UTERINE fibroids are common growths of the uterus. They often appear during the years a woman is usually able to get pregnant and give birth. Uterine fibroids are not cancer, and they almost never turn into cancer. They aren’t linked with a higher risk of other types of cancer in the uterus either. They’re also called leiomyomas or myomas.

Here are some facts about fibroids, a condition that affects a great subsection of Jamaican women, courtesy of the Mayo Clinic.

Size

Fibroids vary in number and size. A woman can have a single fibroid, or more than one. Some of these growths are too small to see with the eyes. Others can grow to the size of a grapefruit or larger. A fibroid that gets very big can distort the inside and the outside of the uterus. In extreme cases, some fibroids grow large enough to fill the pelvis or stomach area. They can make a woman look pregnant.

Many women have uterine fibroids at some time during their lives. But they often cause no symptoms. A doctor may just happen to find fibroids during a pelvic exam or pregnancy ultrasound.

Symptoms

Many women who have uterine fibroids don’t have any symptoms. In those who do, symptoms can be influenced by the location, size and number of fibroids.

The most common symptoms of uterine fibroids include:

•Heavy menstrual bleeding or painful periods.

•Longer or more frequent periods.

•Pelvic pressure or pain.

•Frequent urination or trouble urinating.

•Growing stomach area.

•Constipation.

•Pain in the stomach area or lower back, or pain during sex.

Rarely, a fibroid can cause sudden, serious pain when it outgrows its blood supply and starts to die.

Where they grow

Often, fibroids are grouped by their location. Intramural fibroids grow within the muscular wall of the uterus. Submucosal fibroids bulge into the uterine cavity. Subserosal fibroids form on the outside of the uterus.

When to see a doctor

See your doctor if you have:

•Pelvic pain that doesn’t go away.

•Heavy or painful periods that limit what you can do.

•Spotting or bleeding between periods.

•Trouble emptying your bladder.

•Ongoing tiredness and weakness, which can be symptoms of anaemia, meaning a low level of red blood cells.

Get medical care right away if you have severe bleeding from the vagina or sharp pelvic pain that comes on fast.

Causes

The exact cause of uterine fibroids isn’t clear. But these factors may play a role:

•Gene changes: Many fibroids contain changes in genes that differ from those in typical uterine muscle cells.

•Hormones: Oestrogen and progesterone cause the tissue that lines the inside of the uterus to thicken during each menstrual cycle to prepare for pregnancy. These hormones also seem to help fibroids grow.

Fibroids contain more cells that oestrogen and progesterone bind to than do typical uterine muscle cells. Fibroids tend to shrink after menopause due to a drop in hormone levels.

Growth

The growth patterns of uterine fibroids vary. They may grow slowly or fast. Or they might stay the same size. Some fibroids go through growth spurts, and some shrink on their own.

Fibroids that form during pregnancy can shrink or go away after pregnancy, as the uterus goes back to its usual size.

Risk factors

There are few known risk factors for uterine fibroids, other than being a woman of reproductive age. These include:

•Race: All women could develop fibroids, but black women are more likely to have fibroids than women of other racial groups. Black women also have fibroids at younger ages than do white women. They’re also likely to have more or larger fibroids, along with worse symptoms, than do white women.

•Family history: If your mother or sister had fibroids, you’re at higher risk of getting them.

•Other factors: Starting your period before age 10; obesity; being low on vitamin D; having a diet higher in red meat and lower in green vegetables, fruit and dairy; and drinking alcohol, including beer, seem to raise your risk of getting fibroids.

Complications

Uterine fibroids often aren’t dangerous. But they can cause pain, and they may lead to complications. These include a drop in red blood cells called anaemia. That condition can cause fatigue from heavy blood loss. If you bleed heavily during your period, your doctor may tell you to take an iron supplement to prevent or help manage anaemia.

Pregnancy and fibroids

Often, fibroids don’t interfere with getting pregnant. But some fibroids — especially the submucosal kind — could cause infertility or pregnancy loss.

Fibroids also may raise the risk of certain pregnancy complications. These include:

•Placental abruption, when the placenta, separates from the inner wall of the uterus.

•Foetal growth restriction, when an unborn baby doesn’t grow as well as expected.

•Preterm delivery, when a baby is born too early, before the 37th week of pregnancy.

Prevention

Researchers continue to study the causes of fibroid tumours. More research is needed on how to prevent them, though. It might not be possible to prevent uterine fibroids. But only a small percentage of these tumors need treatment.

You might be able to lower your fibroid risk with healthy lifestyle changes. Try to stay at a healthy weight. Get regular exercise. And eat a balanced diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Some research suggests that birth control pills or long-acting progestin-only contraceptives may lower the risk of fibroids. But using birth control pills before the age of 16 may be linked with a higher risk.