What Is a Myoma (Uterine Fibroids)? Causes, Types, Symptoms, and Treatments
Myoma (Uterine Fibroids)? Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumours that grow in the uterus. They are also called fibroids. If your doctor has diagnosed you with fibroids (or uterine fibroids), it is important to know that this is the most common benign tumour in a woman’s uterus and can be treated.
Fibroids are flat, non-cancerous tumours that can develop in or around the uterus. Fibroids, which are partly made up of muscle tissue, rarely develop in the cervix, but when they do, fibroids are usually found in the larger, upper part of the uterus. Fibroids in this part of the uterus are also called fibroids or leiomyomas.
Doctors can see or feel most fibroids during a pelvic examination. Those that cause symptoms can be removed surgically or with less invasive procedures.
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Types of Uterine Fibroids

Types of Uterine Fibroids Myoma
Uterine fibroids are classified according to their location in the uterus.
- Intracavitary. This type of uterine fibroid is almost completely inside the uterine cavity. It extends into the uterine cavity.
- Intramural or intramyometrial. This is the most common type of uterine fibroids. It is located completely inside the uterine muscle.
- Pediculosis. Pedunculated fibroids are located on the outer and inner walls of the uterus. They are attached to the uterine surface with a stalk. When sudden movements cause these fibroids to rotate, you may feel sudden and intense pain.
- Submucosal. This type of uterine fibroid is located in a part of the uterine cavity, starting from the wall. This is the least common type of uterine fibroids. It can cause heavy bleeding and is most commonly associated with fertility problems.
- Subserosal. Subserosal uterine fibroids protrude outside the uterus with their base on the outer surface of the uterus. These fibroids can cause pressure, but usually do not cause bleeding.
Symptoms of Myoma (uterine fibroids)
Most fibroids cause symptoms at some point. The most common symptom is vaginal bleeding, which can be irregular or intense. Other symptoms may include:
- Heavy bleeding
- Anemia
- Fatigue and weakness
- Painful intercourse
- Pain, bleeding, or a discharge from the vagina if myomas become infected
- A feeling of pressure or a lump in the abdomen, in rare cases
- Difficulties urinating, dribble at the end of urination, or urine retention if a myoma blocks the flow of urine. Urinary tract infections are more likely to develop in women with myomas
Large fibroids can partially block the urethra or protrude into the vagina, this is called prolapse. Fibroids with prolapse can develop sores, become infected, bleed or both. Fibroids with prolapse can also block the flow of urine.
Fibroids are more commonly called uterine fibroids and affect up to 20 per cent of women of childbearing age. Signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids include:
- Abnormal bleeding
- Pelvic masses
- Pelvic pain
- Infertility
- Pregnancy complications
There are five types of uterine fibroids:
- The most common are intramural fibroids that grow on the uterine wall.
- Subserosal fibroids grow on the wall outside the uterus. As they grow, they can press on nearby organs or cause pain due to their size.
- Submucosal fibroids grow just below the lining of the uterus and can be pushed into the uterine cavity, causing heavy bleeding and other more serious complications.
- Stalked fibroids grow on small stalks or bodies inside or outside the uterus.
- Intrauterine fibroids grow into the uterine cavity.
You can develop more than one type of fibroid. Between 70% and 80% of women develop fibroid tumours by the age of 50.

Diagram of types of uterine fibroids myoma
How do uterine fibroids grow?
Uterine fibroids have different growth patterns. Some grow slowly, while others grow rapidly. Some do not grow at all, while some uterine fibroids have growth spurts.
There are also uterine fibroids that resolve spontaneously. For example, fibroids that develop during pregnancy may shrink or disappear completely when the uterus returns to its normal size after pregnancy.
Causes of Uterine Fibroids
Estrogen seems to activate the growth of uterine fibroids. In fact, in the first trimester of pregnancy, about one-third of all fibroids grow, but shrink after delivery. In general, uterine fibroids shrink after menopause, but hormone therapy after menopause can cause their symptoms to persist.
Other causes of fibroids are as follows:
- Race: Studies show that fibroids are more common in African American women.
- Age: One study concluded that white women younger than 35 years of age have faster-growing tumours compared to white women older than 45 years. Also, waiting to get pregnant until age 30 or older puts women at higher risk of developing uterine fibroids.
- Early menstruation: Having your first period at an early age increases the risk of developing fibroids.
- Caffeine and alcohol: A 2016 study found a link between alcohol and caffeine intake and an increased risk of developing uterine fibroids.
- Genetic factors: Researchers have found that some specific genetic changes are linked to fibroid growth.
- General health status: Obesity and high blood pressure may also play a role in the development and growth of fibroids.
- Diet: A diet rich in red meat appears to increase the risk of developing fibroids.
Treatment of Uterine Fibroids (Myomas)
Approximately one-third of women with uterine fibroids will seek treatment due to the severity of their symptoms. Although treatments can range from non-invasive to surgical options, the choice of treatment is usually determined by considering the patient’s age (especially if near menopause) and whether the patient wants to have children, and options such as hysterectomy are ruled out. The treatment approach also depends on the number, size and location of the fibroids. However, most doctors agree that treatment is not necessary if there are no symptoms due to uterine fibroids.
- Hormonal contraception.
- Intrauterine device.
- Antifibrinolytic
- Non-steroidal agents.
- If you do not want to have children, endometrial ablation is another option. During this procedure, the endometrium is destroyed using cold or heat.
- Medicines called gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (or GnRH agonists) can shrink fibroids, but fibroids grow back when treatment is stopped.
- Myomectomy is a procedure in which a thin tube called an endoscope is passed through the cervix into the uterus. The fibroid is shaved and removed while leaving the uterus intact.
- It can reduce fibroids, but they can grow again.
- MRI-guided ultrasound surgery uses ultrasound waves to shrink fibroids and reduce heavy bleeding.
Remember, fibroids, leiomyomas and uterine fibroids refer to the same thing – a non-cancerous tumour in the uterus. Uterine fibroid embolisation is a minimally invasive option that blocks the blood supply to the fibroids, causing them to shrink and die. This minimally invasive outpatient procedure is uterine-sparing and can treat all fibroids during a single procedure, offering less risk of complications and faster recovery compared to traditional surgical procedures.
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What Is a Myoma? Causes, Types, Symptoms, and Treatments