Fibroids are benign (non-cancerous) tumors that develop within the walls of the uterus during a woman’s prime childbearing years. Up to four in five women (80%) have one or more of these abnormal muscular growths by the age of 50, making it the most common tumor of the female reproductive tract.
Because uterine fibroids are so common — and because their signs and symptoms are often mistaken for those caused by other gynecological conditions — it’s helpful to know about the risk factors that increase your chances of developing them.
Here, Dr. Christina Parmar and Dr. Rania Ibrahim of New Beginnings OB/GYN discuss the ins and outs of this routine problem, including who’s more likely to experience it and what kinds of symptoms should prompt you to come in for an evaluation.
A uterine fibroid is an abnormal mass (tumor) made of muscle and tissue cells that can form within the uterus wall, inside the organ’s interior cavity, or on its outer surface. Fibroids can grow as a single nodule (one growth) or appear in clusters.
Also called leiomyoma or simply myoma, fibroids are virtually always benign, meaning they’re non-cancerous, noninvasive, and usually slow-growing.
Fibroid growths come in all shapes and sizes: Some are as small as one millimeter (the size of an apple seed), while others grow up to eight inches in diameter (the size of a grapefruit).
Small to mid-sized fibroids don’t usually cause problems unless they’re in a sensitive location or grow larger. About 25-30% of fibroids are bulky enough to cause symptoms and require treatment; small fibroids often remain “silent” and undetected.
Fibroids rarely appear before menstruation begins, and even though being a woman “of reproductive age” is considered a risk factor, these benign uterine tumors are a rare occurrence in adolescents and even young women who menstruate.
Fibroids are more likely, however, when any of the following risk factors are present:
Genetics is a major fibroid risk factor. If a close female relative (i.e., mother, grandmother, or sister) has had these uterine tumors, you’re more likely to get them, too. Maternal history of fibroids, specifically, is the biggest risk factor — if your mother had them, you’re three times more likely to get them than the average woman.
Fibroids become more common as menstruating women grow older, reaching their peak occurrence in women who are in their thirties and forties and on through menopause. After menopause, fibroids are much less likely to develop, and existing tumors usually shrink.
Black women are three times more likely to get uterine fibroids than women of other racial backgrounds. If you’re Black, you’re also at risk of developing fibroids at a younger age and experiencing more severe fibroid-related symptoms and gynecological issues.
Obesity, or having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, can make you two to three times more likely to get fibroids. And because excess fat cells actively produce estrogen, fibroids in women who are overweight tend to increase in size more readily, causing problems.
Most adolescent girls get their first menstrual period around 12 to 13 years old. Girls who start menstruating earlier — often between the ages of eight and 11 — are more likely to get uterine fibroids when they’re older.
Women who eat a lot of beef and pork have a higher fibroid risk, as do those who drink alcohol regularly. A vitamin D deficiency — or having vitamin D levels below 30 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) — is also associated with an elevated fibroid risk; the average Vitamin D level of women with fibroids is about 23 ng/ml.
Although researchers don’t know exactly what causes fibroids, female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone) appear to be involved in their growth. This may help explain why fibroids tend to shrink after menopause when reproductive hormone levels decline.
While small fibroids rarely cause symptoms, larger masses or tumors that grow in a more sensitive spot can cause:
If you experience any of these problems—especially if you are at a higher risk of developing fibroids—come see our team. We can perform a pelvic exam and diagnostic imaging tests to check for abnormal reproductive tract growth and determine the cause of your concerns.
Luckily, uterine fibroids are highly treatable, and we’re here to help. Call or click online to schedule a visit at New Beginnings OB/GYN in Shenandoah, Texas, today.