What are Fibroids?
Fibroids are the most common type of abnormal
growth in the uterus and the most common reason
for hysterectomy in U.S. women. Although fibroids
are benign, or non-cancerous, their symptoms and
side effects can include pelvic pain, heavy bleeding
and infertility.
The exact cause of fibroids is unknown, but experts
suspect the female hormone - estrogen -- plays
an instrumental role in the formation of fibroids.
Typically, fibroids worsen as a woman enters her
30s and 40s. Then, when estrogen levels drop at
menopause, fibroids may shrink.
Fibroids can range in size from smaller than
an apple seed (one quarter of an inch) to larger
than a cantaloupe (greater than 10 inches), and
can be found anywhere within or on the uterus.
- Submucosal fibroids grow inside the wall of
the uterus.
- Subserosal fibroids grow through the outside
wall of the uterus.
- Intramural fibroids grow within the uterine
wall itself.
- Pedunculated fibroids stem out from the uterus.
When there are no symptoms, fibroids often are
detected only when your physician has manually
felt them during a regular pelvic exam. Often,
the preferred treatment for symptom-free fibroids
is to do nothing at all other than monitor their
growth. Because fibroids can interfere with fertility
and mask other, more serious problems, though,
regular monitoring and accurate diagnosis are
important.
Complete surgical removal of the uterus through
hysterectomy is the only cure for fibroids. But
new treatment options offer effective alternatives
to hysterectomy.
Who gets fibroids?
Almost one-third of women will get fibroids during
their reproductive years, defined as the time
they begin menstruating until they reach menopause.
Although scientists are not sure why, African
American women are two to five times more likely
than other women to develop fibroids.
As a woman ages, her chances of getting fibroids
increase slightly until peaking right before menopause.
Then, as menopause approaches and a woman's estrogen
levels begin to recede, fibroids tend to shrink
and become less problematic. After menopause,
fibroids neither develop nor enlarge unless a
woman takes estrogen supplements.
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