Uterine Fibroids

/

In most cases, they sound a lot worse than they are: uterine fibroids are growths which grow in the wall of your uterus, but are almost never cancerous or associated with a risk of cancer

The fibroids, also called leimyomas, will be found in 20 to 80 percent of women before they reach 50 years of age. Often times they are undetectable “seedlings,” but they can also grow so large as to distort and enlarge your uterus.

Doctors still do not know for certain what causes the fibroids to appear. Some of the educated guesses include genetics and hormones gone rogue. We do know that Black women are the most likely to have fibroids, develop them at earlier ages, and in larger masses. Obesity, alcohol consumption, vitamin D deficiency, and a diet high in red meat and low in green vegetables, fruit and dairy can all contribute to your risk of growing uterine fibroids.

There is no single path of growth for fibroids. They may expand swiftly, slowly, or not all. Sometimes they will shrink on their own.

Many women who have uterine fibroids are asymptomatic. For those who do experience symptoms, these may include the following:

  • Heavy menstrual bleeding
  • Menstrual periods lasting more than a week
  • Pelvic pressure or pain
  • Frequent urination
  • Difficulty emptying the bladder
  • Constipation
  • Backache or leg pains

Your gynecologist will likely first discover your uterine fibroids during a routine pelvic exam. After this, or should you complain of uterine fibroid symptoms, your doctor will likely schedule an ultrasound test for confirmation.

If the ultrasound data is insufficient, your doctor may schedule some uterus-specific imaging tests. These can include:

  • Hysterosonography, in which a saline solution is used to expand your uterine cavity and make it easier to get a clear sonogram;
  • Hysteroscopy, which involves the insertion of a small, lighted telescope through your cervix into your uterus;
  • Or hysterosalpingography, which uses a dye to highlight the uterine cavity and fallopian tubes on X-ray images.

Once your uterine fibroids are confirmed, your doctor may decide to do nothing about them. Remember, they are not harmful in and of themselves, rarely interfere with pregnancy, often grow very slowly, and typically shrink after menopause.

If the fibroids are uncomfortable, the non-surgical options open to your doctor include medications called gonadotropin-releasing hormone (Gn-RH) agonists. These will block your production of estrogen and progesterone and place you into a temporary post-menopausal state. Medications which just treat fibroids' symptoms of pain and heavy flows are also an option.

 

Sources: The Mayo Clinic