Uterine fibroids are benign growths within the uterus that can result in pain and discomfort. Fibroids are also called leiomyomas, and are made up of smooth muscle and connective tissue, that can range in size from being microscopic to being larger than a grapefruit. One important fact about fibroids is that they are almost always noncancerous, but still may need to be removed surgically in order to treat symptoms. The rate at which they grow is unpredictable, and a woman may have more than one fibroid at a time. Fibroids are very common in women of childbearing age. According to the Mayo Clinic, as many as 3 out of 4 women have uterine fibroids sometime during their lives. It is important to understand that having fibroids does not increase a woman’s risk of developing uterine cancer.