Definition and description of fibroids

Definition

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors, growing from the fibrous tissue in the muscle wall of the uterus. This tissue is condensed in a fibrous capsule forming a bowl of variable size.

Normal uterus

Fibromateous uterus

Frequency

Uterine fibroids are common and are diagnosed in 20% of the female population. They usually appear between 40 and 50 years old but the evolution of screening techniques used in gynecological consultation allows physicians to discover smaller fibroids at an earlier stage. Some young patients and without children may have many and large fibroids that can prevent the onset and course of pregnancy.

The causality of fibroids is unknown, but three factors are predominant :

• Racial factor: in the US 73 to 89% african american women and 49 to 59% white women have fibromas while european woman have a lower prevalence which varies from 10% to 21% for women aged mean 40 years
• Hereditary factor: several members of a family may be affected
• Hormonal factor: the estrogen produced by the ovaries and contained in the contraceptive pills can increase the size of fibroids

Location in the uterus

Fibroids are masses more or less regularly rounded, their location is variable :

• In muscle thickness: interstitial fibroids
• At the periphery of the uterus: subserosal
• Towards the inside of the uterine cavity: submucosal, sometimes pedunculated (fibrous polyps)

Interstitial and subserosal fibroids

Pedunculated submucosal fibroid

On the other hand they can grow in different segments of the uterus, sitting :

• At the uterine body can block the fallopian tubes
• At the supra-vaginal portion of the cervix (rare), raising the uterine artery and ureter
  

Fibroid center.