Escalate concerning symptoms or report language. Severe pain, fever, pregnancy-related symptoms, postmenopausal bleeding, hydronephrosis, obstruction, suspicious or atypical mass language, or emergency concerns should be discussed promptly with a clinician.

Location terms

Reports may describe fibroids as submucosal, intramural, subserosal, pedunculated, or by FIGO type. These terms describe location. They do not decide treatment on their own.

Questions to ask

  • Does this fibroid touch or distort the uterine cavity?
  • Could location relate to bleeding, pressure symptoms, or fertility planning?
  • Would hysteroscopy, saline sonohysterography, MRI, or another evaluation clarify anything?

Why this matters: A fibroid's location — not just its size — often determines which symptoms it causes and which treatments are appropriate. Submucosal fibroids that distort the cavity are more likely to cause heavy bleeding and fertility concerns. Subserosal fibroids pressing on the bladder or bowel may cause pressure or urinary symptoms without affecting bleeding. Asking about cavity involvement specifically helps determine whether your symptoms and treatment options align with the imaging findings.

Other uterine findings

Adenomyosis, heterogeneous myometrium, junctional-zone wording, degeneration, calcification, vascularity, or enhancement may change what your clinician wants to discuss. Avoid turning those words into conclusions without context.

Questions to ask

  • Does the report suggest adenomyosis in addition to fibroids?
  • Is degeneration or vascularity expected, old/chronic, possibly related to pain, or something that needs follow-up?
  • Are any imaging features atypical enough to require radiology review or more imaging?

Why this matters: Adenomyosis and fibroids frequently coexist but are managed differently. Degeneration is a common imaging finding that is often benign but can cause pain. Radiologists and clinicians may interpret words like "atypical vascularity" or "suspicious features" differently — if you see wording that raises concern, ask for clarification or a dedicated gyn-radiology second read rather than assuming it is routine.

Mass effect and obstruction terms

Enlarged uterus, mass effect, bladder or bowel compression, hydronephrosis, and ureteral obstruction are terms to ask about carefully because they may affect timing and follow-up.

Questions to ask

  • Which structure is being pressed on?
  • Is kidney function, urinary retention, or obstruction a concern?
  • Do I need prompt follow-up, urology input, labs, or additional imaging?

Why this matters: Mass effect on the ureters can cause hydronephrosis and, if unrecognized, permanent kidney damage. Bladder compression may contribute to urinary frequency, urgency, or retention that is incorrectly attributed to aging. If your report mentions hydronephrosis or ureteral obstruction, follow-up timing matters — some findings need same-week evaluation rather than routine follow-up. Asking whether your kidney function has been checked and whether urology input is needed can prevent a silent complication.

Ready to build your Fibroid checklist?

Select the topics that apply to your upcoming non-urgent visit and get a personalized question checklist to bring to your clinician.

Build my fibroid checklist

Sources

ACOG uterine fibroids FAQ · RadiologyInfo UFE · NCBI Bookshelf uterine leiomyomata