Every year, millions of people live with the debilitating symptoms of fibroids in silence. Taraneh Shirazian, MD, founder and director of NYU Langone’s Center for Fibroid Care and associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, shares risks factors and symptoms people need to look out for when it comes to the chronic disease.

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors that grow in and around the uterus, feeding off hormones. They are very common, appearing in up to 80 percent of people by age 50. People can have just one fibroid or many fibroids clustered together, and they can range in size from tiny seedlings to as large as a melon.

When they do cause symptoms, they can be serious—everything from pain to excessive bleeding. Since fibroids are largely noncancerous, many patients are counseled to “watch and wait” with their symptoms instead of getting medical treatment that could improve their quality of life.

“New techniques and treatments have emerged to manage fibroids, but they remain out of reach for many women,” Dr. Shirazian tells the TODAY show. “I am dedicated to expanding access, educating women about fibroid treatment alternatives, and ensuring that each patient feels heard.”

Dr. Shirazian and colleagues at the Center for Fibroid Care are leading an ongoing initiative called the LIFE Study, which aims to assess the impact of lifestyle changes on fibroid growth and recurrence, following the natural course of fibroids over time.

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