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What is an Ovarian Fibroma?
An ovarian fibroma consists of a cluster of solid white or tan-colored bonded tissue cells that grow near a woman's ovaries. Fibromas, also referred to as fibroids or fibroid tumors, are benign tumors. This generally means the tumor is not cancerous, although their growth in the body is not normal. An ovarian fibroma can sometimes cause torsion in the ovarian area, which involves the twisting and turning of the ovaries.
Most fibroids develop gradually, having no symptoms and causing no problems. Therefore, a benign fibroma can be left alone when it is not causing the patient any trouble. When problems do arise, a surgical technique referred to as laparoscopic surgery is frequently performed to remove an ovarian fibroma. It is generally considered to be a fast and safe surgical outpatient procedure that requires very little cutting.
In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon makes a few small incisions so that he can get to the tumor within the patient's body. An extended camera connected to a thin, stick-like piece of equipment and a light device are used to perform the surgical procedure. The patient can usually return home the same day after having surgery. Sometimes the ovary can be saved in surgery, but there are times when the ovary must also be removed.
There are several factors associated with fibroid growth. These factors include being overweight, starting the menstrual cycle before the age of ten years old, and never experiencing childbirth, referred to as nulliparity. In the United States, studies have found that fibroid tumors also tend to occur more frequently in black women than in white women. The natural production of estrogen in the body has also been known to be a stimulant of fibroid growth. These growths can be detected in young women as early as age 20.
Sometimes the ovarian tumors are very small, while in other instances, they can grow to be as large as a cantaloupe. After a woman experiences menopause, some tumors have been known to shrink, however. This occurs because the woman's body no longer produces large quantities of estrogen.
Although many tumors are harmless, some can be detrimental to a person's health. The tumor can become dangerous due to the continued and uncontrolled growth of fibroids. At this point, the tumor may become malignant or cancerous. A woman who has been diagnosed with an ovarian fibroma should see her doctor regularly to make sure she remains healthy even after the diagnosis.
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![Overweight black women are at a higher risk of developing ovarian fibromas.]()
By: Felix MizioznikovOverweight black women are at a higher risk of developing ovarian fibromas. -
![An ovarian fibroma consists of a cluster of tissue cells growing near a women's ovaries.]()
By: blueringmediaAn ovarian fibroma consists of a cluster of tissue cells growing near a women's ovaries. -
![A woman who has been diagnosed with an ovarian fibroma should see her doctor regularly to make sure she remains healthy.]()
By: javiindyA woman who has been diagnosed with an ovarian fibroma should see her doctor regularly to make sure she remains healthy. -
![While generally harmless, in some cases an ovarian fibroma may be detrimental to a woman's health.]()
By: michaeljungWhile generally harmless, in some cases an ovarian fibroma may be detrimental to a woman's health. -
![Healthy ovaries are very important for reproductive health.]()
By: Marin ConicHealthy ovaries are very important for reproductive health.
Discussion Comments
I am 63. In January I had normal annual pap and pelvic exams, then another normal pelvic exam in June, but due to several years of recurring yeast infections, went to another gynecologist who felt a large mass near my right ovary during pelvic exam.
Stay with me here. He sent me for an ultrasound and the report said there was a large, solid adnexus mass on or near my uterus and abnormal endometrium. The recommendation was surgery.
I returned to original gyno for a second opinion about surgery and although he looked for the mass manually and with the ultrasound, both intra-vaginally and externally, he wasn't able to visualize it so sent me for a CT scan. The report said my uterus was normal, but there was a large solid mass on or near uterus. During surgery, this was found to be an ovarian tumor that expanded past my ovary and had grown along my fallopian tube. Because of this, it was mobile and could swing up and behind my uterus and avoid detection for a long time -- years.
So, unexplained symptoms like pelvic pain, reduced blood flow to legs, distended belly without gas, occasional feeling light headed, relentless yeast infections for three years were due to this tumor.
Good to know, right? Don't give up on finding the cause of unusual recurrent symptoms! Luckily, it doesn't appear to be cancer. The path report is due in two days.
Many people live with fibroids most of their adult lives without them being a bother at all. My grandmother used to tell us this story, though, and I’ll never forget it.
There was this lady and she was a little on the heavy side; she wasn’t huge, but she was apparently overweight. She was a respected lady who worked hard, raised a nice family and took great pride in all that she did.
However, she started to complain of a little discomfort in the abdominal/pelvic region, and it was determined that she had fibroids which needed removal.
Come to find out she had several of these noncancerous growths, which were indeed taken out. According to my grandmother, the largest one was as big as a small melon.
The interesting thing was, however, that once the surgery was over and the swelling had gone down – she was actually a fairly petite sized woman.
Oh - and everything was fine with her health! She didn't have ovarian cancer or tumors or anything like that. And, the fibroids never came back.
Is it possible to have fibroma of the ovary – even to be checked for them – and everything come back clean?
I have had considerable pain down in the pelvic region. Just a little pressure and it is enough to make me cry some very real tears.
My gynecologist thought at first that it might be fibroids, because the pain is obvious and severe, but she can’t find anything upon palpitation. She also didn’t see anything on ultrasound. At this point she is telling me that she has no idea why the area is as sensitive as it is.
I do having PCOS, but this doesn’t seem to be a symptom of that.
Any insight would be great! This is affecting my whole life in a big way, because the pain is quite unbearable at times.
If you have been diagnosed with ovarian fibroma and suffer from large tumors the doctors you see may consider a hysterectomy to improve your health. This is generally offered to older women or those who don't want children.
There is a new alternative though, that you could ask your doctor about. Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE) cuts off blood flow to the tumor and causes it to shrink. While this doesn't work every time and has its risks, asking your doctor if this procedure is right for you is a good alternative to just pursuing highly invasive surgery right off the bat.
If you suffer from ovarian fibroma you should understand that this might cause complications with pregnancy. While many of these benign tumors are small and not problematic, you should speak to your doctor about your problem before you attempt to have children.
If you have a larger tumor you may need to have it removed prior to pregnancy even if it isn't bothering you. Larger tumors can make it difficult for the baby to have enough room in the uterus. In the worse case scenario, too large tumors can cause a miscarriage due to the pressure they put on the uterus.
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