Fibroids, a very common medical condition in women

Globally, July is celebrated as Fibroids Awareness Month as it places attention on the common medical condition that affects women in their childbearing years. Worldwide statistics have shown that between 60 and 80 per cent of women, especially Black women, have fibroids. The National Health Service in the United Kingdom states, “Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that develop in or around the womb (uterus). The growths are made up of muscle and fibrous tissue and vary in size. They’re sometimes known as uterine myomas or leiomyomas.”

Many women are unaware they have fibroids because they do not have any symptoms. The symptoms include, heavy or painful periods, abdominal pain, lower back pain, a frequent need to urinate and constipation, pain, or discomfort during sex. Women can have multiple fibroids which can vary in size from a small seed to as large as a melon. According to the Women’s HealthCare of Princeton, Fibroids may be tiny and described as “seedlings” or grow large enough to alter the shape and size of your uterus. Those that grow on the outer wall of your uterus, which is called the serosa, can develop on a narrow stem that supports the larger growth.

Some women have no symptoms with their fibroids and are surprised when they are discovered during a routine gynaecological exam. Depending on the location of the growth, a fibroid can be felt during a pelvic exam.

Fibroids can cause such heavy bleeding that women may be at risk for developing anaemia. The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) documents that anaemia is a condition when there are not enough red blood cells in the body or their ability to carry oxygen throughout the body is lowered.

According to the Women’s HealthCare organization, large fibroid that pushes the uterus out of shape can also make it difficult to maintain a pregnancy. Many women may have trouble becoming pregnant as a fibroid blocks a fallopian tube or otherwise interferes with the reproductive cycle.

Fibroids can be detected through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which can show the size and location of fibroids and identify different types of tumours. Further, it is not clear yet what causes fibroids, but a few factors that can increase your risk of developing these growths, which may include: early menarche (onset of menstruation), obesity, a diet which includes a high amount of red meat and few green vegetables and alcohol use

Advances in medical technology and treatment techniques allow gynaecologists to choose less drastic measures for treating the benign (non-cancerous) growths. Gynaecologists recommend medications that manipulate female hormones enough to control excessive bleeding due to the fibroids. These medications can shrink fibroids but will not eliminate them. Also, birth control pills can control bleeding but have little effect on the size of fibroids.