Fibroids

Almost always benign, these masses of muscle tissue can quietly grow in your uterus for years without causing any problems. One-fourth of white women, and almost half of all African-American women, will get fibroids, usually between the ages of 30 and 50.

Symptoms: Fibroids are usually symptomless. In 20 to 50 percent of cases, women have heavy, prolonged, and painful menstrual bleeding, painful intercourse, intermittent spotting, frequent urination, or constipation.

Diagnosis: Doctors can generally detect fibroids through a pelvic exam and an ultrasound.

Treatment: At first, fibroids are shrunk with GnRH analogs. If pain persists, the tumors can be removed through dilation and curettage (an in-office scraping of the uterus); hysteroscopic surgery, an outpatient procedure in which a doctor inserts a slim telescope-like device through the vagina; or myomectomy, when the tumors are removed through an incision. Fibroids re-grow in about 15 percent of cases.

Fibroids also account for 30 percent of all hysterectomies. But don't agree to the surgery until you've thoroughly researched your condition.

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