Fibroids - Women's Health
Page 2 » Uterine Fibroids
Page 3 » Uterine Fibroids
St George's Hospital serves a mixed population of women including caucasians, black African, Afro Carribean and Asian.
A myoma clinic has been set up to deal with the large number of women presenting with fibroids. All forms of treatment options for fibroids are available.
The Fibroid Centre's aims are: To offer a wide range of treatment options for fibroids including transcervical resection of fibroids and Uterine Artery Embolisation to conduct research into the causes, protection and treatment of fibroids in order to improve treatment methods; to make the existing treatment modalities safer for women.
FAQs on Uterine Fibroids
Have you been told you are suffering from uterine fibroids? Or do you have any doubts in your mind about how fibroids may affect you? Here is some information you might find useful.
What are fibroids?
Fibroids are muscular tumors that grow in the wall of the uterus (womb). Another medical term for fibroids is ‘leiomyoma’ or just ‘myoma’. Fibroids are almost always benign (not cancerous). Fibroids can grow as a single tumor, or there can be many of them in the uterus. They can be as small as an apple seed or as big as a grapefruit. In unusual cases they can become very large.
Why should I know about fibroids?
About 1/3rd to half of all 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 (tummy) to enlarge, making a woman look pregnant.
Are there any risk factors which can increase my chances of developing fibroids?
There are various factors that can predispose a woman to develop 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
Black women are more likely to develop fibroids than White women. The risk in women of Asian origin appears to fall in between.
• 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.
• In the past, the contraceptive pill was thought to increase the risk of fibroids, but that was when the pill contained higher levels ofestrogen than it does today. Some studies suggest that the newer combined pill (oestrogen and progestogen) and the mini pill (progestogen only) may actually help prevent or slow the growth of fibroids.
Can my diet have anything to do with the fibroids?
• Although there is not enough proof, red meat and soy have been implicated in contributing to the growth of fibroids. A low fat, high fiber diet is probably the best. Eating organic meats, fruits & vegetables, and dairy will help eliminate xenoestrogens such as chemical pesticides and human growth hormones that can mimic estrogen in the body. Avoid alcohol, sugar and saturated fats.
Where can fibroids grow?
Most fibroids grow in the wall of the uterus. Doctors put them into three groups based on where they grow:
• Submucosal fibroids grow into the uterine cavity.
• Intramural fibroids grow within the wall of the uterus.
• Subserosal 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 fibroids.
What are the symptoms of fibroids?
Most fibroids do not cause any symptoms, but some women with fibroids can have:
• heavy bleeding (which can be heavy enough to weakness and anemia) or painful periods
• feeling of fullness in the pelvic area (lower tummy area)
• enlargement of the lower tummy
• frequent urination
• pain during sex
• lower back pain
• complications during pregnancy and labour, including a six-time greater risk of cesarean section as well as risk of miscarriage or early labour.
• Infertility ( difficulty in conceiving )
What is the cause of fibroids?
No one knows for sure what causes fibroids. Researchers think that more than one factor could play a role. These factors could be:
• hormonal (affected by female hormone levels)
• genetic (runs in families)
Fibroids grow rapidly during pregnancy, when hormone levels are high. They shrink when anti-hormone medication is used. They also stop growing or shrink once a woman reaches menopause.
Page 2 » Uterine Fibroids FAQs
If you have any queries regarding topic raised within this article please do not hesistate to contact the Women's Health Clinic via the email form at the bottom of the page or by calling our London clinic on 020 8947 9877.
