Often the symptoms of uterine fibroids are undetectable or are mistaken for something else. These fibroids most often occur in women of childbearing age.

What Are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths of the uterus. Uterine fibroids are also referred to as fibromyomas, leiomyomas or myomas. They are not associated with an increased risk of uterine cancer, and the fibroids rarely develop into cancer.

While it is believed that three out of every four women have uterine fibroids at some time during their lives, the fibroids often remain undetected. Uterine fibroids can affect a woman’s menstrual bleeding and they can be responsible for a woman’s inability to conceive.  

Recognizing the Symptoms
A doctor most often discovers fibroids during a pelvic exam or prenatal ultrasound. Unless the fibroids are large enough to cause discomfort, most women aren't aware that they exist. There are some symptoms to look for, particularly if you have had difficulty conceiving:

• Heavy bleeding during menstrual period
• A menstrual period that last seven days or more
• Pain or pressure in the pelvis
• The need to urinate frequently
• Difficulty emptying the bladder
• Constipation
• Leg pain or backache  

The location of the fibroids affect the symptoms, although heavy bleeding is likely to occur in most cases.
 

• Sub mucosal fibroids: A sub mucosal fibroid grows into the inner cavity of the uterus. This type of fibroid is primarily responsible for prolonged, heavy menstrual bleeding. In addition, this type of fibroid may hinder a women’s chance of getting pregnant.
• Subserosal fibroids: A subserosal fibroid grows outward from the uterus. It causes the uterus to project onto other organs. If the subserosal fibroid grows outward by the bladder, it is responsible for the urinary symptoms, including pressure on the bladder, frequent urination and difficulty emptying bladder. If the fibroids project from the back of the uterus, they may press on the rectum causing constipation, or press on the spinal nerves, causing backache or leg pain.

It's easy to dismiss fibroid symptoms or blame them on other causes, such as menstrual cramping. If the symptoms are persistent, or if they get worse over time, schedule an appointment with your doctor. Non-invasive imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, MRI and CAT scans, can be used to diagnose fibroids. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to remove them.