Ever wondered what a fibroid is? They also go by the names of fibromyomas, leimyomas, or myomas, and they are smooth little muscle cell growths which are found inside the uterus of women of childbearing age. These growths are not dangerous or cancerous, but they are considered to be tumors. They are very commonly found, but often go unnoticed by most women, and they frequently shrink or disappear when a woman hits menopause. Uterine fibroids are more often found in black women, and are rarely found in women younger than 20 years of age.
The types of uterine fibroid tumors include: submucous fibroids, which have a tendancy to develop in the uterine cavity; intramural fibroids on the uterine wall; and subserous fibroids which show up in areas other than the uterous. Some fibroids grow beyond one of the areas described above and must be classed in two or more catagories.
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.
Toxins can also have a profound impact on the growth of fibroids. Carbon chlorines, used in many pesticides; phthalates, widely used in the plastics industry to soften PVC; and dioxin can all mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen This can be frustrating for both post menopausal women and their medical staff as identification or removal of the offending chemical or chemicals is nearly impossible.
Fibroids can be harmful to the surrounding tissues and membranes, contributing problems that range from pain and bleeding to miscarriages and infertility. Common symptoms include heavy uterine bleeding that occurs during the menstrual cycle. Large fibroids cause pain and discomfort when they interfere with organs such as the bowel and bladder, and are at the heart of the most serious symptoms. An enlarged fibroid tumor causes infertility through compression of the uterus, or else causes miscarriages when the fibroid fills the uterine cavity and causes it to spasm.
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.
A hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure, with all the risks that go with that, though it will almost certainly put an end to your fibroids.
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.
If you or a loved one has fibroids and you would like more information about this condition, you can watch some more in-depth videos on my website, and sign up for a free report on how to shrink fibroids naturally. http://www.fibroidsetc.com/what-are-fibroids/