O
%Start Managing Fibroids - Harvard Health Harvard Health Publishing Harvard Health Publishing Open mobile menu Menu Close menu Close
visibility
460 views
thumb_up
16 likes
S
The mental health crisis among children and teens: How parents can help The latest thinking on dry eye treatments What’s the relationship between memory loss and driving? Inflammatory bowel disease: Issues outside the gut Prostate cancer: Can imaging substitute for repeat biopsies during active surveillance?
thumb_up
16 likes
K
/ Special Health Reports
Managing Fibroids
$18.00 Add To CartManaging Fibroids
Managing Fibroids examines the different types of fibroids, symptoms, and complications. You'll discover who's most at risk for fibroids.
thumb_up
32 likes
V
THis Guide takes you through the various treatment options, so you can understand the risks and benefits. And gives you tips to work with your doctor to determine the best way to manage your condition, taking into account your preferences and goals.
thumb_up
1 likes
I
Other Product Information
A majority of women will develop a fibroid in the uterus at some point-although they may never know it. By age 50, an estimated 70% of women have these smooth muscle tumors of the uterus, also called leiomyomas or myomas. While the term tumor may sound scary, fibroids are noncancerous (benign) growths.
thumb_up
20 likes
N
More often than not, these growths are harmless, and many women with fibroids don't have any symptoms. Unless a doctor identifies the fibroid during a medical exam, it may go unnoticed. But for other women, fibroid symptoms may be painful, even debilitating.
thumb_up
4 likes
N
Symptoms, which often get worse during a woman's period, include:
• menstrual periods that contain clots and are heavy, long-lasting, or both
• a bloated, heavy, or full feeling in the pelvis
• constipation
• trouble emptying the bladder or the need to urinate more often
• back or leg pain
• pain during sexual intercourse. In some cases, fibroids make it more difficult for a woman to become pregnant. They also may cause pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, early birth, or delivery problems.
• menstrual periods that contain clots and are heavy, long-lasting, or both
• a bloated, heavy, or full feeling in the pelvis
• constipation
• trouble emptying the bladder or the need to urinate more often
• back or leg pain
• pain during sexual intercourse. In some cases, fibroids make it more difficult for a woman to become pregnant. They also may cause pregnancy complications, including miscarriage, early birth, or delivery problems.
thumb_up
5 likes
E
Fibroids are the most common type of noncancerous tumor in women's reproductive organs. They grow within the uterus.
thumb_up
22 likes
N
Some take up space inside the uterine cavity. Others grow inside the muscular wall of the uterus or outward from the surface of the uterus.
thumb_up
50 likes
C
The resulting symptoms are related to how many fibroids a woman has, where they are located, and how large they are. Fibroids can be tiny, or so large that it appears the woman is pregnant.
thumb_up
41 likes
H
Treatment to address problems linked with fibroids costs an estimated $2.1 billion each year in the United States alone. But the toll fibroids take isn't calculated only in dollars. Fibroids are the No.
thumb_up
1 likes
A
1 reason women opt for a surgical procedure to remove the uterus, known as a hysterectomy. Because fibroids affect women differently, there's no one-size-fits-all treatment. Options include everything from active monitoring to medications and surgery.
thumb_up
35 likes
J
How your doctor manages your condition will depend on several factors, including the fibroid size and location, your symptoms, your preferences, and, perhaps most importantly, your age and whether you want to have children. Regardless of which strategy you choose, the good news is that symptomproducing fibroid tumors are typically easy to diagnose and can, in most instances, be managed effectively. Nevertheless, many women delay getting treatment, believing that their symptoms are related to menstruation and are normal.
thumb_up
42 likes
M
Managing Fibroids examines the different types of fibroids, symptoms, and complications. You'll discover who's most at risk for fibroids.
thumb_up
35 likes
W
THis Guide takes you through the various treatment options, so you can understand the risks and benefits. And gives you tips to work with your doctor to determine the best way to manage your condition, taking into account your preferences and goals. Prepared by the editors of Harvard Health Publishing in consultation with Sarah L.
thumb_up
29 likes
A
Cohen, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School Director of Research and Fellowship Program Director, Division of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital. (2019).
thumb_up
0 likes
E
About Harvard Medical School Guides
Harvard Medical School Guides delivers compact, practical information on important health concerns. These publications are smaller in scope than our Special Health Reports, but they are written in the same clear, easy-to-understand language, and they provide the authoritative health advice you expect from Harvard Health Publishing. Benign, but sometimes problematic Your uterus and types of fibroids Causes and risk factors Complications of fibroids Diagnosis Treatment Watchful waiting Medications Procedures Complementary and alternative therapies Lifestyle changes and support ResourcesCauses and risk factors
No one knows for sure what causes fibroids.
thumb_up
47 likes
J
But experts suspect that in some cases, these growths originate from a single mutated stem cell, which begins dividing rapidly, creating a ball-shaped mass. A stem cell is one of the body's universal cells, capable of morphing into any other type of cell.
thumb_up
37 likes
A
Researchers are still struggling to understand what triggers this process, and they aren't sure why some women get fibroids and others don't. A combination of genetic and environmental factors may be at work. Hormones, specifically estrogen and progesterone, appear to fuel the growth of fibroids.
thumb_up
47 likes
D
This explains why they are most likely to cause symptoms during the childbearing years. Most women with fibroids start to have symptoms in their 30s. Not surprisingly, fibroids are most commonly diagnosed when women are in their 30s and 40s.
thumb_up
30 likes
S
But fibroids can start to develop much earlier, with some cases detected as early as the teens or 20s. This hormonal effect on the growth of fibroids is not entirely straightforward, however. During pregnancy, a time when the body produces high levels of estrogen and progesterone, some fibroids will grow more rapidly, some will stay the same size, and some will become smaller.
thumb_up
39 likes
M
In many women, fibroids will shrink or become less problematic after menopause, when estrogen levels drop. Although the exact cause of fibroids is still unknown, the following factors have been associated with increasing a woman's risk of developing these benign tumors. Race
While fibroids are estimated to affect about 70% of women by age 50, they are even more common, and often more problematic, in African American women.
While fibroids are estimated to affect about 70% of women by age 50, they are even more common, and often more problematic, in African American women.
thumb_up
38 likes
J
By age 50, as many as 80% of African American women are estimated to have fibroids. These often develop at an earlier age and grow faster and larger than in women from other racial and ethnic backgrounds.
thumb_up
9 likes
C
African American women also tend to have more severe symptoms. Family history
If you have a family member with fibroids, the chances go up that you will have them too.
If you have a family member with fibroids, the chances go up that you will have them too.
thumb_up
49 likes
C
Women who have family members with fibroids may have up to three times the average risk of developing fibroids themselves. Obesity
Women who are obese may be more likely than other women to develop uterine fibroids. Diet
It is difficult to conclusively prove the effect of diet on certain diseases, as there are many other factors that can interact with diet and confuse the picture.
Women who are obese may be more likely than other women to develop uterine fibroids. Diet
It is difficult to conclusively prove the effect of diet on certain diseases, as there are many other factors that can interact with diet and confuse the picture.
thumb_up
4 likes
M
However, eating a lot of red meat, such as beef and pork, has been linked with a higher risk of fibroids, as has vitamin D deficiency. There is some evidence based on studies of patients in China that women who eat a lot of processed snacks or drinks containing food additives or pickled foods may be more likely to develop fibroids.
thumb_up
21 likes
E
Risk was also higher among women who drank a lot of soybean milk. Conversely, eating plenty of green vegetables seems to be somewhat protective against fibroids. Some studies have found that fibroids are more common among women who frequently drink alcohol.
thumb_up
24 likes
S
One study that focused on African American women found that those who drank a beer a day had a 50% higher-than-average risk of fibroids. However, other studies have not found the same link.
thumb_up
45 likes
B
No pregnancies
Women who have never been pregnant appear to be at higher risk for fibroids. High blood pressure
Some studies suggest that the risk of fibroids may increase with elevated blood pressure.
Women who have never been pregnant appear to be at higher risk for fibroids. High blood pressure
Some studies suggest that the risk of fibroids may increase with elevated blood pressure.
Reviews
No reviews have been left for this newsletter.
thumb_up
11 likes
M
Log in and leave a review of your own.
Free Healthbeat Signup
Get the latest in health news delivered to your inbox!
thumb_up
10 likes
L
Sign Up Close Thanks for visiting. Don't miss your FREE gift.
thumb_up
15 likes
A
The Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness, is yours absolutely FREE when you sign up to receive Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Sign up to get tips for living a healthy lifestyle, with ways to fight inflammation and improve cognitive health, plus the latest advances in preventative medicine, diet and exercise, pain relief, blood pressure and cholesterol management, and more. I want to get healthier Close Health Alerts from Harvard Medical School Get helpful tips and guidance for everything from fighting inflammation to finding the best diets for weight loss...from exercises to build a stronger core to advice on treating cataracts.
thumb_up
24 likes
A
PLUS, the latest news on medical advances and breakthroughs from Harvard Medical School experts. BONUS!
thumb_up
27 likes
J
Sign up now and
get a FREE copy of the
Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness I want to get healthier Close Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Plus, get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness.
get a FREE copy of the
Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness I want to get healthier Close Stay on top of latest health news from Harvard Medical School. Plus, get a FREE copy of the Best Diets for Cognitive Fitness.
thumb_up
46 likes
Similar Discussions
-
I believe that if you write a book it cannot be as perfect as this story St Louis Cardinals legend Albert Pujols could not imagine a more perfect way to reach the 700 home run milestone
-
I m so sad The Masked Singer fans dislike the new format after Panther is unmasked in episode 2
-
Bill Apter suggests a change for WWE star Omos
-
Former WWE Superstar teases identity of The White Rabbit
-
Jean Todt rates Ferrari s 2022 F1 season
-
5 must have GTA 5 mods in 2022 for a better experience
-
Are Modern Warfare 2 and Warzone 2 s promised advanced AI any good? Future of Call of Duty explored
-
6 Effective Dead Bug Variation Exercises for Men
-
Triple H explains why one thing won t be returning to WWE
-
Valorant ChronoVoid skin collection VFX bundle price variants and more
-
Black Clover Will Noelle get a power up in Asta s absence?
-
5000 cases in India and he is one of them really unfortunate Twitter reacts as Mohammed Shami tests positive for COVID ahead of comeback series against Australia
-
Who won Jeopardy tonight? September 16 2022 Friday
-
A genius unique in the history of tennis and an example for any athlete Lionel Messi lauds Roger Federer
-
Spoiler Bron Breakker to face surprising opponent at NXT Halloween Havoc
-
4 reasons Roman Reigns is ranked Number 1 in the PWI500
-
Rhea Ripley has interesting reaction to Beth Phoenix stealing her style
-
5 Advanced Yoga Poses and Exercises to Challenge Yourself
-
How to get free Vouchers and Gun Crates in Free Fire MAX this week
-
Vince Russo on Dominik s segment on WWE RAW
-
Reggie wrestles for the first time in Triple H era of WWE after replacing former title holder
-
Where to get free Sprunk and eCola liveries in GTA Online?
-
Bristol City vs Preston North End prediction preview team news and more EFL Championship 2022 23
-
Chelsea Transfer News Roundup Blues part ways with Thomas Tuchel club planning €100 million January offer for AC Milan forward and more September 7 2022
-
Damian Priest wants Santos Escobar in The Judgment Day
-
How Yoga Can Help Reduce Stress and Anxiety? 5 Simple Yoga Exercises to Try
-
Even if we lose I got 23 Grand Slam titles he got 20 Frances Tiafoe shares funny anecdote involving Serena Williams and Roger Federer
-
Chris Jericho sends warning to Bryan Danielson ahead off AEW All Out
-
10 Lifestyle Tips to Help You Manage MS Symptoms Everyday Health
-
Multiple Sclerosis How MS Affects the Body Everyday Health