Fibroids – Ubiquitous Benign Tumors
Summary
Uterine fibroids are common growths of the uterus. They often appear during the reproductive years. Uterine fibroids are not cancer, and they rarely turn into cancer. They aren't linked with a higher risk of other types of cancer in the uterus either. They're also called leiomyomas (lie-o-my-O-muhs) or myomas.
Most fibroids are asymptomatic and may even be asymptomatic during pregnancy. However, in some cases, they may interfere with conception or can cause spontaneous abortion, missed abortions, abnormal fetal presentation, obstructed labor, an increased likelihood of premature deliveries, and postpartum hemorrhage. Whereas, in non-pregnant women, fibroids are associated with an irregular menstrual cycle, often with heavy menstrual bleeding, infertility, constipation, urinary incontinence, and leiosarcoma transformation (a rare aggressive cancer). Uterine fibroids can occur in non-pregnant women and then continue into pregnancy or may develop de novo in pregnancy.
