What is a Uterine Fibroid

A uterine fibroid is a condition of the uterus that can cause problem menstrual cycles, pelvic pain, pain with sex, and pressure symptoms in the lower abdomen.

Uterine fibroids are common, but none the less they are abnormal and can complicate pregnancies, hormone therapy, as well as contraception.

The wall of the uterus is made of smooth muscles cells that are spindle shaped and all virtually identical in size and function. However, the walls can change.

Uterine fibroids are essentially nodules of uterine muscle tissue that normally reside within or as part of the wall of the uterus.

Oddly, most cases of pregnancy just cause the uterus to expand, it expands a lot: from an organ that weighs 30-60 grams to an organ that weighs 1000 grams. However, this expansion is not due to any presence or growth of a uterine fibroid.

A single clone of cells is what becomes a uterine fibroid. Almost 1/2 women will have a uterine fibroid before menopause, but most fibroids will not specifically require treatment.

The growth and occurrence of fibroids is related to diet, to obesity, to sugar control, to vitamin D levels, has a hormonal and a genetic component. Uterine fibroids are more common in African American females and they occur at a younger age. Typically a fibroid will grow over time, and continue to grow, although the growth in Caucasian women typically slows after age 45.

They arise from the type of cells that a normal uterine muscle cell or a blood vessel cell arises but they are probably what was called ‘undifferentiated’, this cannot be controlled, but the factors above can be controlled and we would like you to come to Women’s Health Practice to discuss how you can avoid uterine fibroids and their complications!