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Conditions InDepth: Uterine Fibroids by Ricker Polsdorfer, MD

Uterine fibroids are growths that develop in the wall of the uterus. This is the organ where the fetus develops. Women in their 40s and early 50s are more likely to develop fibroids.

Fibroids vary in size from very small, one inch or less (the size of a pea), to eight or more inches in diameter (the size of a grapefruit). These growths are not cancerous. Usually more than one fibroid is present.

Uterine Fibroid

References:

Leiomyoma. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/ . Updated May 22, 2012. Accessed August 16, 2012.
Uterine fibroids. The National Uterine Fibroids Foundation website. Available at: http://www.nuff.org/health_uterinefibroids.htm . Accessed August 16, 2012.
Uterine fibroids fact sheet. Womens Health.gov website. Available at: http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/uterine-fibroids.cfm . Updated May 13, 2008. Accessed August 16, 2012.

Last reviewed September 2012 by Andrea Chisholm

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Conditions InDepth: Uterine Fibroids by Ricker Polsdorfer, MD

Uterine Fibroid

References:

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