What causes fibroids in the uterus and what the recommended treatment?

The exact cause of uterine fibroids is not known. Fibroids begin when cells overgrow in the muscular wall of the uterus. Once a fibroid develops, the hormones estrogen and progesterone appear to influence its growth. A woman's body produces the highest levels of these hormones during her childbearing years. After menopause, when hormone levels decline, fibroids usually shrink or disappear.
Estrogen is thought to play a major role in fibroid growth because fibroids tend to grow larger when a woman's body produces more estrogen (during pregnancy), and usually shrink when a woman's body produces less estrogen (after menopause). Progesterone also seems to stimulate fibroid growth, even when estrogen is not present. Some women do not receive treatment because they do not have symptoms. Other treatments include: pain medication, medical therapy, and surgery to remove just the fibroid, to cut off the blood supply to the fibroid, or to remove the entire uterus.
Doctors are exploring less-invasive surgeries and hormone therapy as other options. Source(s): I am a nurse for over 20 yrs