Personal trainer Rod Stevens shares with you some facts, symptoms about fibroids.

Fibroids can effect women of all ages and ethnic backgrounds but it is most common in black females, ages 30 –40 and can go up through menopause. Other factors that can increase your chances of developing fibroids are unhealthy eating habits, obesity and genetics.

Fibroids are tumors that grow on the wall of the uterus.  They may be referred to as “leiomyoma” (leye-oh-meye-OH-muh) or just “myoma”.  Doctors put them in four groups based on where they grow:

1. Submucosal (sub-myoo-KOH-zuhl) fibroids grow into the uterine cavity.
2. Intramural (ihn-tru-MYOOR-uhl) fibroids grow within the wall of the uterus.
3. Subserosal (sub-suh-ROH-zuhl) fibroids grow on the outside of the uterus.
4. Pedunculated (pih-DUHN-kyoo-lay-ted) fibroids that grow on stalks into the cavity of the uterus or grow out from the surface of the uterus.

Fibroids may cause the following symptoms:

• Longer, more frequent, or heavy menstrual periods
• Menstrual pain (cramps)
• Vaginal bleeding at times other than menstruation
• Pain in the abdomen or lower back
• Pain during sex
• Difficulty urinating or frequent urination
• Constipation, rectal pain, or difficult bowel movements

If you suffer from any of these symptoms your doctor sometimes can detect it through a routine pelvic exam.  But there are several diagnostic exams to determine if you have fibroids.  The names of the exams are:  Ultrasonography, Hysteroscopy, Hysterosalpingography, Sonohysterography, and Laparoscopy.

Consult your doctor to see which exam is the most efficient for your particular situation.  There are several medications commonly used to help control the symptoms.  Often they use over the counter birth control, progesterone-like injections, IUD device called Mirena or Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa).  If the fibroids need to be removed the doctor will suggest several procedures for removal such as Resectoscope, Laparoscope or abdominal Myomectomy depending on the location, size and type of fibroids.

For more information about Fibroids, please consult your doctor.

Visit  Rod Stevens at www.facsfitness.com