Uterine fibroids are non-cancerous tumors in the lining or muscle wall of the uterus. They can range in size from tiny to about the size of a grapefruit, or in some cases even larger. An estimated one in four women with fibroids have symptoms that are severe enough to require treatment. These symptoms can include bleeding disorders such as abnormally heavy periods (menorrhagia), off-cycle bleeding, severe pelvic pain, painful sexual intercourse (dyspareunia), back pain, leg pain, or digestive or urinary problems due to the pressure of the fibroids on systems and structures in the abdominal area. Another problem caused by fibroids is infertility or miscarriage.
While not all women with fibroids are diagnosed, research has indicated that it is likely that about 80% of all women have uterine fibroids by the time they reach menopause. In the United States, black women are at higher risk of developing fibroids than women of other racial groups, though doctors and researchers do not know why. Also, fibroids tend to be diagnosed in women in their later reproductive years, generally after the age of 35.
In general, no major risk factors have been found for uterine fibroids than being a woman in her later reproductive years, but various research over time has suggested a number of possible correlations. For example, in some studies, researchers have found that women who have had two or more live births have decreased likelihood of developing fibroids, but it was unknown if the lack of fibroids was due to the multiple successful pregnancies or if multiple successful pregnancies were due to the lack of fibroids.
Another factor that is known to affect fibroid growth is the presence of reproductive hormones in the system. For this reason, doctors have had success with hormonal treatments in reducing fibroid size and symptoms, and fibroids usually stabilize in size or shrink after menopause.
While fibroids can be terrible for those who suffer from them, there are a number of constantly evolving treatments for fibroid control and removal, including hormonal therapies, minimally invasive surgery and uterine fibroid embolization, as well as targeted freezing, ultrasound and laser treatments, that can help to alleviate symptoms and restore normal reproductive health.
Women suffering from what they feel may be symptoms of uterine fibroids should contact a doctor or health care professional for an opinion. While women may be right about the cause of their symptoms, it is always best to go to a qualified medical expert make the final diagnosis. This is especially true in the case of fibroids, whose symptoms are frequently shared by a number of other disorders of the reproductive tract, including forms of reproductive cancer. But, though the prospect of a more severe diagnoses may seem frightening, the key to effective treatment is early diagnoses and proactive perspectives on the part of patient and doctor, and with proper precautions, many forms of reproductive illness can be resolved with a positive outcome.
