Daniel Chukwuemeka Okwum
Fibroids are the most common benign tumors of the uterine muscle. The term benign implies that fibroids are non-cancerous tumors. It is common among women of child bearing age and tends to shrink at menopause.
The site a fibroid is
found dictates it's name and also, the sorts of experience the carrier may have. Fibroids
located within the muscle of the uterus are called Intramural fibroids; those attached to the muscle towards the external are regarded at Subserous fibroids;
those attached to the uterus towards the center are called Intracavitary fibroids; those indenting the endometrium are Submucous
fibroids while other forms suspended on a stalk are called Pedunculated
fibroids. Fibroids located at the point of attachment of the fallopian
tubes to the uterus, depending on its size, may compromise efficiency of that
tube. The sizes of fibroids may vary from tiny nodules to the size of a large water lemon ball.
Fibroids do not
necessarily stop a woman from getting pregnant. However, Fibroids are one of
the common causes of miscarriages in the world. Funny enough, the presence of
fibroids in the womb may not necessarily stop anyone from getting pregnant, but
it may result in series of miscarriages in addition to pains, anemia
(insufficient blood in the body) and etc.
If the uterus remains dormant for a long time after myomectomy, fibroids may reoccur. Though it takes a
long time to reoccur, and when it does, it starts as very tiny nodules. These
tiny ones would pose no threat to pregnancy. At menopause, when
estrogen and progesterone hormones sponsoring its growth had began to wane,
fibroids shrink. The only way to avoid a reoccurrence is total removal of the
uterus called Hysterectomy.
Fibroids are the most common benign tumors of the uterine muscle. The term benign implies that fibroids are non-cancerous tumors. It is common among women of child bearing age and tends to shrink at menopause.
- Fibroids are of different types and sizes
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| Source: Ed Uthman |
- You can get pregnant with fibroids
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Image of pregnancy co-existing with fibroid.
Source: Uncle Scan Ultrasound Album
|
- There is no known cause for fibroids
The main cause of
fibroid is not known. However, it is known to thrive during the reproductive
period (Ages 16-50). This is due to a greater increase in the level of estrogen
and progesterone hormones that aid reproduction. In essence, it appears these
hormones help it to grow and develop from small sizes to medium and larger
sizes. This is why they tend to swell and are easily noticed during pregnancy.
Other possible causes
of fibroids are:
- Race (common among Africans-blacks)
- Genetic (hereditary)
- Delay in child bearing
- Use of Oral contraceptives
- Alcohol consumption
- Fibroids may have hereditary factors.
This makes it possible
to flow from parents to children. In fact, about half of fibroids show genetic
abnormality. If a woman has fibroids it’s about three times possible for the
daughter to have it.
- “Every woman has fibroid”, is that true?
No, it’s not true! You
had rather said, “Every woman has the potential of having fibroids, especially
African women”
- Signs you may have fibroids
- Irregular menstrual cycle
- Blood clots as part of menstrual flow
- Bleeding in-between cycle
- Heavy menstrual flow
- Prolonged period
- Lower abdominal pains
- Abdominal swelling and hardness
- Delay in conception
- Series of miscarriages
- Paleness (Anemia-insufficient blood due to loss of blood)
- Weakness due to Anemia
- Pain during pregnancy
- Spotting during pregnancy
- There are no Drugs under the heavens that truly removes fibroids
There may be drugs
capable of shrinking fibroids, others may be potent enough to reduce the
symptoms you observe, but understand this raw truth: There is none capable of
removing it totally, I have never seen one. Surgery, called myomectomy, is the best way to deal with fibroids.
Another possible solution which is rather uncommon is uterine- artery
embolization: a procedure targeted at cutting off arterial blood supply to
uterine fibroids so that they shrink.
- Due to desperation to get rid of fibroid, many women have been duped
I must admit this fact:
Surgery is scary, even to medical personnel themselves. Marketers of some sorts
of herbal drugs, food supplement, stem cell products and the likes do leverage
on this fear and make promises they can’t really prove experimentally. I have
seen patients who out of fear of the surgeon’s knife abscond to try various
regimens costing hundreds of thousands with the hope of getting respite but to
no avail. Please be careful.
- Fibroids may reoccur after surgery
- Myomectomy is not deadly
With trained and
experienced hands, myomectomy is not deadly. Though adequate arrangement is
always made to avoid any form of complication during and after surgery, there
are ways to correct such.
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