During you childbearing years smooth muscle cells may begin to grown in your uterus. These growths are often called uterine fibroids, but they are also called fibromyomas, leimyomas or myomas. This isn’t cancer, and the growths are not malignant. They are still tumors though, and they are quite common, especially for African-Americans. Most women who have them do not realize they have them. They sometimes shrink after menopause, and they rare for women under twenty.
Uterine fibroids are classified by the part of the uterus they appear in. If they grow on in the uterine cavity, they are known as submucous fibroids. Intramural fibroids appear on the uterine wall. Any outside the uterus are called subserous. ItÂ’s possible, however, for a fibroids to grow so large it falls into several categories.
It would seem that fibroids growth is related to levels of the hormone estrogen. As fibroids are larger during pregnancy and in young adults when the estrogen levels would be quite high and tend to shrink down after menopause when estrogen levels drop considerably. While it is good to have a starting point to think about the development of fibroids, the complete cause of fibroids is not known at this time.
Many people are becoming more aware of the impact of environmental toxins on the human body. I, an alternative therapist, have even noticed a link between these toxins we place in our environment and fibroid growth. It appears that estrogen levels can be low in the body but higher levels of certain toxins will still cause rapid fibroid growth. This can happen in any woman, even post-menopausal women, creating a frustrating circumstance.
While the condition is often unnoticed, it can be problematic, and even dangerous at times. Difficulties caused by fibroids can include difficulty in getting pregnant or infertility, inability to carry a child to term or miscarriage, pain and/or bleeding. Infertility is caused by a compression of the uterus, and miscarriages are caused by the filled uterine cavity having spasms. The most common sign is a heavy period. If the uterine fibroids are very large they can even cause symptoms associated with other organs in the body such as the bowel and bladder. These large fibroids are usually the most serious.
Even though you may not have any signs from uterine fibroids, they can sometimes be easily detected during routine exams like pap smears or on ultrasound. Once detected there are many treatment options which include drugs and different surgeries. Medication can be used to lower estrogen levels which also prevent pregnancy and can cause some side effects. For very large fibroids your doctor may prefer to take a surgical measure like a myomectomy to remove the fibroids or a uterine artery embolization which would block off the blood vessels feeding the fibroids. In very severe cases a full hysterectomy or removal of the uterus may be the recommendation.
A hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus in surgery, and should be a lasting cure for fibroids. A hysterectomy is also a drastic choice, and a major procedure which can have long term effects. Choosing surgery is always a big step, and in many cases involves a lot of risk. It is not a choice to be made without great need, and thought put into the decision.
If you are hoping to avoid a series of escalating medical interventions, and who wouldn’t?, there are some alternative therapies available. Herbal supplements like FibroidClear are formulated to reduce inflammation, and they may shrink fibroids by more naturally regulating hormone levels. Body cleansing can also rid your body of fibroid-friendly toxins, and it can be used with other fibroid remedies.
I hope this answers any questions you had about uterine fibroids . If you found this helpful, you can watch some more in-depth videos on my webiste, and sign up for a free report on how to shrink fibroids naturally. http://www.fibroidsetc.com/what-are-fibroids/