What are uterine fibroids?

Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous growths in the uterus, also known as your womb. Fibroids can be quite variable in size, and you may have more than one. There are three locations around the muscle wall of the uterus where a fibroid may develop:

Submucosal fibroids grow on the inner surface of the uterus.

Intramural fibroids develop inside the uterine muscle tissue itself.

Subserosal fibroids form on the outer surface of the uterus.

The cause of uterine fibroids is not well-understood, though doctors believe oestrogen and progesterone hormones play a role. Because of the decrease in the levels of these hormones after menopause, you may find your fibroid-related symptoms can improve once you pass menopause, and some fibroids may even resolve on their own at this stage.