What you should know about Fibroids

Growing up as a young boy, I used to think that only food, fat and foetus can make the stomach big; but I was wrong. I was wrong because I didn’t know about fibroids. In fact, this condition is one of the pathological conditions whose exact causes elude science.

What are fibroids?
Fibroids are tumors that appear in the womb of a woman. They are benign (harmless)

growths that cannot be cancerous. They can also be called fibromas or uterine myomas.  Fibroids occur in women of reproductive age, and according to statistics, between 20-50% of ladies of reproductive age have fibroids. Their sizes range from as small as a pea to as big as a grapefruit. The small sizes of fibroids make them difficult to be detected by a doctor during a physical examination.

What are the causes of fibroids?

So far, scientists are yet to find out the exact causes of fibroids. However, they believe that the genes of a woman, the female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, and other factors could be the culprits. It is supposed that these factors trigger the multiplication of stem cells in the muscular layer (myometrium) of the uterus.

Symptoms of fibroids.
Surprisingly, most women who have fibroids don’t usually feel any symptoms. But in those that do, the symptoms can be one of the following:

·        Heavy/prolonged menstruation

·        Pelvic pain due to the pressure of the tumor on the pelvic organs.

·        Frequent urination

·        Low back pain

·        Difficulty in defecating (constipation)

·        Difficulty in emptying the bladder due to the pressure of the tumor on the organ.

·        Leg pain or backache.

Who is at risk of having fibroids?
Any woman of reproductive age can come down with fibroids. Research also reveals that obese women of African origin are at a higher risk of having fibroids; although, the reason for this remains vague.

What are the risk factors?

 Apart from being a woman of reproductive age, other risk factors that can instigate the growth of fibroids include:

·        Race. According to research, black women are more likely to have fibroids than women of other races, at a younger age and with bigger fibroids.

·        Heredity: We know that some diseased conditions are hereditary in nature. Fibroid is one of such diseases. So if your mother or sister had fibroids, you are at increased chance of developing them.

·        Environmental factors. Indeed, some environmental factors can predispose a woman to fibroids. They include menstruation at an early age, obesity, as earlier mentioned; use of birth control, alcohol, deficiency of vitamin D, eating foods that are rich in red meat and low in vegetables, and low fruit consumption.

·        Early-life abuse. Some team of scientists in the United States has discovered that there is link between child abuse and the development of fibroids later in life.
When is the right time to see a doctor?

You should see a doctor for a proper examination when you start feeling some the symptoms mentioned earlier.

What are the effects of fibroids?

Even though fibroids are not cancerous and do not pose serious threat to life, they can result in one of the following:

·        Anemia (reduced red blood cell) due to heavy bleeding.

·        Miscarriage

·        Infertility

·        Preterm delivery (premature birth)

·        Restricted foetal growth

How are fibroids treated?

There are several methods employed in the treatment fibroids. Some of them include:

·        Removal of the womb (hysterectomy)

·        Surgery. This involves removal of the fibroids only, while the uterus stays intact (myomectomy)

·        Drugs. Certain drugs, such as progestin and Danazol, inhibit the actions of estrogen and progesterone, the female hormones that are some of the factors of fibroids.

·        Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH agonists). Using this technique, doctors are able to reduce the levels of estrogen, which will then trigger a medical menopause. These GnRH agonists help to shrink the fibroids, so that surgery will be smooth.

Can fibroids be prevented?
For now, fibroids cannot be prevented. But there are ongoing researches to find out how women can prevent fibroids. However, you can develop healthy lifestyles that will reduce the risk of fibroids, such as eating more vegetables and fruits, doing regular physical exercise, drinking little or no alcohol etc.

Although fibroids are not cancerous and cannot be prevented, developing a healthy lifestyle may be the “shield” that will protect you. Remember, your reproductive health should be your priority.