3 Things Mama 'Nem Didn't Tell Us!
For many reasons, the subject of uterine fibroids has been considered taboo. It is my personal opinion that treating the condition that so many women deal with as a secret, has increased the number of people who simply don’t know the facts.
This in turn has created a population of women who have suffered in silence. They didn’t and some still don’t have the resources and information available to make informed decisions.
As we all know, relying solely on doctors who may or may not have your best interest in mind is not always a good thing.
Some doctors may go straight to a hysterectomy as the one and only option. Others may discourage a woman from doing so even when that may be the best option for her. I have been blessed to have caring, educated gynecologists and surgeons on my team the entire time but I do realize that this is not the case for everyone. This is why I feel so compelled to help as many women as possible arm themselves with the knowledge they need in order to be able to advocate for themselves.
If you don’t want to have a hysterectomy or other surgeries, it is important to know that there are natural options to treat fibroids and their symptoms. If you feel like surgery is your best route, make sure that you know everything there is to know about what it entails before, during and after.
These are the things that I never heard my mother, grandmothers or any other women in my life speak about growing up or as an adult. So because we don’t talk about ways to prevent fibroids, we’re behind the eight ball when it comes to treatment. For me personally, it wasn’t until I was about 35 with a very large fibroid that I even knew what they were. My goal is to arm women with the facts ahead of time and talk about prevention as well as treatment.
#1 - What Are Fibroids?
The medical term for uterine fibroids is leiomyoma or just "myoma”. Fibroids are muscular tumors that grow in the uterus and are ALMOST always benign; meaning non-cancerous.
Fibroids can be as small as a seed or as big as a grapefruit or bowling balls. Yes those women walking around looking 5 months pregnant for years aren't just carrying around a little extra fluff. Some of them have fibroids. Treatment depends on your symptoms, fibroid size and whether or not you plan on having children. Uterine fibroids are a common reason women have hysterectomies and other gynecological procedures.
#2 - Who Gets Fibroids and Why?
About 20%-80% of women develop fibroids by the time they reach age 50. Fibroids are most common in women in their 40's and early 50's, although Black women tend to develop fibroids at an earlier age.
It's unclear why women develop fibroids, but some similar patterns have been observed.
Usually occur between the ages of 30 and 40
They are more common in Black women
Fibroids grow faster & appear at a younger age in Black women (20’s & 30’s)
Having a family member with fibroids increases a woman's risk
Smoking, being overweight or having high blood pressure may increase risks
I will take a deeper dive into the effects of fibroids on Black women in my next post but The following information is from the Journal of Women’s Health national survey on The Burden of Uterine Fibroids for African-American Women.
Black women tend to have tougher experiences when it comes to dealing with uterine fibroids. Across the spectrum, as it relates to age of onset, symptoms, treatment options and financial burdens, the struggle for Black women is consistently harder.
Black women require more hospitalizations and surgeries than other racial groups & face higher medical costs for their fibroid treatment. During a lifetime, Black women are 3x more likely to develop fibroids than white women. Fibroid disease starts earlier in Black women and affects 25% by age 24.
#3 - How Do I Know If I Have Fibroids?
Symptoms & Diagnosis
Not all women with fibroids have symptoms. Those who do, have symptoms that are usually very bothersome and make fibroids hard to live with in many ways.
The most common symptoms include:
Bladder pressure causing frequent urination, (or pressure on the rectum)
Painful periods
Feeling of fullness in the pelvic area
Enlargement of the lower abdomen, making a woman look pregnant
Pain during sex
Lower back pain
Complications during pregnancy and labor.
Menstrual Cycle Symptoms
Mild to severe cramping and pain
Heavier bleeding, sometimes with blood clots, can cause anemia
Longer or more frequent menstruation
Spotting or bleeding between periods
Anemia
Some women with fibroids who experience unusually heavy bleeding during their periods may become anemic. Symptoms include fatigue, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Many cases of anemia due to iron deficiency from periods are mild and can improve with a change in diet or iron supplements. Untreated anemia can lead to fatigue, lethargy and in severe cases, heart problems.
Diagnosis
Your doctor may feel moderate and large uterine fibroids during a routine pelvic exam. Tests, such as an ultrasound, can show information about size and location of other fibroids if present. The fibroid might be compared to fruits, nuts, or a ball; such as a grape, orange, a walnut, golf ball or a volleyball to get an idea of the size. Your doctor may also do imaging tests like an ultrasound, MRI, X-ray or CT Scan to confirm that you have fibroids.
If you have never been diagnosed with fibroids but are experiencing symptoms and think you may have them, schedule an appointment with your gynecologist today. The sooner you know what you're dealing with, then sooner you can begin doing something about it. If you already know you have fibroids and are looking for ways to manage symptoms or help deciding what if any procedures may be available to you, click on the link below and schedule your free consultation with me today! Untreated fibroids only get bigger and cause more problems as time passes, get your life back today!
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