Other Names:
Fibroids, Uterine Fibroma

Symptoms:
In half of all cases, there are no symptoms. But these growths can cause abnormally heavy and frequent menstrual periods, or even result in infertility. Other possible indications: anemia, fatigue, bleeding between periods, weakness from blood loss, increased vaginal discharge, bleeding after intercourse.


Cause:
A uterine fibroid is a benign tumor, varying in size from a millet seed to a size large enough to fill the entire abdominal cavity. May be single or multiple. The tumors are completely covered by a fibrous connective tissue capsule.

Fibroids rarely cause symptoms before the age of 30, but is common after that age, especially among blacks; 20-30% of women have them. The type of symptoms shown depends on where the fibroids are located. They can exert pressure and cause pain to the bladder, bowels, or even block the urethra (producing kidney obstruction).

When they produce no symptoms, they should be left alone, but should be removed if unusually rapid growth occurs.

If the flow is far too heavy or rapid, you may have interfering fibroids.

Treatment:
• Taking oral contraceptives increases the likelihood of developing fibroids.

• If found, do not take oral contraceptives with a high-estrogen content; the estrogen may make them enlarge faster.

• Over 30% of the hysterectomies done in the U.S. are for the purpose of removing fibroids. But, if possible, do not remove them. Fibroids generally shrink when menopause begins. This is due to the decreased amount of estrogen in the body from that time onward.

• An alternate surgery is a myomectomy, which removes the fibroids and leaves the uterus intact. It is true that there is a slightly higher possibility of complications with a myomectomy, and the results are not always permanent (50% of the time new fibroids will appear). But a hysterectomy works havoc with the hormonal system.