Where do uterine fibroids grow?
Most fibroids grow within the wall of the uterus. Health care providers put fibroids into three groups based on where they grow: • Submucosal (pronounced sub-myou-co-sul) fibroids grow just underneath the uterine lining. • Intramural (pronounced in-tra-myur-ul) fibroids grow in between the muscles of the uterus. • Subserosal (pronounced sub-sir-oh-sul) fibroids grow on the outside of the uterus. Some fibroids grow on stalks (also called peduncles, pronounced ped-uncles) that grow out from the surface of the uterus, or into the cavity of the uterus. What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids? Many women don’t feel any symptoms with uterine fibroids. But fibroids can cause the following symptoms: • Heavy bleeding or painful periods • Bleeding between periods • Feeling “full” in the lower abdomen—sometimes called “pelvic pressure” • Urinating often (results from a fibroid pressing on the bladder) • Pain during sex • Lower back pain • Reproductive problems, such as infertility, multiple mis
