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L i v e Yo u n g e r L o n g e r
Fibroids
Common and Treatable
Painful periods
In many cases, fibroids don’t cause symptoms
and might not require treatment. But about
30 percent of women between the ages of
25 and 44 have symptoms, according to the
NIH. Symptoms include:
■
Longer, more frequent or heavier periods.
■
Bleeding between periods.
■
Pain or pressure in the lower back or belly.
■
Pain during sex.
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Constipation.
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Difficult or frequent urination.
■
Infertility, miscarriage or preterm labor.
Fibroids are usually diagnosed with the use of
imaging tests, such as ultrasound or x-ray.
Tumors in the uterus, known as fibroids, are surprisingly common.
In fact, they are the most common noncancerous tumors
in premenopausal women, reports the National
Institutes of Health (NIH).
They grow in the muscle of the womb — on the
outside or inside of the uterus wall or within
the wall itself. No one knows for sure what
causes them, but both hormones and
genetics play a role.
Though they are rarely cancerous,
fibroids can be painful and disruptive.
Fortunately, there are many options
for treatment.