What are Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids are smooth muscle tumors that appear in the wall of the uterus. Often multiple fibroids arise
over time and range in size from a pinpoint to 25pounds or more! While at least 40% of American women develop
fibroids, they are 5 times more common among African Americans than Caucasians. Factors that may contribute
to uterine fibroids are high fat diets, high protein, red meat, chicken containing unnatural hormones, caffeine,
smoking, alcohol, and birth control pills. Interestingly enough, these factors are also associated
with ovarian cysts, fibrocystic breast disease, breast and ovarian cancer. Many women
with fibroids don’t know they have them, nor do they have noticeable symptoms. Fibroids
are benign growths (i.e. non-cancerous) that can actually arise in muscle tissue anywhere in
the body but are most commonly found in the uterus. Unlike cancer, they do not invade surrounding
tissue or distant organs. Although, while very troublesome, untreated fibroids seldom kill the affected person.
In fact, less than ˝ or 1 percent of fibroids ever become cancerous.
What
are the Symptoms of Fibroids?
1.
Heavy Abnormal Uterine Bleeding: Approximately
1/3
of women with Fibroids suffer from excessive
Bleeding,
where they run the risk of becoming
severely
Anemic or low in Iron
2.
Abdominal PAIN and/or Swelling that may cause:
Pelvic Fullness or a dragging sensation
Chronic Constipation due to interference of
Fibroids
with Bowel Functions
Frequent Urgency to Urinate due to Fibroids
causing
reduction of Bladder Capacity
Unpleasant Cramps due to inflamation of
surrounding
tissue
3.
Tenderness and Fatigue and wanting to eat "ICE"
due
to severe Anemia or Iron Deficiency
4.
Lower-back Pain due to Added pressure in the Abdominal
Area
5.
Infertility: Yes, Fibroids represent 5 to 10% of the infertility
cases because Fibroids can inhibit
implantation
of the fertilized egg in the uterine
lining by altering transport of the sperm, compressing
the fallopian tube, or,
disrupting the lining
of the uterus.
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