My Ultra sound showed I have a small fibroid. Not sure if it's on the inside or outside of my uterus. It has formed within the last year. I thought fibroids were supposed to disappear after menopause? And I thought they were supposed to cause bleeding? I don't have any bleeding. Why is it forming now and should I be worried? I know fibroids are benign tumors but what are the chances that it could be cancerous?

Thanks, Patty

Fibroids are almost never cancerous -- it would be extremely rare. Fibroids are common. My doctor told me that one in three women over 40 have them. Fibroids often shrink after menopause, but don't usually completely disappear. I have a huge one, and am hoping my symptoms from mine become better now that I'm in peri-menopause. Even though mine is huge, it has only bled once. I knew it was the fibroid bleeding, as I was between periods, and I had pain in my right side, where the fibroid is. It was only about the amount of a regular light period. I hope this helps to ease your mind somewhat. Unless they are causing debilatating pain or other severe symptoms, most doctors recommend you leave fibroids alone.

Pattyswind - if the doc thought that anything revealed on the ultrasound could be cancerous, you can bet they'd have organised further investigations, so I wouldn't worry.

At my last ultrasound over a year ago, I was revealed to have two fibroids of 1 cm and 3 cms at that time. I gave up HRT at the time as I didn't want them getting bigger as a result of the estrogen in the HRT. Apart from that however, the GP and the hospital weren't worried. This is a very common thing. At the time I hadn't had a period for several months and thought I was post. It was assumed they would shrink as I'd stopped taking HRT

seacho - I had wondered about fibroids bleeding. When I still had regular periods I got flooding around day 3. In retrospect, this might have been the fibroids. How would you distinguish between an ordinary period and fibroids when you don't have regular periods any more? I had only three periods last year, and those were a surprise (I'd gone ten months without a period prior to the first one). However I think they were proper periods as I had tender breasts, cramping beforehand and they lasted five days, as my periods always had.

The way I could tell mine wasn't a normal period (when my fibroid bled) was that I had a sharp, pulsating pain in the area where my fibroid is. I had it all night, and in the early morning, I woke up bleeding. But I don't know if everyone's fibroid bleeding presents like this. My fibroid is actually on the outside of my uterus, on the top. But apparently it bled INTO my uterus, as I had only had a period 2 weeks before, and I never, ever have extra periods. Yes, I can see to where it could be difficult to discern whether you are having a regular period, or your fibroid is bleeding, especially when your periods are so irregular. Wish I could be of more help.

That's ok, you have been helpful Seaecho. The periods I had were accompanied by normal, period type pains of the uterus so I suspect from what you've said that they were ordinary periods. When you woke up bleeding after the sharp, pulsating pain, did you proceed to bleed for a few days like a period?

I know that fibroids can give more pain according to where they are. When I still took HRT I had the kind of sharp pains you describe on the right hand side of my abdomen. However it wasn't consistent as it sounds it was for you, it would be uncomfortable for a few minutes, then stop or subside. I was investigated for an ovarian cyst and they found two fibroids. The ultrasound technician did show me them on the screen but I couldn't really tell what I was looking at. However she said the larger of the two was on the left hand side of the uterus and the smaller of the two (1 cm) on the right hand side. I had stopped taking HRT abruptly a few weeks before the scan as my GP thought the estrogen in the HRT might be stimulating uterus and ovaries. The pain did stop within a few weeks of ceasing to take HRT so if it was an ovarian cyst, it might have resolved spontaneously.

However I was puzzled why I should experience pain on the right hand side when the largest fibroid was on the left. My husband, who's a doctor (although not a specialist in this area), said that if fibroids are in the wall of the uterus, for example, instead of in the uterus itself, they can cause more pain. I don't know what the situation is with those on the outside of the uterus.

Patty - I know this has been awhile but I was just received the same news and was wondering what has happened with yours? Did you get more tests done? I am post and that was the the first time I have ever had an ultrasound done ever and I have probably had this for years. The Dr was only in there with me for about 3 minutes and did not give me anymore info except lets do another test of putting water up you and then a bioposy(nsp). These tests are very expensive and of course I have to pay the deductable and can you believe she mentioned to have a complete hyst. - Like well sure you want one don't you why not? You don't need this stuff anymore. Oh I am not having any bleeding from this. thanks for any help . Shirley