all things about fibroids
Fibroids are abnormal tissue growth on the muscles of the uterine walls. They are non-cancerous tumors and non-fatal. Extreme cases have occurred in which cancerous, or malignant, tissue growth on the muscles in the uterine wall have developed. These are called leiomyosarcoma of the womb. These cases are very rare.
Fibroids are also known as myomas, fibromyomas, or uterine fibroids. They can vary in size. The small ones don't usually bring about uncomfortable symptoms. However, they can grow up to the size of a melon. The large ones can be intolerably painful for patients.
Fibroids, called Uterine Fibroma when referred to in its singular, are not rare. Women between the ages of 30 and 50 are highly at risk to develop fibroids. At least 20% of all women are affected at some point in their lifetime. Overweight women are at higher risk significantly when compared to those women with normal weight.
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| Fibroids Treatment, Causes and symptoms |
What causes fibroids?
Causes of fibroids have yet to be discovered. It has been shown though that high levels of estrogen, especially during pregnancy, tend to increase fibroid growth. And the reverse is true in which low levels of estrogen tend to cause fibroids to shrink.
What are the symptoms of fibroids?
Most women don't even know they have fibroids because there are usually no symptoms. However, when the fibroids grow big, symptoms may develop.
- Heavy periods, resulting in anemia
- Painful periods
- Backache
- Constipation
- Frequent Urination
- Discomfort/pain in the lower abdomen
- Pain in the legs
- Painful sex
- Swelling in the lower abdomen
Fibroids can be a great issue for women who want to conceive or who are pregnant. Such issues are labor problems, pregnancy problems, fertility problems, and repeated miscarriages.
What are the treatment options for patients with fibroids?
For patients who do not display symptoms, and/or whose day to day lives are not affected by their fibroids, may not even require any treatment at all. Some women who have some symptoms, say for example, heavy periods, opt to forego treatment.
Those who are older and about to go to menopause, and whose symptoms do not affect their lifestyles too much, just wait for their menopause to start. Menopause causes the fibroids to shrink and symptoms usually disappear during these years.
The symptoms on others are quite severe and intolerable. These women are treated through medication, and others need surgery.
Other fibroids patients have it so bad that they required hysterectomy. This is the surgical removal of the whole uterus, and may include the ovaries as well. This is a problem with younger women who desire to have children.
