Uterine Fibroid Tumors

Submucosal fibroids are those tumors that are located just below the endometrium, which is the lining of the uterus.  (The mucosa refers to the lining of the uterus. Sub means below.)  While they are the most infrequent type of fibroid, they often cause prolonged menstrual periods and excessive heavy bleeding, a condition called menorrhagia.

Submucosal fibroids are more likely to cause the woman a lot of pain.

Typical symptoms of submucosal fibroids include:

• Uterine cramps and spasms – sometimes these can be very strong and almost as powerful as childbirth.  This is because the uterus is trying to expel the fibroid.

• Heavy periods, as the large fibroid mass increases the endometrial surface, resulting in more menstrual blood

• Lengthy periods, as a result of more blood being shed

Subserosal Fibroids are located in the serosa (outermost layer) and outside the wall of the uterus, also called the womb. They typically grow in an outward direction.

Subserosal fibroids can cause tissue compression on areas that are surrounding it, such as the bladder and/or bowel. They are not generally the cause of excessive bleeding, as they do not affect a woman’s menstrual flow.

They are also called subserous fibroids .

The symptoms of subserosal fibroids include:

• Enlarged uterus – to the extent that you look pregnant when you are not

• Increased desire to urinate – or stress incontinence as the fibroid puts pressure on the bladder

• Severe menstrual symptoms, such as excessive bloating during menstruation

• Digestive complaints such as irritable bowel syndrome or constipation, also due to the pressure a large fibroid can put on the intestines

• Back pains, and shooting pains down the leg, as some large fibroids can put pressure on the nerves that serve the back and legs

Remember, you can have more than one type of fibroid, and I’m just sharing with you information about one type.