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Women's fibroids are very common and are usually harmless

	Fibroids affect every woman differently. Not all women who have fibroids get treatment. If you have been told that you have fibroids, whether you are symptom-free or experiencing abnormal bleeding, turn to ConsumerReportsHealth.org to learn the variety of options for treating or eliminating uterine fibroids.
	Subscribe to ConsumerReportsHealth.org for a list of questions that you might want to discuss with your doctor about fibroids.

If you or someone you know is diagnosed with fibroids, you're not alone. Consumer Reports Health can help with the best research about fibroids, and expert evidence and advice about how to treat them.

Key points for women with fibroids

• Fibroids are very common and usually are harmless.
• As many as 7 in 10 women may have fibroids. But less than half of these women have any symptoms.
• The most common symptoms are heavy or painful periods, a feeling of fullness, or discomfort in your pelvis.
• Fibroids are easy to diagnose. Doctors usually diagnose them with an ultrasound scan.
• Fibroids usually don't keep you from getting pregnant or make your pregnancy difficult.

Doctors don't know what causes fibroids. The hormone estrogen seems to make them grow. Some women are more likely to get fibroids because of certain risk factors, including family history, being of childbearing age, and being overweight.

If you have fibroids and they're causing problems, you have a choice of good treatments. The ones that work best involve surgery. But if you're getting close to menopause, you may choose to wait because fibroids usually get better on their own around then. We encourage you to read our entire condition report and to consult with your doctor to learn more fertility problems. As a Consumer Reports Health subscriber, you’ll have access to our expert research and recommendations, and you’ll be more confident and knowledgeable about which treatments are best for you.