QUICK SNIPPETS ABOUT FIBROID

Little Facts about FIBROID:

Intro:

Fibroids are non-cancerous (benign) tumors that grow from the muscle layers of the uterus (womb). They are growths of smooth muscle and fibrous tissue. Fibroids can vary in size, from that of a bean to as large as a melon.

Up to 40 percent of women age 35 and older have uterine fibroids of a significant size. Furthermore, African-American women are at an even greater risk of being affected by fibroids, in which as many as 50 percent of black women have fibroids of a significant size.

Causes:

Not exactly sure why fibroids occur but during a woman's reproductive years her estrogen and progesterone levels are high. When estrogen levels are high, especially during pregnancy, fibroids tend to swell and when estrogen levels are low fibroids may shrink, e.g. during a woman's menopause. Heredity may also be a factor. Women whose mothers and/or sisters have/had fibroids have a higher risk of developing them too.

Treatments:

Uterine fibroids can be treated with surgery, including hysterectomy, which removes the entire uterus, and myomectomy, which removes the fibroids but leaves the uterus. Both are major surgeries.

Symptoms:

Most women have no symptoms. That is why most patients with fibroids do not know they have them. When symptoms do develop, they may include:

Anemia (as a result of heavy periods)

Backache

Constipation

Discomfort in the lower abdomen (especially if fibroids are large)

Frequent urination

Heavy painful periods

Pain in the legs

Painful sex

Swelling in the lower abdomen (especially if fibroids are large)

Other symptoms may include:

Labor problems

Pregnancy problems

Fertility problems

Repeated miscarriages