Fibroids

Content provided by the Faculty of the Harvard Medical School

Fibroids

Question:

Do fibroids ever go away on their own? If you have no pain or no heavy bleeding is there anything you can do to keep from getting more fibroids?

Answer:

Fibroids are noncancerous tumors that grow from muscle cells in the wall of the uterus. Fibroids are very common, and are a leading reason for hysterectomy, but most women with fibroids have no symptoms and do not require treatment at all.

The cause of fibroids is unknown. However, it is known that a genetic predisposition exists, as fibroids are common in families. Hormones can stimulate the growth of fibroids, but they do not seem to cause them. Since the cause of fibroids is unknown, we do not know of a way to prevent them.

Fibroids tend to shrink after menopause but not go away completely. Women who have pelvic pain or bleeding from fibroids will often have relief of symptoms at menopause even though the fibroid itself may still be present.

Joan Bengtson, M.D., is assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and a member of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproduction at Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Last updated:	July 20, 2009