Uterine fibroids are growths commonly found inside the uterus that are not cancerous. These growths will most often appear during a woman’s childbearing years. Fibroid tumors are so common that as many as three out of four women will develop these tumors, although all will not require treatment.
The location of the tumor will influence the type of symptoms you will experience. A sub mucosal fibroid tumor is located in the inner cavity of the uterus. These tumors are thought to be responsible for heavy bleeding during periods. Sometimes the bleeding can become so heavy that a woman will become anemic.
Subserosal fibroids are tumors that can project to the outside of the uterus. These can press on the bladder causing frequent urination. Sometimes they will project from the back of the uterus and press on the rectum, causing chronic constipation. If the tumor presses on the nerves in the lower back you can experience back pain or leg pain.
Doctors are not sure what causes uterine fibroids. They are formed when a single cell from the smooth muscle of the uterine tissue reproduces repeatedly without control. This repeated reproduction will form a solid mass that protrudes from the uterine wall.
Fibroids will range in size. Some will be as small as a tiny seed, while others can grow to the size of a grapefruit or even larger. There have been cases when fibroids have grown so large they have distorted the uterus enough to press up on the rib cage.
While the cause of this abnormal growth of cells causing uterine fibroids is still a mystery, there are a few theories scientists are exploring to determine if a cure or prevention can be found. One theory is that the fibroids are actually a genetic alteration in the gene code for uterine tissue. This genetic alteration is what causes the cells to continually reproduce in one area, forming a mass.
Other potential causes of the overgrowth of tissue resulting in fibroid tumors are the hormones estrogen and progesterone. These tumors grow under the influence of these two hormones, so it is possible that women who produce a large amount of estrogen and progesterone will be prone to uterine fibroids. Once a woman reaches menopause and her estrogen levels drop, the tumors usually reduce in size and no longer cause symptoms.
There are other chemicals produced in the body that may influence the growth of fibroids. Certain substances that help the body to maintain normal tissue can potentially cause the growth of fibroids when they are not produced in enough amounts or the tissue no longer responds to the chemical control.
There are a few risk factors that make it more likely you will develop fibroid tumors. One of these risk factors is heredity. If your mother or sister has uterine fibroids, your changes of developing them are greater than if a member of your family has never had fibroid tissue growth. However, some tumors are so small that your relatives may not have symptoms, nor know that they have fibroids.
For reasons not understood, African American women will have a higher chance of developing fibroid tumors than any other race. They will also develop fibroids at a younger age. The fibroids in African American women tend to grow larger than in women of other nationalities.
Obesity may be a factor in the development of fibroid tumors in relationship to the production and use of female hormones and the chemical substances that control the growth of uterine tissue. More research needs to be performed to confirm this theory.
If you have fibroid tumors and they are making your life miserable, see your doctor. There are treatments available that can shrink these tumors and make life bearable again.
Resources:
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: Uterine Fibroids
http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq074.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20130717T1618353567
University of Michigan Health System: Abnormal Bleeding and Uterine Fibroids
http://www.uofmhealth.org/medical-services/abnormal-bleeding-uterine-fibroids
University of California San Francisco: Fibroids Signs and symptoms
http://www.ucsfhealth.org/conditions/fibroids/signs_and_symptoms.html
MayoClinic: Uterine Fibroids
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/uterine-fibroids/DS00078/DSECTION=causes
WomensHealth.gov: Uterine Fibroids Fact Sheet
http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/uterine-fibroids.cfm
New York State Department of Health: Uterine Fibroids
http://www.health.ny.gov/community/adults/women/uterine_fibroids/
PubMed Health: Uterine Fibroids
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001912/
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