What are uterine fibroids? Uterine fibroids ( a.k.a. fibromyomas, leimyomas or myomas) are “garden variety” tumors made of smooth muscle cells that occur in the uterus during the ovulating years. Uterine fibroids are not malignant, not related to cancer, but are classified as a type of tumor. They often go unnoticed by many women and have been known to shrink after menopause. Fibroid tumors occur more often in the African-American community and are rarely seen in young women 20 years old or younger.
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.
The medical cause of fibroid development is not yet known, but levels of the hormone estrogen seem to be connected. When estrogen levels are high, such as during the ovulating years or pregnancy, fibroids increase in size. When the levels fall,such as during menopause, fibroids get smaller.
One alternative theory relates the causes of fibroids includes to environmental toxins. Some toxins can cause reactions in the body similar to the effects of estrogen, and this may cause fibroids to grow rapidly. This can occur even in post-menopausal women.
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.
Medical staff routinely check for fibroids during a pelvic examination. Ultrasound exams can also uncover previously unknown tumors. Treatment includes hormone regulation which may cause temporary infertility and other unwanted side effects. In the most extreme cases, medical staff utilize surgical procedures to remove the growths, including myomectomies to remove fibroids, uterine artery embolization which cuts off the blood supply to the fibroid tumor, or when all other treatments fail, hysterectomies are performed.
Hysterectomies are a permanent fix to problematic fibroids. However, as with any surgical procedure there are risks to be considered. Once this step is taken it cannot be reversed. There can be danger in damaging nearby organs and structures during surgery or fibroid growth post-hysterectomy in the space left behind or on any pieces of uterus remaining. Your health is affected for the rest of your life as hormone therapy is needed to correct the lack from your uterus.
Thankfully, there are alternative therapies out there for women to consider when dealing with fibroids. It depends on the symptoms and the severity of the case, but herbal supplements can help in shrinking fibroids and decreasing their symptoms. Body cleansing is another option. This allows you to clear the body of all toxins which may cause the fibroids to grow.
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