Benign Uterine Growths
(Growths Of The Womb)

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Medical Author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
Previous Contributing Medical Author: Carolyn J. Crandall, MD, MS, FACP

• What are uterine growths?
• Uterine fibroids
  • What are uterine fibroids?
  • What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?
  • If uterine fibroids are benign, why are they the reason for so many hysterectomies?
  • What are the complications of uterine fibroids?
  • How are uterine fibroids diagnosed?
  • What is the treatment for uterine fibroids?
    • Surgical removal of uterine fibroids
    • Surgery for uterine fibroids
    • Complications of uterine fibroid surgery
    • Other medical treatment for uterine fibroids
    • Find a local Obstetrician-Gynecologist in your town
• Adenomyosis
  • What is adenomyosis?
  • What are the symptoms of adenomyosis?
  • How is adenomyosis diagnosed?
  • How is adenomyosis treated?
• Uterine polyps
  • What are uterine polyps?
  • What are the symptoms of uterine polyps?
  • How are uterine polyps diagnosed and treated?

What are uterine growths?

Uterine growths are tissue enlargements of the female womb (uterus). Uterine growths can be caused by either harmless or dangerous conditions. Growths are sometimes referred to medically as masses or tumors. An example of a harmless (benign or non-cancerous) growth, which does not pose a threat, is a polyp of the cervix. Some growths, such as uterine fibroids, are benign, but they can still cause some annoying problems, such as bleeding. Other dangerous growths of the uterus include cancerous (malignant) growths.

While the majority of uterine growths are benign, cancers of the uterus do occur. This article will discuss the benign conditions that cause uterine growths or masses. Benign growths, or non-cancerous, growths include uterine fibroids, adenomyosis, and uterine polyps. For information about cancer of the uterus, please see the Uterine Cancer article.

Anatomy

The uterus (or womb) is a hollow, pear-shaped organ that is located in a woman's lower abdomen between the bladder and the rectum. The narrow, lower portion of the uterus is the cervix; the broader, upper part is known as the corpus. The cervix forms the transition between the uterus and the vagina. The vagina, or birth canal, connects the uterus to the outside of the body.

Uterine Fibroids