What is a fibroid tumor?

Fibroid tumors are small tumors that form within the uterus of many women, according to WebMD. These tumors are most often benign and form from muscle cells within the uterus. They may cause a variety of symptoms and can be removed.

Fibroid tumors form small knots or masses within the uterus, states WebMD. These tumors can be categorized three different ways based on where they are located. Submucosal fibroid tumors are located directly underneath the uterine lining. Intramural fibroid tumors are found between the muscles in the uterine wall, and subserol fibroid tumors are located between the uterine wall and the pelvic cavity.