The Different Types of Fibroids

Have you experienced heavy flow during your periods lately? Or severe abdominal pain while you are on your menstrual period? You could have fibroids.  

Fibroids are the abnormal noncancerous growth that develops in your uterus. These tumors can become quite large and cause severe abdominal pain and heavy periods. Fibroids are also known as myomas, uterine myomas or fibroid myomas, and fibromas. Although most women don’t have any symptoms and may never know they have fibroids, about 80% of these women have them by the age of 50. 

 For more information about uterine fibroids, please visit Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center. 

There are different types of fibroids and knowing the location of your fibroids will determine which type of fibroids you have. To understand these types of fibroids, you first need to know the different layers of your uterus, which are: 

• Perimetrium – this is the outer layer of your uterus 
• Myometrium – the middle and the thickest layer of your uterus 
• Endometrium – this is the inner layer that lines your uterus 

 There are four main types of fibroids: 

• Intramural fibroids 

Intramural fibroids are located within the uterine muscle or the myometrium. These are also the most common type of fibroids. Because of their location, they may grow larger and can even stretch up to your womb. 

The usual symptoms for intramural fibroids can include heavy bleeding or extended menstrual period, bleeding in between menstrual cycles, and infertility. 

• Subserosal fibroids 

Subserosal fibroids are the fibroids that grow outside of your uterine wall. Because of their location, subserosal fibroids do not usually cause significant symptoms and are less likely in need of treatment.  

Typical symptom for subserosal fibroids includes heavy menstrual bleeding due to the larger size of your uterus. 

• Pedunculated fibroids 

Pedunculated fibroids are the type of fibroids that grow on the stalks or stems that are attached to your uterine wall. They can grow either on the inside or outside of your uterus. 

Pedunculated fibroids that grow on the outside of your uterus usually have very mild symptoms unless your fibroids become exceptionally large. While pedunculated fibroids that grow on the inside of the uterus can have significant symptoms and cause infertility. 

• Submucosal fibroids 

Submucosal fibroids are the fibroids that grow in the internal layer of your uterus. This type tends to be asymptomatic when your fibroids are small but the main symptom for submucosal fibroid is heavy and irregular bleeding. 

With submucosal fibroids, you can become infertile, making it hard for you to get pregnant, or cause you miscarriages.  

 If you are looking for a gynecologist that you can trust, you can book your appointment at Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center. At Doral Health and Wellness – Women’s Health Center, we provide women with quality healthcare services. To book an appointment, you can visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY, or call us on 1-347-384–5690 or 1-347-955-3465. You can also visit our website to book an appointment online at https://doralhw.org or contact us at info@doralhw.org if you have any queries.