Fibroids: An African American Epidemic?

                                                                                                       By Miss Rikki

Attention SistaGirlz, do you have extremely heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged menstrual periods, bleeding between periods, backache, leg pains, pelvic pressure or pain, pain with intercourse, constipation, urinary incontinence (can hold your urine), or go to the bathroom often to urinate?  Then you may suffer from uterine fibroids. 

What are Uterine Fibroids?

Basically, they are noncancerous tumors that grow inside or on the outside of the uterus.  Also referred to as fibromyomas, leiomyomas, or just plain old myomas, the most common risk factors are heredity and race.  They occur during a woman’s “childbearing years,” usually run in the family, and are most prevalent in African American women.

What’s the Cause?

The medical community is still unsure of the cause of the growths.  They also don’t know why they occur more often in African American women. 

What Can You Do?

SistaGirlz can you believe that many women suffer with these noncancerous uterine growths for no reason!  That’s right there are so many treatment options for fibroids.  Now every option is not for every woman, so if you find out that you have them it is important to talk with your doctor about your treatment options. 

Most women who have them, have no symptoms or side effects from them.  In this case, you just kind of keep a watchful eye on the situation.  They will not usually interfere with pregnancy and since they are non cancerous, as long as they aren’t causing a problem they may be best left alone.

Other women can benefit from medications to shrink the fibroids.  This can help alleviate heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure, and help to regulate the menstrual cycle. 

Other non-surgical options include uterine artery embolization and focused ultrasound surgery.  With uterine artery embolization small particles are injected into the arteries that supply the uterus to cut off blood flow to the fibroids causing them to shrink.  Focused ultrasound surgery, actually not a surgery at all, uses focused high energy sound waves to destroy the fibroids.

There are two basic types of treatment surgeries.   First there is the myectomy, in which a surgeon removes the fibroids from the uterus without damaging the uterus.  This option is for women who would like to still have children.  Otherwise there is a hysterectomy, a complete removal of the uterus.  This remains the only proven way to be 100% rid of fibroid tumors.

Where Do I Go from Here?

Fibroids are usually detected during a regular pelvic exam or a pregnancy ultrasound.  If you have never had either and are experiencing symptoms – go see a doctor, especially if you are African American.  If you have had one or both and a doctor never said you had them, but you are experiencing symptoms – go see a doctor.  Tell them about your concerns.

It’s important to remember they are noncancerous growths.  It’s not the end of the world if you are diagnosed.  Now, I know you’re having visions of Maya on Girlfriends and her losing her last baby because of fibroids, but for most women it’s not nearly that bad.  Even still, it is important to manage them if you have them.  Because SistaGirlz, you can’t be your best totally strong and empowered self if you’re not on top of your health. 

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