July 1st marks the beginning of Fibroid Awareness Month. During the month we bring awareness to all the women who are dealing with fibroids. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, it is estimated that around 20-50% of women in their reproductive ages currently have fibroids.
What are Fibroids?
Fibroids are muscular tumors (almost always benign) that grow in the walls of the uterus, or the womb. Cancerous fibroids are extremely rare, and studies have soon that fewer than one in 1000 fibroids turn out to be cancerous. Fibroids can either appear in the uterus as a single tumor or multiple tumors. Additionally, they can also range in size.
Examples of the different sizes:
Apple seed sized
Cherry sized
Plum sized
Orange sized
Grapefruit sized
Watermelon sized
Causes
The cause of fibroids is unknown, however doctors suspects that it can be due to hormones. This means that if estrogens levels are too high, which can then lead to their growth and development. The other possible cause of developing fibroids is family history. If your mother, sister, or grandmother has a history of fibroids, you may have a chance of developing it as well.
Risk factor include:
a family history of fibroids
30 years old or older
A high body weight
People who are also African American also have a higher risk of developing fibroids than other ethnicities.
Symptoms
Heavy bleeding
Feeling of fullness
Enlargement
Of lower abdomen
Pain during intercourse
Lower back pain
Frequent urination
There are three types of fibroids:
Subserosal fibroids: These are the most common fibroids. They can push outside of the uterus into the pelvis. Subserosal fibroids can grow large at times and sometimes have a stalk that attaches to the uterus (pedunculated fibroid).
Intramural fibroids: These fibroids develop in the muscular wall of the uterus.
Submucosal fibroids: These fibroids are uncommon. They can grow into the open space inside the uterus and may also include a stalk.
During the month of July, it is important that we bring awareness to this condition. This is because many women may not know that they have fibroids, which leaves them untreated. This month, we want to inform and bring attention to this condition in hopes of making a difference and urging women to get the help they need.
Remember, if you notice that you are showing any of these symptoms, and don’t know why, please contact a doctor !
For more information, check out The White Dress Project.
For an interesting of a women who had fibroids, check out this website
Remember, if you notice that you are showing any of these symptoms, and don’t know why, please contact a doctor !
References
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