| Fibroids are fibrous tumors that grow in or on the wall | | | | women suffering from pain or cramps during |
| of the womb (uterus). They are frequently a problem | | | | menstruation. |
| with women's reproductive systems. The technical | | | | Birth control pills may be prescribed to help control |
| medical term for fibroids is "leiomyoma" (which is | | | | heavy periods and stop the fibroid from growing. |
| pronounced, leye-oh-meye-OH-muh). For short, | | | | GnRH agonists (Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormonal |
| sometimes simply "myoma" is the name used. | | | | Agonists) is frequently prescribed by Physicians as |
| Fibroids are almost never malignant (cancerous). They | | | | part of a course of fibroid treatment. For most |
| are almost always benign. They can grow in clusters | | | | receiving this drug, fibroids shrink by 1/3 to 1/2 after 2-3 |
| of many or as single tumors. They can be as small as | | | | months of treatments. |
| a small seed or as large as a cantaloupe. | | | | Uterine artery embolization is used to shut off the |
| Experts in the field tell us that 20% to 80% of all | | | | blood supply to fibroids which causes them to shrink |
| women will develop uterine fibroids before they reach | | | | and go away. This is a non-surgical procedure in which |
| the age of 50; they are most common in women who | | | | a catheter is threaded through certain arteries to inject |
| are in their 40's and early 50's. | | | | a substance that blocks off the artery feeding the |
| African-American women are particularly prone to | | | | fibroid. |
| developing uterine fibroids. They seem to develop | | | | Surgery is a sure method, but is both invasive and |
| fibroids symptoms faster and more severely than | | | | expensive. The two kinds of surgery most commonly |
| other women. Probably 50 to 80 per cent of | | | | done are hysterectomy and myomectomy. |
| African-American women in the U.S. will develop | | | | A hysterectomy means the surgical removal of the |
| fibroids. | | | | uterus. It may or may not include the cervix and |
| The large majority of fibroids show no symptoms, | | | | ovaries. It's a common treatment for fibroids. Thirty per |
| cause no problems. The woman with them may be | | | | cent of all hysterectomies in the U.S. are done |
| completely unaware that they are even there. Some | | | | because of fibroids. |
| grow and cause problems, causing pain, putting | | | | There are also many alternative medicine treatments |
| pressure on the bladder causing frequent urination and | | | | for controlling, shrinking and eliminating fibroids. These |
| heavy or irregular menstruation. | | | | have become more and more popular as they |
| If fibroid symptoms develop there are several fibroids | | | | demonstrate good results and as women seek |
| treatments possible. The treatment chosen will depend | | | | alternatives to expensive surgery. |
| on age, severity of symptoms, general health, whether | | | | You should always get the advice of your personal |
| or not she is pregnant and whether she may want to | | | | physician or medical specialist before starting any new |
| have children in the future. | | | | treatment. Talk to them about any questions you may |
| NSAIDs (Non-steroidal anti-inflamatory drugs) such as | | | | have regarding any medical condition or problem. |
| ibuprofen or naprosyn may be recommended for | | | | |