Uterine Fibroids: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Uterine Fibroids?
An ob-gyn, a doctor who treats the female reproductive system, usually diagnoses and treats uterine fibroids. A surgeon may be needed if the fibroids are removed with an operation. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What are uterine fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are growths in or on the wall of the uterus, also called the womb. They are not cancer. They are the most common noncancerous tumors in women of childbearing age. Fibroids are made of muscle cells and other tissues. They can grow as one tumor or in clusters. Many women have fibroids and do not know it, because they often cause no symptoms.
Symptoms
Many women with fibroids have no symptoms. When symptoms happen, they depend on where the fibroids are, how big they are, and how many there are. Symptoms can include:
- Heavy or painful periods, or bleeding between periods.
- A feeling of fullness in the lower belly.
- Needing to pee often, or having trouble peeing.
- Pain during sex.
- Lower back pain.
- Anemia, which is a low level of red blood cells, from blood loss.
- Trouble getting pregnant, more than one miscarriage, or early labor.
Fibroids that are on a stem may twist. This can cause pain, nausea, or fever. Fibroids that grow fast or start to break down may also cause pain.
Causes and who gets it
No one knows what causes uterine fibroids. Genes and growth hormones may play a part. The hormones estrogen and progesterone also seem to help fibroids grow. Fibroids often shrink when a woman enters menopause, when hormone levels drop.
Your chance of getting fibroids can be higher in these cases:
- You are older. Fibroids are most common in women age 30 to 40.
- You are Black or African American. These women often get fibroids at a younger age, and their fibroids may be larger with worse symptoms.
- Your mother or sister had fibroids.
- You started your period before age 10, or you have never been pregnant.
- You have obesity or low vitamin D.
Your risk goes down with each pregnancy and with long-term use of birth control pills or shots.
How doctors diagnose it
A doctor may find fibroids during a pelvic exam. Imaging tests, which take pictures inside the body, can also find them. In rare cases they grow large enough to look like a pregnancy. Other tests can show more:
- An ultrasound uses sound waves to make a picture of the uterus and other organs in the pelvis.
- Hysteroscopy uses a thin device to look inside the uterus. It goes in through the vagina and cervix.
- Laparoscopy uses a thin device put in through a small cut near the belly button. It can show fibroids on the outside of the uterus.
Treatment
If you have no symptoms, you may not need treatment. If you do have symptoms, the best choice depends on your symptoms, your age, and where the fibroids are and how big they are. It also depends on whether you are pregnant or want to get pregnant later.
Medicines can help with heavy bleeding and painful periods, but they may not stop fibroids from growing. Options include:
- Birth control pills and other hormonal birth control, which are often used for heavy bleeding and painful periods.
- GnRH agonists, which can shrink fibroids but have many side effects, including bone loss.
- A progestin-releasing IUD, which reduces heavy and painful bleeding but does not treat the fibroids themselves.
- Tranexamic acid, which reduces the blood lost during your period but does not stop your periods.
Other procedures can shrink fibroids. Uterine artery embolization (UAE) injects tiny particles into the blood vessels that lead to the uterus. The particles cut off blood flow to the fibroid so it shrinks.
Surgery is another choice. A myomectomy removes the fibroids and leaves the uterus in place, so you may still be able to have children. A hysterectomy removes the uterus. It is done when other treatments have not worked or are not possible, or when the fibroids are very large. You cannot have children after a hysterectomy.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you have heavy or painful periods that disrupt your normal activities or cause anemia. Also see a doctor for bleeding between periods, pelvic pain, trouble getting pregnant, or a fibroid that seems to grow fast.
Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have bleeding that will not stop, severe belly pain or pressure, fainting, or trouble breathing.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Such a doctor can listen to your symptoms, order or review tests, and help you track heavy bleeding. They can also refer you to an ob-gyn and help coordinate your care over time.
Common questions
Are uterine fibroids cancer?
No, uterine fibroids are not cancer. They are noncancerous growths, though rarely they can be linked to cancer.
Can uterine fibroids shrink on their own?
Yes, fibroids can shrink on their own. They often shrink when a woman enters menopause.
Do uterine fibroids cause infertility?
Fibroids may cause infertility, although other causes are more common. When fibroids are thought to be the cause, many women are able to get pregnant after they are treated.
Does every fibroid need treatment?
No, not every fibroid needs treatment.
Sources
- MedlinePlus - Uterine Fibroids
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - About Uterine Fibroids
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists - Uterine Fibroids
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
