FIGO fibroid types 0 to 8 explained

FIGO fibroid types 0 to 8

FIGO fibroid types are numbers from 0 to 8 that describe where a fibroid sits in the uterus¹. Low numbers sit in or next to the inner space (the cavity), middle numbers sit in the muscle wall, and higher numbers bulge out from the outer surface. Type 8 covers other places, such as the cervix¹.

A plain-language definition from the ProcedurePath glossary.

Written and reviewed by Varun Danda, MD, interventional radiology resident physician · Last reviewed October 25, 2026

What each number means

Type 0: hangs inside the cavity on a stalk.
Types 1 and 2: bulge into the cavity. A type 1 is less than half in the wall; a type 2 is half or more in the wall.
Type 3: touches the lining but sits fully in the wall. Type 4: sits fully inside the wall.
Types 5 and 6: bulge outward. A type 5 is half or more in the wall; a type 6 is less than half.
Type 7: hangs outside the uterus on a stalk. Type 8: other places, such as the cervix.

Two numbers joined by a dash, such as 2-5, mean a hybrid fibroid that touches both the lining and the outer surface¹.

Why it matters

The number gives you and your care team a shared way to talk about where each fibroid is. Ask what your fibroid’s type means for your symptoms and your treatment options.

Read more: How to read a fibroid MRI report

Common question

What does a hybrid FIGO type such as 2-5 mean?

The fibroid touches both the inner lining and the outer surface of the uterus. The first number describes the inner side and the second the outer side¹.

Talk with your doctor before you decide. This information does not replace personal medical advice. Read the medical disclaimer.

Sources

Munro et al., FIGO classification system (PALM-COEIN) for causes of abnormal uterine bleeding, International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2011 (PMID 21345435) ↩︎