What are uterine fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are the most common, non-cancerous tumors in women of childbearing age. The fibroids are made of muscle cells and other tissues that grow within and around the wall of the uterus

Who gets fibroids?
There are factors that can increase a woman's risk of developing fibroids.
* Age. Fibroids become more common as women age, especially during the 30s and 40s through menopause. After menopause, fibroids usually shrink.
* Family history. Having a family member with fibroids increases your risk. If a woman's mother had fibroids, her risk of having them is about three times higher than average.
* Ethnic origin. African-American women are more likely to develop fibroids than white women.
* Obesity. Women who are overweight are at higher risk for fibroids. For very heavy women, the risk is two to three times greater than average.
* Eating habits. Eating a lot of red meat (e.g., beef) and ham is linked with a higher risk of fibroids. Eating plenty of green vegetables seems to protect women from developing fibroids.

Why should women know about fibroids?
About 20 percent to 80 percent of women develop fibroids by the time they reach age 50. Fibroids are most common in women in their 40s and early 50s. Not all women with fibroids have symptoms. Women who do have symptoms often find fibroids hard to live with. Some have pain and heavy menstrual bleeding. Fibroids also can put pressure on the bladder, causing frequent urination, or the rectum, causing rectal pressure. Should the fibroids get very large, they can cause the abdomen (stomach area) to enlarge, making a woman look pregnant.

Where can fibroids grow?
Most fibroids grow in the wall of the uterus. Doctors put them into three groups based on where they grow:
* Sub mucosal (sub-myoo-KOH-zuhl) fibroids grow into the uterine cavity.
* Intramural (ihn-truh-MYOOR-uhl) fibroids grow within the wall of the uterus.
* Subserosa (sub-suh-ROH-zuhl) fibroids grow on the outside of the uterus.
Some fibroids grow on stalks that grow out from the surface of the uterus or into the cavity of the uterus. They might look like mushrooms. These are called pedunculated (pih-DUHN-kyoo-lay-ted) fibroids.

Who is at risk for uterine fibroids?
There are several risk factors for uterine fibroids:
African American woman are at three- to five-times greater risk than white women for fibroids.
Women who are overweight or obese for their height are at greater risk.
Women who have given birth are a lower risk.

What are the symptoms of uterine fibroids?
Many women with uterine fibroids have no symptoms. Symptoms of uterine fibroids can include:

Heavy or painful periods, or bleeding between periods
Feeling “full” in the lower abdomen
Urinating often
Pain during sex
Lower back pain
Reproductive problems, such as infertility, multiple miscarriages, or early labor

Most women with fibroids do no have problems with fertility and can get pregnant. Some women with fibroids may not be able to get pregnant naturally. But advances in treatments for infertility may help some of these women get pregnant.

What are the treatments for fibroids?
If you have uterine fibroids, but show no symptoms, you many not need any treatment.
Women who have pain and other symptoms might benefit from these treatments:

Medications can offer relief from the symptoms of fibroids and even slow or stop their growth. But, once you stop taking the medicine, the fibroids often grow back.

There are several types of fibroid surgery:

Myomectomy – Removes only the fibroids and leaves the healthy areas of the uterus in place

Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE) – Cuts off the blood supply to the uterus and fibroids, making them shrink

Hysterectomy - A more major procedure that removes the uterus; this type of surgery is the only sure way to cure fibroids.

Can fibroids turn into cancer?
Fibroids are almost always benign (not cancerous). Rarely (less than one in 1,000) will a cancerous fibroid occur. This is called leiomyosarcoma (leye-oh-meye-oh-sar-KOH-muh). Doctors think that these cancers do not arise from an already-existing fibroid. Having fibroids does not increase the risk of developing a cancerous fibroid. Having fibroids also does not increase a woman's chances of getting other forms of cancer in the uterus.

What if I become pregnant and have fibroids?
Women who have fibroids are more likely to have problems during pregnancy and delivery. This doesn't mean there will be problems. Most women with fibroids have normal pregnancies. The most common problems seen in women with fibroids are:
* Caesareans section. The risk of needing a c-section is six times greater for women with fibroids.
* Baby is breech. The baby is not positioned well for vaginal delivery.
* Labour fails to progress.
* Placental abruption. The placenta breaks away from the wall of the uterus before delivery. When this happens, the fetus does not get enough oxygen.
* Preterm delivery.

Talk to your obstetrician if you have fibroids and become pregnant. All obstetricians have experience dealing with fibroids and pregnancy. Most women who have fibroids and become pregnant do not need to see an OB who deals with high-risk pregnancies.

 

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