Though they may not want to, women need to learn about uterine fibroids, the muscular tumors that sometimes grow in the wall of the uterus, because they’re more common than you might think. In fact, some estimate that as many as 80% of women actually develop fibroids by the time they reach the age of 50.
If you’re a woman in her 30s and 40s, then you could potentially develop fibroids. Here’s what you should know.
Who Gets Them?
In addition to age, there are other factors that may increase a woman’s chance of developing fibroids, including family history, ethnic origin, weight, and eating habits. A woman whose mother, aunt, or grandmother had fibroids is more likely to develop them. African-American women have also been shown to be more likely to develop fibroids as well, as are women who are overweight. In fact, obese women have been show to be two to three times more likely to develop fibroids. Eating red meat and ham is often linked to an increased risk of fibroids as well.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Fibroids?
Most of the times, fibroids are asymptomatic, which means that many women who have them may not even realize they do. However, they can sometimes cause women to suffer certain excruciating symptoms, though it’s uncommon. Some of the most common symptoms of fibroid cysts include abnormal menstrual bleeding, abdominal pain, lower back pain, and even pain during sex.
What Can Be Done About Them?
Fortunately, there are many uterine fibroid treatments available. There are medicinal fibroid treatments that can help mitigate symptoms and even shrink the fibroids. However, medicinal fibroid treatments cannot solve the problem. For that, fibroids need to be removed, which can be done through minimally invasive fibroid treatments, or through surgical fibroid treatments. In the worst cases, some women may need to have their uterus removed.
If you’re worried that you may be at risk of developing fibroids, or may already have them, talk to your doctor about your uterine fibroids treatment options. If you have any questions about fibroid treatments, feel free to share in the comments.