Uterine Fibroids Explained: An Overview of Types, Causes, and Symptoms
Something feels off. Maybe your periods have become longer or heavier, or you’re constantly dealing with bloating and discomfort. You might even feel pressure in your lower abdomen or need to use the bathroom more often. If this sounds familiar, you’re not imagining it—these could be signs of uterine fibroids.
But what are uterine fibroids? Understanding why they develop, what symptoms they cause, and how they’re treated can help you take control of your health.
Definition of Uterine Fibroids
Fibroids are incredibly common. In fact, they affect about 26 million women in the U.S. alone. The impact of uterine fibroids varies from person to person, which is why understanding them is so important.
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths that develop in or around the muscular wall of the uterus. They form when normal uterine tissue begins growing abnormally, creating firm, rubbery masses that can vary in size, number, and location. Most fibroids grow slowly, but some can expand rapidly, leading to symptoms that disrupt daily life.
Symptoms of Uterine Fibroids
Not all fibroids are symptomatic uterine fibroids, but when they are, they can seriously affect your quality of life. The size, location, and number of uterine fibroids all play a role in determining how they impact you.
If you’re experiencing any of the following, it might be time to talk to a health care provider about whether fibroids could be the cause. Common symptoms include:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding: One of the most common symptoms of uterine fibroids is heavy bleeding during your period. Some women experience very heavy bleeding that requires changing pads or tampons every hour or even causes anemia due to the loss of red blood cells.
- Prolonged periods or irregular bleeding: Fibroids can make your menstrual cycle unpredictable, causing spotting between periods or menstruation that lasts longer than usual.
- Pelvic pain or pressure: As uterine fibroids grow, they can put pressure on surrounding organs. This leads to pelvic pain that feels like a constant ache or sharp cramps.
- Lower back pain: Some uterine fibroids press against nerves in the lower back, leading to persistent discomfort or pain that doesn’t go away with rest.
- Frequent urination: Uterine fibroids that press against the bladder can make you feel like you always need to go—even when your bladder isn’t full.
- Constipation or bloating: Large fibroids near the rectum can create pressure that makes bowel movements difficult or causes bloating and discomfort.
- Pain during intercourse: Depending on where the uterine fibroids are located, they may cause pain or pressure during sex.
- Pregnancy complications: In some cases, uterine fibroids can interfere with implantation or fetal growth, leading to preterm delivery or difficulties conceiving.
If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms, seeking answers and treatment is important. A pelvic exam and imaging tests can help determine if uterine fibroids are the cause and what your next steps should be.
Causes and Risk Factors of Uterine Fibroids
Doctors still don’t know exactly why fibroids grow, but research suggests that a mix of hormone levels, genetics, and other biological factors contribute to their development. While fibroids are noncancerous, they can still cause significant discomfort and health issues.
Causes of Uterine Fibroids
Here’s what we do know about what triggers uterine fibroids:
- Hormones (estrogen and progesterone): These two hormones help regulate your menstrual cycle and are the main drivers behind fibroid growth. They stimulate the uterus lining and can cause fibroid tissue to expand. This is why fibroids tend to shrink after menopause when hormone production decreases.
- Genetics: If a woman’s mother or sister had fibroids, the likelihood of developing fibroids is much higher. Certain genetic mutations can also cause the wall of the uterus to grow abnormally.
- Blood supply: Fibroids rely on blood vessels to grow. They can continue expanding when they receive steady blood flow, sometimes becoming quite large.
- Growth factors: Substances in the body that help with tissue repair and maintenance, such as insulin-like growth factor, may contribute to the abnormal growth of fibroid tumors.
- Inflammation: Some studies suggest that chronic inflammation in the body may trigger fibroid formation or make fibroids increase in size over time.
Risk Factors for Uterine Fibroids
While any woman can develop fibroids, certain factors make them more likely to occur:
- Aging: Women of reproductive age—especially in their 30s and 40s—are at the highest risk since fibroids thrive in an estrogen-rich environment.
- Family history: If your mother, sister, or grandmother had fibroids, your risk is significantly higher.
- Obesity: Increases estrogen production, which can provide ideal conditions for uterine fibroids to grow.
- Birth control pills: These pills may either help or worsen fibroids depending on the formulation.
- Early menstruation: Starting your period before age 10 increases your risk of developing fibroids.
- Diet: A diet high in red meat and processed foods may also increase your fibroid risk.
While not all fibroids cause problems, knowing these risks can help you stay informed about your reproductive health.
Types of Uterine Fibroids
Fibroids don’t all look the same or cause the same symptoms. Their size, location, and how they interact with the uterine cavity all play a role in how they affect your body. Understanding the different types can help you and your health care provider determine the best approach for managing them.
Here are the types of uterine fibroids:
Intramural Fibroids
The most common type, intramural fibroids grow within the muscular wall of the uterus. They can cause the uterus to expand, leading to pelvic pain, heavy bleeding, frequent urination, discomfort during sexual intercourse, and pressure on surrounding organs.
Submucosal Fibroids
These fibroids grow just under the lining of the uterine cavity and can push into it, often leading to very heavy bleeding, and fertility issues. Submucosal fibroids are less common but tend to cause more severe symptoms.
Subserosal Fibroids
Growing on the outer surface of the uterus, subserosal fibroids can expand outward and put pressure on nearby organs like the bladder or rectum. This can lead to frequent urination, constipation, and lower back pain. Large subserosal fibroids may even create a visible bulge in the lower abdomen.
Pedunculated Fibroids
These fibroids grow on stalks either inside or outside the uterus. Depending on their location, they can twist and cause severe pain and discomfort.
Cervical Fibroids
These rare uterine fibroids develop in the cervix rather than the uterus itself. They can cause pain during intercourse, heavy menstrual bleeding, and difficulties with urination.
While most fibroids are harmless, their symptoms can be disruptive. If you’re experiencing any of these issues, a pelvic exam and imaging can help determine how many fibroids you have and you should get your uterine fibroids treated.
Living with uterine fibroids can be exhausting—physically, emotionally, and mentally. You don’t have to keep pushing through the discomfort, adjusting your life around heavy bleeding, pelvic pain, or constant bathroom trips. There are safe, effective, and minimally invasive solutions that don’t require surgery or a long recovery.
At VIP Fibroid Center, we understand how frustrating and overwhelming fibroids can be. Our experienced, compassionate team is here to help you find relief without the risks of major surgery through advanced treatments like uterine fibroid embolization (UFE)—also called uterine artery embolization (UAE).
You deserve to feel better. Contact us today to learn how we can help you treat uterine fibroids and take the next step toward a fibroid-free life.