Although it is no bigger than a pea, the pituitary gland, located at the base of the brain just beneath the hypothalamus, is considered the most important part of the endocrine system. It's often called the master gland because it makes hormones that control several other endocrine glands.
If your tumor is very small, or if you are going through menopause, you may not have any symptoms. Fibroids may shrink during and after menopause. Symptoms of fibroids may include: 1  heavy bleeding between or during your periods that includes blood clots. 2  pain in the pelvis and/or lower back. 3  increased menstrual cramping. 4  increased urination. 5  pain during intercourse. 6  menstruation that lasts longer than usual. 7  pressure or fullness in your lower abdomen.
Fibroid symptoms to watch for. The tumors may develop at any point during a woman's childbearing years, but tend to appear when she's in her mid- to late-30s and 40s, says Dr. Ascher-Walsh. Because fibroids grow in the uterine wall, the most common symptoms are irregular bleeding and heavy periods. For many women, fibroids remain small and slow-growing. But when they do grow larger, they can cause symptoms related to their size. For example, you might experience pressure in your abdomen, or feel like you have a mass in your pelvis, or that you're in the early stages of a pregnancy, says Dr. Ascher-Walsh.