Uterine Fibroids are also called leiomyomas, and are benign growths that arise from uterine smooth muscle.  They typically cause heavy uterine bleeding, called menorrhagia, due to the endometrial expansion and subsequent extra tissue growth.  If they are pedunculated (have a stalk), they may cause pain if the stalk gets twisted.  Fibroids contain high amounts of estradiol (E2).  Some fibroids cause no symptoms if they are small.  If they are very large, they may press on the bladder, causing urinary symptoms.

Conventional medical treatment is either surgical removal, or using a Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) agonist, antagonist, IUDs, or uterine artery embolization.

They are classified according to location:

cervical - located on the cervix

intraligamentary - located on a ligament external to the uterus

submucosal - located on the inner wall of the uterus

protruding submucosal - grown on the inner wall of the uterus, extending into the uterine cavity

pedunculated submucosal - grown on the inner wall of the uterus, attached by a stalk

intramural - embedded within the endometrium; also called interstitial

subserosal - grown on the outer wall of the uterus

pedunculated serosal - located on the outer wall of the uterus, attached by a stalk