Fibroids are benign tumours of the uterus and are responsible for many unnecessary surgeries, including several hysterectomies. Most women have no symptoms, or if they do have some, they are very mild. It has been shown that in 80% of women who opted for systematic surveillance instead of surgery, there has been no significant change in symptoms and overall health status after one year.

There is no indication that they may go into malignancy. MRI showed that they are found in more than 75% of women. By ultrasound, they are detected in 40% of white women, at the age of 35, and in 70%, at the age of 50.