image

Several leiomyomas, or fibroids, of various sizes (between 0.5-2.5 cm) in a human uterus that has been removed (hysterectomy). These are fibrous benign (non cancerous) tumours originating from uterine smooth muscle that may lead to excessive menstrual bleeding, pain, and other disorders. At centre is the uterine lumen. (KEYSTONE/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/JOSE CALVO / SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY)