| Fibroids are the most common non-cancerous tumors | | | | Sudden, severe pain due to a pedunculated fibroid |
| in women of childbearing age. Fibroids are made of | | | | The most common symptom is prolonged and heavy |
| muscle cells and other tissues that grow in and around | | | | bleeding during menstruation. This is caused by fibroid |
| the wall of the uterus, or womb. The cause of fibroids | | | | growth bordering the uterine cavity. In severe cases, |
| is unknown. Risk factors include being | | | | heavy bleeding may last as long as 2 weeks. Fibroids |
| African-American or being overweight. | | | | rarely bleed between periods, except in a few cases |
| Fibroids Causes | | | | of very large fibroids. |
| Fibroids are most common in women aged 30-40 | | | | Fibroids Diagnosis |
| years, but they can occur at any age. Fibroids occur | | | | Diagnosis is usually accomplished by bimanual |
| more often in black women than in white women. | | | | examination, better yet by gynecologic |
| They also seem to occur at a younger age in black | | | | ultrasonography, commonly known as "ultrasound." |
| women and grow more quickly. | | | | Sonography will depict the fibroids as focal masses |
| Never having given birth to a child (called nulliparity) | | | | with a heterogeneous texture, which usually cause |
| Onset of your period prior to age 10 | | | | shadowing of the ultrasound beam. In cases where a |
| African American heritage (occurring 3-9 times more | | | | more precise assay of the fibroid burden of the uterus |
| often than in Caucasian women) | | | | is needed, also magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can |
| Obesity is associated with the presence of uterine | | | | be used to definite the depiction of the size and |
| fibroids. (Of course, which came first -- the weight or | | | | location of the fibroids within the uterus. |
| the fibroids -- is still an unanswered question.) | | | | How are fibroids treated? |
| Consumption of beef, red meat (other than beef), and | | | | There are many treatments for women with fibroids. |
| ham has been associated with the presence of uterine | | | | Medicine can shrink some fibroids. Some women need |
| fibroids. | | | | surgery. A new way to treat women with fibroids is |
| Fibroid Symptoms | | | | called uterine fibroid embolization. |
| Most fibroids don't cause symptoms-only 10 to 20 | | | | Androgens. Your ovaries and your adrenal glands, |
| percent of women who have fibroids require | | | | located above your kidneys, produce androgens, the |
| treatment. Depending on size, location and number of | | | | so-called male hormones. Given as medical therapy, |
| fibroids, they may cause: | | | | androgens can relieve fibroid symptoms. |
| Heavy, prolonged menstrual periods and unusual | | | | Vaginal, or hysteroscopic, myomectomy. Performed |
| monthly bleeding, sometimes with clots. This can lead | | | | through the vagina and cervix, this procedure uses an |
| to anemia. | | | | instrument called a resectoscope, which allows |
| Pelvic pain and pressure | | | | surgeons to view the uterine fibroids through a small |
| Pain in the back and legs | | | | fiber optic device. The surgeons are able to shave off |
| Heavy menstrual bleeding (menorrhagia), sometimes | | | | the fibroid growths using a hot electrified wire. This |
| with the passage of blood clots | | | | technique is used on small submucous uterine fibroids. |