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Originally published June 2, 2025
Last updated June 2, 2025
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Fibroids are benign tumors that develop in smooth muscle tissue, specifically the muscular wall of the uterus. Uterine fibroids are, in fact, extremely common.
“Up to 70%-80% of women have fibroids by the time they go through menopause around age 50,” explains Marcia Ciccone, MD, a gynecologic oncology, cancer genetics and women’s health specialist at Keck Medicine of USC.
Most women with fibroids are unaware they have them, however, as many fibroids don’t cause noticeable symptoms. Only about one in four patients experiences symptoms that require treatment.
Many will hear ‘tumor’ and immediately think of cancer, but Dr. Ciccone reassures that noncancerous fibroids (called leiomyomas) are the most common fibroid type, with cancerous fibroids (sarcomas) occurring in only about one in 1,000 cases. “The school of thought is that fibroids don’t start out as benign and transform into cancer,” she notes. In fact, the risk of that happening is so low that it often doesn’t factor into treatment decisions.
“Uterine fibroids are monoclonal collections of cells that have overgrown,” Dr. Ciccone explains. While the exact cause of uterine fibroids remains unclear, she says that fibroids are stimulated by female hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone.
Understanding this hormonal connection helps explain why certain factors could increase your risk of developing uterine fibroids:
Heavy or irregular menstrual bleeding can be one of the most serious complications. “People can bleed either over time or heavily at once and become severely anemic, sometimes to the point that they require a blood transfusion,” Dr. Ciccone explains. In rare cases, this severe blood loss/anemia could even lead to heart attack or stroke if left untreated.
Other common symptoms include:
Fibroids can also impact fertility and pregnancy. While having fibroids doesn’t mean you can’t get pregnant, Dr. Ciccone cautions that they might make it harder for a pregnancy to implant if fibroids distort the uterine cavity. And during pregnancy, fibroids often grow due to hormonal changes and can also lead to preterm labor or abnormal fetal positioning, thus increasing the risk a cesarean section might be needed.
Doctors typically begin diagnosis with a pelvic exam, although as Dr. Ciccone explains, fibroids frequently are not detectable through that examination alone. “Ultrasound is probably the easiest way to diagnose these,” she says, adding that an MRI might be needed when planning surgery or requiring a more detailed view.
Research in women’s health is lacking and poorly funded, Dr. Ciccone notes. This may help explain why we know so little about this condition that affects up to 80% of women by the time they reach menopause.
“If fibroids are not symptomatic, we don’t necessarily recommend surgery just because they’re there,” Dr. Ciccone advises. She adds that not all fibroids will grow or cause problems.
For those that do present problems, such as fertility challenges or pain and discomfort, treatments are available, she emphasizes.
When treatment is needed, options may include:
For women experiencing significant symptoms, Dr. Ciccone recommends consulting a gynecologist for personalized treatment recommendations.
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