Fibroid

A fibroid is a non-cancerous tumour growing in or outside of the uterus. Fibroids can range in size from the size of a small apple seed to as big as a grapefruit or melon. About 30 percent of women have fibroids large enough to cause symptoms. In severe cases, fibroids can lead to problems with fertility or repeated miscarriage.

Fibroid causes The exact cause of fibroids is unknown; however, their growth appears to be related to estrogen production. Fibroids may grow more quickly in women taking oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy for menopause due to the increase in estrogen in the body. Fibroids are also more common in women who are overweight or have not had children.

Fibroid symptoms Fibroids can cause long, heavy menstrual periods; as a result, they sometimes cause anemia. These lumps can also lead to chronic pelvic pain, a feeling of pressure in the pelvis, problems with urination or constipation, or pain during sex.

Fibroid diagnosis/tests During your annual Pap test, your doctor may feel fibroids if they are large enough to cause symptoms. In that case, she will probably send you for an abdominal pelvic ultrasound which uses sound waves to produce an image. You'll have to drink a large quantity of water to fill your bladder beforehand, which can be uncomfortable. A transvaginal ultrasound, which involves inserting a wand into the vagina to produce an image, may also be used. If the ultrasound reveals fibroids, your doctor will discuss your treatment options.

Fibroid treatment Small fibroids may never need treatment. To halt the growth of fibroids, doctors may recommend avoiding medication that contains estrogen. Myomectomy is a surgical procedure to remove fibroids; uterine fibroid embolization may be administered to shrink the fibroids. A hysterectomy, an operation to remove the uterus, may be performed to remove large fibroids, but this treatment leads to early menopause.

Fibroid prevention There’s no known way to prevent fibroids since their cause remains unknown.

More info from Chatelaine
Poke, prod and probe

Outside resources
Canadian Women’s Health Network
Women’s Health Matters