22/03/2021
UTERINE FIBROIDS
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growth of the uterus that often appears during child bearing years. Fibroids range in size from seedlings, undetectable by the human eye, to bulky masses that can distort and enlarge the uterus. You can have a single fibroid or multiple ones.
Symptoms
Many women who have fibroids don’t have any symptoms. For women who have symptoms, the most common signs and symptoms of uterine fibroids include:
• Heavy menstrual bleeding
• Menstrual periods lasting more than a week
• Pelvic pressure or pain
• Frequent urination
• Difficulty emptying the bladder
• Constipation
• Backache or leg pains
Visit your doctor if you have:
• Heavy and prolonged or painful periods
• Bleeding or spotting between periods
• Pelvic pain that doesn’t go away
• Difficulty emptying your bladder
• Sudden unexplained low red blood cell count(anemia)
Causes
a) Hormones
b) Genetic changes
c) Extracellular matrix (ECM)
d) Other growth factors
Pregnancy and Fibroids
Fibroids rarely interfere with pregnancy. Nevertheless, sub-mucosal fibroids can cause pregnancy loss or infertility.
Fibroids can also increase risk of pregnancy complications including fetal growth restriction, placental abruption and preterm delivery.
Prevention
Healthy lifestyle choices such as maintaining a normal weight and eating fruits and vegetables.
Use of hormonal contraceptives reduces risk of fibroid.
