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Fibroids
Exploring Your Treatment Options
Among the many health care issues that are important to women, concern about fibroids (usually benign [non-cancerous] growths within the muscle and connective tissue of the uterus) is one that a great many women share. According to the National Women's Health Resource Center (In Your Guide To Uterine Health, page 11), an estimated 3 out of every 4 women have fibroids. Most of the time these benign growths in the uterus do not cause any trouble and are not a cause for concern. Most women don't even know they have them.
However, as many as 25 percent of women in the U.S. have fibroids that cause at least some symptoms (Source: National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, Uterine Fibroids). Depending on their location in the uterus, how many there are and their size, fibroids can cause discomfort ranging from mild pelvic pressure to quite severe pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, pain during sex, miscarriages and problems conceiving - problems that often cause significant emotional distress, as well.
One of the most important things to realize is that, - no matter how many women have had fibroids before you, - your physical and emotional responses to the situation are uniquely your own. If you need to make a decision about treatment, it will need to be right for you.
That is why it is vital to learn all you can about fibroids, your specific condition, and the treatment choices available. Historically, benign uterine conditions like fibroids have been the reason for the vast majority of hysterectomies (surgical removal of the uterus) performed in the United States. But a hysterectomy is major surgery, which can have significant health and emotional consequences. For many women, other treatments may be better options, and you should learn all you can about them.
Dealing with fibroids also means that you will be considering health issues that are unique to you as a woman. As you consider your choices, take some time to understand yourself and reflect what is most important to you in terms of your personal health, lifestyle, emotional well-being, fertility and even your sexuality.
What are fibroids?
Although doctors and others may often refer to fibroids as a kind of "tumor" (and by other medical terms like "myomas," "fibromyomas," or "leimyomas"), don't let these words scare you. Fibroids are almost never cancerous. Fibroids are usually benign (non-cancerous) growths that appear within the muscle and connective tissue of the uterus. They usually develop from a single smooth muscle cell that continues to grow. You may have one fibroid or several; sometimes they grow in clusters. Fibroids can vary considerably in size. A fibroid can be as small as a pea, and most remain small. Fibroids can grow to be fairly large, larger than a grapefruit in some cases. Most of the time fibroids grow slowly but others develop more quickly. They typically grow larger over time.
Female anatomy illustration
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Overview of reproductive system
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Types of fibroids
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Who gets uterine fibroids?
Fibroids are most common in women of childbearing age, especially in women between the ages of 30 and 40. Doctors find fibroids in up to 30 percent of these women. Studies suggest that as many as three out of four women have fibroids although they may be undiagnosed because they cause no symptoms.
There is a great deal still to learn about who gets fibroids and why, but researchers (Source: National Institute of Child Health & Human Development, Uterine Fibroids). have identified several possible risk factors:
- African-American women are 3-5 times more likely to have fibroids than white women.
- Women who are overweight for their height (based on body mass index or BMI) also seem to be at slightly higher risk for fibroids than women who are average weight for their height.
- Women who have given birth appear to be at lower risk for uterine fibroids.
- Some studies suggest that women who use oral contraceptives have a lower risk, as well (Source: National Women's Health Resource Center, In Your Guide To Uterine Health, page 11).
Little is conclusively known, however, about why fibroids develop in some women and not in others.
The information in this area of womenshealthsolutions.co.uk will provide you with some basic facts and tools to help you understand fibroids and what can be done about them, and will help you talk with your doctor and other healthcare professionals about your condition and your treatment options.
Learn more about fibroids - what they are, what the symptoms are, and what can be done about them.
Learn more about treatment options for fibroids.
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