In the United States, about 25 percent of all women have been diagnosed with a non-cancerous tumor in their uterus. More commonly referred to as myomas or fibroids, these growths are the most common reason for a woman to undergo a hysterectomy in the country. So, what are fibroids?
Definition
Uterine fibroids usually present as rubbery nodules. They start out as irregular cells but grow into masses consist of smooth muscle and connective tissue. Sizes of these fibroids can be as small as peas or as big as a basketball. Some women are diagnosed with just a single myoma while others are found to have multiple growths.
Symptoms
To better answer your question, “What are fibroids?”, you will also need to know the common symptoms associated with this condition. Usually, these uterine myomas are asymptomatic but some women experience heavier-than-usual menstruation flow or longer menstrual period, menstrual cramps, irregular bleeding, constipation, abdominal bloating, feeling the need to urinate all the time, backache and infertility. Women who miscarry are also checked for the presence of fibroids.
Causes
To date, there is no known single cause for uterine fibroids although health experts have pinpointed several risk factors. You are more likely to have these growths if the women in your family have them. Women of Jewish and African -American decent are also three times more at risk. High estrogen levels are also linked to uterine fibroids as well as previously-diagnosed endometriosis.
Diagnosis and Treatment
A simple trip to your gynecologist for a routine pelvic exam can easily uncover the presence of fibroids. If your doctor found your uterus to be enlarged, lumpy or irregularly-shaped, a blood test and Pap smear will be ordered to rule out other health conditions. In most cases, an ultrasound test is performed in order to confirm the presence of these fibroids.
If you are among those women who exhibit no symptoms, your doctor will not recommend any treatment. But if the fibroids are causing heavy bleeding, pain and discomfort and are suspected to be the cause of your inability to conceive, your doctor will recommend either a myomectomy or hysterectomy. Treatment options will also vary depending on your overall health condition and age.
Prognosis
Most women who were found to have asymptomatic uterine fibroids live a normal and healthy life under regular monitoring of their doctors. If the myoma grows, the option to have it surgically removed will then be considered. On the other hand, those who chose to undergo myomectomy are likely to repeat the procedure since rate of recurrence is about 40 percent. Shrink Your Fibroids By Up to 86%!
Fortunately, there are alternative methods to decreasing the size of fibroids.