in a woman of reproductive age; many are entirely asymptomatic.

Key points

Fibroid location predicts symptoms: submucosal drives bleeding and fertility problems, subserosal drives bulk symptoms, intramural can cause both.

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Educational content pending clinical review. Not medical advice.