How serious are uterine fibroids?

Abnormal uterine bleeding is the most common symptom.

Heavy uterine bleeding may be responsible for associated problems, such as iron deficiency anemia, social embarrassment, and lost productivity in the work force.

The presence and degree of uterine bleeding is determined primarily by the location of the fibroid; size is of secondary importance.

Urinary frequency can arise from fibroids compressing the bladder, constipation from fibroids pushing on the rectum, and dyspareunia (pain from sexual intercourse) from cervical fibroids proximate to the vagina.

Infrequently, fibroids cause acute pain from degeneration or torsion of a pedunculated tumor. Pain may be associated with a low grade fever, uterine tenderness on palpation, elevated white blood cell count, or signs indicating there is some sort of process going on in the abdomen/pelvis. The discomfort resulting from degenerating fibroids is self-limited, lasting from days to a few weeks, and usually responds to nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs.

Fibroids do not interfere with ovulation, but have been associated with subfertility and adverse pregnancy outcomes in some but not all reviews. Fibroid size, location, and number all appear to have a role in outcome, but it is difficult to quantitate the impact of these factors in combination or individually because of variability among patients.

The risk of infertility is increased when certain types of fibroids.

***If you need more information, please call your doctor- you'll get better information from her/him than you will from most people on this forum.

-random physician

They can be very serious and cause long heavy periods. Usually they can be removed but sometimes they lead to a hysterectomy.
They can be very painful. Ask your doctor about laparoscopy.
not serious. most every woman will have them in her uterus by the time she dies. if they cause you pain or increase your mentstrual bleeding beyond what you feel is normal, you can get them treated.
They can cause heavy and painful periods, and can make it difficult for the woman to conceive. They can be removed by surgery, so talk to your doctor.