WHO GETS FIBROIDS
ABOUT THE UTERUS TYPES OF FIBROIDS WHO GETS FIBROIDS SYMPTOMS OF FIBROIDS
Uterine fibroids are the most common tumors within the female reproductive system, so all women are at possible risk of developing them. During your annual internal gynecological examination, or if you schedule a special visit to investigate possible symptoms, your doctor will check the size of your uterus.
If it feels enlarged, your doctor may prescribe a transabdominal or transvaginal pelvic ultrasound, which can confirm the presence, location and size of fibroids. Other methods can be used to confirm fibroids including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). After identifying the size and location of your fibroid(s), and also after other diagnostic tests, your doctor may recommend ruling out other, potentially more serious conditions and advise you of your options and a recommended course of treatment.
Many clinical papers cite African-American women as especially susceptible to developing fibroids. It is believed that African-American women develop symptoms quicker and in greater magnitude than other women. It is estimated that between 50 and 80 percent of African-American women in the United States will develop fibroids. Due to the prevalence of this condition, it is essential for all women to understand fibroids, possible symptoms, and the choices available to treat them.
Most clinicians believe that fibroids shrink when a woman goes through menopause. Consequently, the majority of fibroids are diagnosed and treated in women between the ages of 35 and 54. However, fibroids can and do occur in women under the age of 35, even as young as the early 20’s. In the United States there are approximately 42 million women between these ages. In clinical literature, it is estimated that between 20 to 40 percent of all women have fibroids. This means that 10 million to 21 million women have fibroids in the United States alone. From this group about 5.5 million will seek treatment each year. Between 200,000 and 300,000 hysterectomies performed every year are for symptomatic uterine fibroids. Treatment of symptomatic fibroids is the number one reason why women have a hysterectomy in the United States today.