Who Gets Uterine Fibroids?

Who Is It That Gets Them? Why Some and Not Others?

Uterine fibroids are benign (noncancerous) tumors that grow on or within the muscle tissue of the uterus. Around 20-40% of women 35 years and over have fibroid tumors. As many as 20 to 50 percent of all women develop fibroids at some time in their lives. These kinds of benign muscle tumors tend to develop in the uterus, and may be the source of problems and pain.

Uterine fibroids can potentially threaten just about any woman at any age. Nevertheless, fibroids are most frequent in women of childbearing age, especially in women somewhere between the age range of 30 and 40. Fibroids are fairly common. Some studies suggest that up to three out of four women are afflicted with fibroids although they will often be undiagnosed because they result in no signs or symptoms.

In fact, if your health care provider looked thoroughly, s/he could most probably locate a small fibroid in pretty much any woman. Nevertheless, certain women are at higher risk of getting uterine fibroids. Women somewhere between the ages of 20 and 50 tend to be more likely to grow larger fibroids.

Women of African-American descent can also be more likely to produce fibroids.  A handful of statistics indicate that as much as 80% of African-American women will develop uterine fibroids.

Although some women don't experience any of the symptoms of fibroids, the location and size of fibroid tumors can cause symptoms that may affect a woman's quality of life.

Usually, fibroids are discovered by abdominal or pelvic examination or pelvic ultrasound. To confirm a diagnosis, your physician may use imaging technology. Procedures like ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-rays or CT "Cat" - scans are frequently used. Oftentimes the only method to confirm the diagnosis is through surgery.

Many fibroids do not result in medical problems and no treatment is needed. In other cases, however, these non-cancerous growths can cause problems. Fibroids symptoms include excessive uterine bleeding, pelvic pain and cramping, backaches, sexual dysfunction, and urinary problems. The symptoms usually become more frequent plus much more severe with the growth of the fibroid, to the point where some form of fibroids treatment is required.