By, AJIMA JACKSON
Fibroids,
specifically uterine fibroids, are a common health issue among women during
their childbearing years. Exact statistics of women affected by fibroids is
difficult to determine since they generally have no symptoms.
The OWH
claims that
anywhere from 20% to 80% of women will develop uterine fibroids by the time
they are 50. On the other hand, the Mayo
Clinic claims
as much as 3 out of 4 women will have uterine fibroids during their life. It is
extremely likely that you have or have had uterine fibroids if you are a woman
between the ages of 30 and 50.
“African-American
women are three times more likely to get fibroids than other women. In
African-American women, fibroids also seem to occur at a younger age, grow more
quickly, and are more likely to cause symptoms. Overweight and obese women also
are at higher risk of fibroids.” – Womenshealth.gov
There is
much misinformation about uterine fibroids going around, especially in relation
to fibroid and uterine cancer. It is important for every women to understand what
fibroids are and how they may affect her health, especially black women.
I’ve battled fibroids and more than half of the women in my circle
of friends have fibroids, so I know that the stats have some merit.
What are
Uterine Fibroids?
These
tumor-like growths are benign (noncancerous), often going undiagnosed due to
being so small and causing no symptoms. There is no correlation between
increased risks of uterine cancer in women with fibroids.
Uterine
fibroids are a growth often located on the walls of the uterus, however there
are 5 different types of fibroids that can occur: pedunculated, subserosal,
submucosal, and intramural. Here is a diagram of the locations of types of
fibroids.
Fibroids
are often surprisingly discovered during an ultrasound, MRI or large ones may
be felt during a routine pelvic exam.
What
Causes Fibroids?
There is
no answer as to what exactly causes fibroids. There are some factors that may
increase your risk of developing them however.
The
development of uterine fibroids is affected by the estrogen hormone which
is why the growths occur after puberty and generally shrink at menopause. Women
who begin puberty and their menstrual cycles earlier, before the age of 10,
seem to be more prone to developing fibroids.
If women
in your family have a history of uterine fibroids you will be more likely to
develop them yourself. Uterine fibroids are less common in women who take
birth control and have already had children, but that’s not always the case.
Effects
of Fibroids on Health
Though
most women live totally unaffected by uterine fibroids, and may not even know
they have them, there are occasions when these growths can cause issues.
Typically these fibroids are large in size or are in an area of the uterus that
affects other parts of body.
Some of
the most common symptoms of problematic uterine fibroids includes:
- Unusually long periods (longer than a week)
- Heavy bleeding during period and/or spotting between periods (anemia can be related to this)
- Consistently feeling bloated or having pressure in the lower abdomen
- Lower back pain
- Pelvic pain
- Pain during intercourse
- Constipation
Very
large uterine fibroids may be painful and potentially cause infection if its
blood supply is cut off and it begins to die. This is rare but possible.
Another area in which uterine fibroids may be a concern is for women trying to
get pregnant.
Majority
of the time small fibroids won’t affect fertility or the growth of an embryo in
any way. Abnormally large fibroids or those within the uterus cavity may
prevent the proper growth of an embryo, leaving the women infertile until it’s
removed. They may also cause issues further down the line in pregnancy as the
baby develops.
Symptoms
of uterine fibroids aren’t usually serious but should be diagnosed and treated
as soon as you suspect there is a problem. This is especially important if you
are trying to get pregnant.
Fibroids
and Hormone Imbalances
Despite
having no certain known cause, most medical professionals will agree that there
is a correlation between excessive growth of fibroids and hormone imbalances.
Like
mentioned earlier, fibroids begin to develop after puberty and shrink away
after the onset of menopause. During this time of fertility women have the
highest levels of estrogen they will ever have. Other hormones responsible for
the imbalance theory includes progesterone and xenoestrogens.
Women who
have many uterine fibroids or have issues with the growths tend to have higher
estrogen levels or low progesterone levels. Estrogen causes the cell growth
within the fibroid so too much of the hormone causes abnormal growth.
Similarly, progesterone inhibits cell growth so if the levels are too low you
may still develop fibroids even if you have healthy estrogen levels.
The third
hormone, xenoestrogens, are synthetic or natural estrogen-like hormones that
disrupt the endocrine system. Not only can these hormones mimic estrogen, thus
causing an imbalance, but they also affect all other hormones in the body. They
may cause them to increase or decrease.
Xenoestrogens
could very well be a primary cause of a hormonal imbalance. They also cause a
multitude of other health issues, including weight gain. You can read more
about this potentially dangerous synthetic hormone here.
Treating
and Preventing Fibroids
If you
are diagnosed with fibroids your doctor will likely give you a few treatment
options. If the growths aren’t causing any problems for you, you may just want
to forgo treatment. Women with a family history of fibroids or those who
experience mild symptoms should explore all treatment options with a
medical professional. You can also seek out a naturopathic doctor or
certified herbalist.
The
removal of fibroids can be done with or without surgery depending on the
individual case. Nonsurgical treatment can be as simple as taking a birth
control pill which will help correct the problem by balancing your hormones.
Common surgical methods include myomectomy, uterine fibroid embolization (I had
this procedure), and hysterectomy. A myomectomy is many times suggested for
women wishing to have children or those who are young enough that they may
change their mind later down the line. A hysterectomy is the complete removal
of the uterus and usually suggested to older women who are done having
children or in a very severe cases of fibroid growth. Uterine fibroid
embolization is when the arteries leading to the fibroid are blocked to cut off
the blood supply and shrink it.
There
isn’t much that can be done in preventing the growth of fibroids. However, you
can improve your overall health and lessen the chance of developing problematic
fibroids by eating healthy, whole food and exercising. Limiting contact to
chemicals and other such products will also help to lessen the amount of
synthetic hormones entering your body and causing hormone imbalances. Check
out this link for a
list of the most common sources of xenoestrogens.
Uterine
fibroids are a fairly normal part of a woman’s life in today’s world. Though
the idea of tumor-like growths in your body is very alarming, there is no
evidence of prolonged health issues or an increase in uterine cancer. If you
suspect you have fibroids make an appointment with your OBGYN to have it
checked out.
http://www.blackweightlosssuccess.com/the-basics-what-are-uterine-fibroids/
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