UTERINE FIBROIDS
(FIBROID UTERUS)
Condition
Uterine fibroids are the most common benign (non-cancerous) tumors in women during their childbearing years, affecting an estimated 15 to 20 percent. They are made of muscle cells and other tissues that grow within and around the wall of the uterus. Fibroids can be as small as a pea or as big as a cantaloupe and may grow as a single tumor or in clusters. Depending on their size and location, they may or may not cause symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they may include:
- abnormal uterine bleeding, which may mean bleeding more than usual during your period, passing blood clots and/or bleeding between periods
- pelvic and lower abdominal pain during your period, at other times or both
- lower back pain during your period, at other times or both
- pain or bleeding when you have sex
- pressure on your bladder causing you to urinate frequently
- pressure on your rectum causing constipation or difficulty moving your bowels
- problems getting pregnant
- painful intercourse
- increased risk of miscarriage.
Causes
The cause of uterine fibroid tumors is unknown, but their growth appears to depend on the female hormone estrogen. They may grow when you take birth control pills, which contain estrogen, and during pregnancy, when estrogen levels increase. They shrink during menopause, when estrogen levels drop. Also, the development of fibroids may be influenced by heredity; if your grandmother or mother had fibroids, you are more likely to develop them.
Because researchers don't know what causes uterine fibroids, risk factors are hard to interpret. However, according to statistics:
- African-American women, who are three to five times more likely to develop them than women of other racial groups
- Women who are overweight or obese are at greater risk of developing them
- Women who have given birth are at lower risk.
WHEN TO CALL YOUR DOCTOR FOR UTERINE FIBROIDS
Call Your 911 Now (you may need an ambulance) If
- You have heavy bleeding and pass out.
Call Your Doctor Right Away (night or day) If
- You are bleeding so heavily that you are changing sanitary pads or tampons every 10 to 15 minutes.
- You have severe pain in your abdomen.
- You have a fever 100 degrees F or higher and also have either severe pain or menstrual bleeding that is heavier than your usual period.
Call Your Doctor During Regular Office Hours If
- You want treatment or prescription medications for your fibroids.
- You need an appointment because your symptoms are getting worse.
- You want your primary care physician to refer you to a gynecologist.
- You are on hormones or birth control pills and want to ask your doctor if you should stop taking them.
HOME CARE ADVICE FOR UTERINE FIBROIDS
- Take your medications exactly as prescribed by your doctor.
- Follow your doctor's advice regarding follow-up visits to see if the fibroids are growing.
- For minor pain or discomfort, try nonprescription medications such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve). Avoid taking aspirin, which can make bleeding worse.
- If fibroids are causing your period to be heavier than usual, take iron pills to help prevent anemia. They are available without a prescription.
- To slow bleeding from heavy periods caused by fibroids, lie down and elevate your feet above the level of your heart. Put cold compresses on your lower abdomen for 15 minutes, three to four times a day.
For More Information Click on the Links Below
- National Women's Health Network Uterine Fibroids
- National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Child Health & Human Development Uterine Fibroids
References
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG Practice Bulletin, Surgical Alternatives to Hysterectomy in the Management of Leiomyomas, Number 16, May 2000.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Precis V, An Update in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Disorders of the Uterus, Leiomomata Uteri, Page 245, 1994.
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACOG Patient Education, Uterine Fibroids, APO 74, 2005.
Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new healthcare information becomes available. The information is intended to inform and educate and is not a replacement for medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional