Uterine fibroids

Definition
Uterine fibroids are noncancerous (benign) tumors that develop in the female uterus or womb. They are a very common condition, with about 1 in 5 women of childbearing age developing the condition. These tumors are most common in women over 30, and as long as a woman continues to have menstrual periods, fibroid tumors will continue to grow, although often very slowly. They are more common in African American than Caucasian women.
Fibroids are often described by their location in the uterus:

• Myometrial -- in the muscle wall of the uterus
• Submucosal -- just under the surface of the uterine lining
• Subserosal -- just under the outside covering of the uterus
• Pendunculated -- occurring on a long stalk on the outside of the uterus or inside the cavity of the uterus

Symptoms
Some women may have no symptoms at all from fibroid tumors, but some of the most common troublesome symptoms are:

• Heavy Menstrual bleeding sometimes with the passage of blood clots
• Menstrual periods that may last longer than normal, sometimes several weeks
• Pelvic cramping or pain with periods
• Feeling of fullness and pressure before, after and during periods
• Painful intercourse
• Urinary urgency
• Bleeding between periods
• Uncomfortable levels of gas, constipation and bloating

Causes of Fibroid Tumors
The exact cause of these tumors (which can be microscopically small or grapefruit-sized in the extreme) is not known, but they are generally thought to be related to estrogen levels. They are rare in women under 20, and tend to shrink when estrogen levels lessen after menopause. Fibroid tumors are most commonly benign, but can cause such painful and disruptive menstrual periods that they are removed to restore a woman's health and well-being.

Diagnosis
A complete pelvic examination is necessary to diagnose and assess the severity of fibroid tumors. Often your physician will want to order an ultrasound or MRI to assist in the diagnosis. It some cases, the physician may want to do a biopsy of the uterine lining to assure that the tumors are benign, and may need to do laparoscopic surgery to assess the condition. Anemia is a common side effect of heavy uterine bleeding, so a blood test and urinalysis will likely be done as part of the diagnostic process.

Treatment Alternatives
Treatment alternatives vary with the severity of the symptoms, a woman's age and general health, and whether the patient is pregnant or is wanting to have children. Taking into consideration the preferences of the woman, her age, childbirth status, and other risk factors, the preferred treatment ranges from periodic examination and monitoring of the growth of the fibroids to hormone intervention to one of several surgical options. Depending on the severity of the pain and whether the patient has begun menopause, a doctor may suggest using one of the hormone therapies for a period of time to stabilize or shrink the tumors as an alternative to surgery.

When to see a doctor
If you are experiencing one or more of the symptoms listed above, make a note of them on a calendar so that you will have specific information about the length and severity of your symptoms for the doctor. If these symptoms repeat, are consistently painful and interfere with your daily living it is time to schedule a doctor's visit that includes time for a blood test, as many of these symptoms may also be indicative of other health conditions.

Participate in a Clinical Research Study
If you have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids or any other gynecology or urology condition you may want to consider participating in a clinical research study with Precision Trials. We are screening applicants for studies involving overactive bladder, anemia, vaginal atrophy, prostate cancer and BPH. Please click here to complete an on-line inquiry form or call:

602-931-4507

Compensation may be available to qualified participants for travel in the greater Phoenix, AZ area, including Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, Glendale, Paradise Valley, Peoria, and Sun City.

Participation is voluntary, and participation and all inquiries are completely confidential.

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Register NOW for Uterine Fibroid Clinical Trials