Do Fibroids Go Away on Their Own?

Uterine fibroids are benign growths on the uterus experienced by up to 80% of women. They may cause no symptoms and go away during menopause, but some require treatment.

Uterine fibroids (also called uterine leiomyomas or myomas) are noncancerous tumors that form in the muscle of the uterus. Fibroids can form inside or outside of the uterus. 

Fibroids are extremely common and about 80% of women will develop fibroids in their lifetime.

Fibroids may not cause any symptoms. When fibroids do cause symptoms, they may include:

• Heavy menstrual periods
• Painful menstrual cramps
• Pain, pressure, or a feeling of fullness in the abdomen
• Abdominal swelling
• Urinary frequency
• Constipation
• Infertility
• Lower back pain
• Fatigue from heavy periods
• Painful sexual intercourse 

The cause of fibroids is unknown. 

Fibroid development may be associated with the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. When estrogen levels are high, fibroids tend to grow, and when estrogen levels are low, fibroids may shrink. 

Other factors that may influence the development of fibroids include: 

• Genetics: fibroids tend to run in families
• Being overweight or obese
• Consumption of red meat, alcohol, and caffeine is associated with an increased risk of fibroids

Fibroids may be suspected if a doctor determines the uterus is enlarged or has an irregular shape. Many women don’t know they have uterine fibroids because they have no symptoms. 

Tests used to confirm fibroids or to rule out other conditions include:

• Pelvic ultrasound 
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
• Hysteroscopy 
• Laparoscopy

If fibroids do not cause symptoms, no treatment is needed. Fibroids may go away on their own if estrogen levels in the body decrease. This typically happens during menopause, but may also occur when taking certain medications, such as gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or antagonists.

For those who have problematic symptoms, treatment for fibroids includes medications or surgery. 

Medications used to treat fibroids include: 

• Iron and vitamins for women who are anemic due to heavy periods
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve Naprosyn) for menstrual cramps 
• Hormonal birth control including pills, skin patches, vaginal rings, shots, hormonal intrauterine devices (IUDs), and implants to reduce bleeding, cramps, and pain during menstrual periods and to correct anemia
• Antifibrinolytic medicines such as tranexamic acid (Lysteda) to help slow menstrual bleeding quickly 
• Progesterone receptor modulators to stop heavy menstrual bleeding and cause some fibroid shrinkage
• Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues to cause the ovaries to temporarily stop producing estrogen and progesterone and reduce heavy menstrual bleeding

Types of surgery used to treat fibroids include: 

• Myomectomy: surgical removal of fibroids
• Endometrial ablation: destroys the lining of the uterus 
• Uterine artery embolization or uterine fibroid embolization: cuts off the blood supply to the fibroids
• Hysterectomy: surgical removal of the uterus