If you have been told you have uterine fibroids, one of the first questions worth asking is what kind. Fibroids are grouped by where they grow in the uterus, and that location often matters more than size when it comes to your cycle and your chances of conceiving. Understanding the main types can help you have a clearer, more confident conversation with your doctor. Here is a simple guide to the types of uterine fibroids and how each one can affect fertility.
The main types of uterine fibroids
Fibroids are non-cancerous growths in or on the wall of the uterus, and doctors classify them mainly by position: submucosal (bulging into the inner cavity), intramural (within the muscular wall), and subserosal (on the outer surface). Some fibroids grow on a stalk and are called pedunculated. A single person can have more than one type at once, which is part of why symptoms differ so widely. For the bigger picture, see our overview of fibroids and fertility.
Submucosal fibroids: closest to the cavity
Submucosal fibroids grow just beneath the lining and push into the uterine cavity — the space where a pregnancy would implant. Even when they are small, they are the type most often linked with heavy or prolonged periods and with challenges around implantation, simply because of where they sit. If you are tracking changes in your bleeding, our guide on uterine fibroid symptoms can help you describe the pattern to your doctor.
Intramural and subserosal fibroids
Intramural fibroids are the most common type and grow within the muscular wall itself. Small ones may cause nothing at all, while larger ones can change the shape of the cavity or contribute to pressure and heavier periods. Subserosal fibroids grow outward from the outer surface; rather than affecting bleeding, they are more likely to press on nearby organs such as the bladder or bowel, causing fullness, pressure, or discomfort. Pedunculated fibroids — those on a stalk — can occasionally twist and cause sharper pain that warrants prompt attention.
How fibroid type can affect fertility
Many women with fibroids conceive without difficulty, so a diagnosis is not a conclusion about your fertility. That said, type and location matter. Fibroids that distort the uterine cavity — particularly submucosal ones — are the ones most often associated with conception or implantation challenges, while fibroids on the outer wall are less likely to interfere. Only a doctor, usually with an ultrasound or other imaging, can map exactly where your fibroids are and whether they are likely to be relevant to your plans. Fibroids and getting pregnant looks at this in more detail.
When to see a doctor — and supporting uterine wellness
Book an appointment if you have very heavy or prolonged periods, ongoing pelvic pressure or pain, or if you are trying to conceive and want your fibroids assessed before or during that journey. Proper imaging is the only way to know what type you have. Alongside medical care, a balanced lifestyle supports overall uterine and reproductive wellness, and AGO's herbal-based products such as AGO Tumor and U Xo Herblux are designed to support uterine wellness as a gentle complement to your routine — never a replacement for diagnosis or treatment. If you would like to talk it through, our care team offers a free wellness consultation.