29/01/2018
What you should know about fibroids
Fibroids are usually benign growths in the uterus, formed from muscle and connective tissue. They are quite common, as at least 77% of women will get them in their lifetime, even though they are usually not big enough to be noticed.
There is no one cause of fibroids, instead, it is known that the high levels of estrogen that women are exposed to is linked to their growth. However, women who are overweight, who have never had children and are approaching middle age, or who are approaching menopause are more susceptible to developing these growths.
The symptoms include irregular bleeding between periods, lower back pain, painful in*******se, and pain in the pelvic region.
The most important thing to do when you develop symptoms like this is to visit a doctor. There are definitive tests that can show whether they are from fibroids or something else.
Fibroids usually disappear with time, or shrink down to a manageable size; however, if they are a problem like with women who want to have babies, they can be removed. There are hormonal treatments that target the growths and cause them to shrink. In severe cases and if the fibroids are debilitating, the woman can choose to have a total hysterectomy—that is, a removal of the uterus which will bring an end to the problems altogether.
